Weekend recap: Football loses, men’s soccer draws
By: Chris Bendel – Sports Editor
MEN’S FOOTBALL
At the hands of San Diego University, Dayton suffered the team’s first Pioneer Football League loss of the season by a score of 40-29 in San Diego, California, Saturday.
The loss drops UD’s conference record to 3-1 and 5-2 overall.
San Diego converted four Dayton turnovers into 20 points on the evening and scored four touchdowns in the final minutes of each half. The Golden Toreros scored two touchdowns in the final three minutes of the first half and two in a similar manner to close out the game.
Senior tailback Connor Kacsor rushed for 115 yards on 17 carries, good for an average of 6.8 yards per rush. He also recorded UD’s only touchdown of the first half.
The 100-yard performance puts Kacsor above the 1,000-yard threshold. Kacsor is the eighth UD player to reach the 1,000-yard rushing mark, according to Dayton athletics.
Redshirt sophomore placekicker William Will converted three of four field goal attempts.
Through the air, senior quarterback Will Bardo attempted 41 passes, one shy of his previous season-high for pass attempts, which he recorded in a five-overtime victory over Davidson College Oct. 4. He finished the day 24-41 for 217 yards and two interceptions.
On the defensive side of the ball, redshirt sophomore linebacker Christopher Beaschler led the team with 12 total tackles.
UD returns to action Saturday against Valparaiso University at Welcome Stadium. The visitors enter the contest against UD winless in the PFL, after a 48-47 loss to Morehead State University Saturday.
MEN’S SOCCER
Against No. 13 ranked Saint Louis University, Dayton played the highly-ranked opponent to a 2-2 draw Saturday at Baujan Field. The tie puts UD’s Atlantic 10 record at 2-1-2, good for eight points and fifth in the conference, with just three A-10 games remaining.
Both teams were on the board early, with UD sophomore forward James Haupt opening the scoring 8:03 into the game.
SLU answered quickly, tying up the score less than five minutes later 12:06 into the match.
Both teams recorded 16 shots throughout the evening but the score would stay knotted at one until junior forward Amass Amankona gave UD back the lead at 76:13 off of a pass from sophomore forward Brian Richards.
It would take SLU more than 10 minutes to respond this time around when senior defender Anthony Manning scored on a penalty kick, forcing both teams to walk away with one point apiece in terms of A-10 standings.
Dayton will take the field Tuesday in a late-season nonconference matchup against Western Michigan University. Game time is set for 7 p.m.