Dayton Tops UMass in A-10

Minutemen Need At-Large Bid Tonight

November 17, 2008

PITTSBURGH - Third-seeded Dayton (15-4-2) blanked top-seeded Massachusetts (10-7-3), 1-0 to win the Atlantic 10 Men's Soccer Championship Sunday afternoon.

After going undefeated in the previous nine games, with seven straight wins, the Minutemen will now need an at-large bid to make the 48-team field for the NCAA Tournament. UMass, however, does have the highest RPI in the A-10 (No. 34 heading into the weekend) and is the only team from last season's NCAA Final Four that made its conference championship game.

With a 37 degree temperature, driving winds and blowing snow flurries, Dayton lit the scoreboard first on an own goal situation when Dayton junior Zach Weiss headed the ball toward the Massachusetts net. A UMass defender played the ball, but headed it into his own net for a Dayton goal. Weiss was credited with the goal, his first of the tournament and second of the season.

The Minutemen had several scoring opportunities in the final minutes of the first half, but could not beat Dayton goalkeeper freshman Tyler Picard who made four first half saves.

Dayton continued to apply offensive pressure in the second half, but Massachusetts had the best scoring opportunity of the game in the 77th minute. With Picard out of the net, UMass sophomore Chris Vaccaro struck the ball toward the middle of the goal before Dayton junior Randy Dennis headed the ball over the cross bar, preventing the would-be tying goal. Dayton's defense buckled down and allowed just one additional Minutemen shot the remainder of the contest.

Massachusetts held a 14-11 advantage in shots and a 7-4 lead in corner kicks. Picard made eight saves on the day and UMass keeper Zack Simmons made four saves.

The Flyers, which captured their first Atlantic 10 men's soccer championship since 1998, earn the Atlantic 10's automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.

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