BY WILL POLADIAN, SPORTS EDITOR
The St. Bonaventure women’s soccer team lost, 2-0, at Dayton last Sunday.
From the opening kick, the Flyers (8-1, 2-0 A-10) were in control. They kept possession for the majority of the game.
With 25 seconds left in the first half, senior forward Alicia Donley attempted a cross into the box. The ball was tipped by a Bonnies defender and over the head of sophomore goalkeeper Chiara Goettinger into the net, sending Dayton into the half with a lead.
The Bonnies (2-2-5, 0-2 A-10) had their best chance to tie the game in the 57th minute when junior forward Mckenna Robinson sent a cross into the box. Junior midfielder Lydia Choban fired a shot, which was saved by Dayton freshman goalkeeper Batoul Reda.
“Second half was more back and forth, and I thought our team did work hard through the half,” said Bonaventure head coach Steve Brdarski. “Overall, it was a good picture of the emotions and intensity that go with A-10 conference play.”
In the 60th minute, the Flyers tacked on their second score by the foot of freshman forward Mairin Wessner, which led the score to end, 2-0.
“There is no easy game or opponent in our conference, and as I said before many times a game comes down to one or two moments,” said Brdarski. “It is that close and if you make or don’t make a play it could create the result.”
Dayton outshot the Bonnies, 34-6, as junior forward Italia Gemelli led them in shots with seven on the day.
Robinson led the Bonnies in shots with two.
“From the build up to the final pass and then the opportunity, everything has to be right, and we have to be aggressive,” Brdarski said. “I think we tried to score against Dayton but didn’t do enough. [We’re] not aggressive enough to get behind their back line. We will keep focusing on doing more throughout conference play. Games are going to come down to one or two moments, and we need to make and create those changes together.”
Goettinger tallied nine saves, which brings her season total to 76. She is third in the nation behind Delaware State’s Ashely Maribo with 82 and Texas Southern’s Jaidyn Christophe with 77.
“We didn’t get the result we wanted on Sunday, but that does not change the focus of our team,” Brdarski said. “We know it’s not about one game, and everything I know about this group is that they are resilient. We will fight for everything because that is what Bonnies do! We also don’t take lightly our season, every game we are learning and growing. We will continue to work for everything and stay strong together as a team.”
The Bonnies continue their road trip in Virginia on Thursday, facing VCU.
poladiwj20@bonaventure.edu
