Dayton upsets No. 1 ranked West Virginia in dominant fashion, piling up 5 goals
DAYTON – The University of Dayton men’s soccer team dominated the undefeated No. 1 team in the nation Tuesday night at Baujan Field with a 5-1 win over West Virginia.
The Flyers (6-2-3) earn their first win over a top ranked team in program history while the Mountaineers (8-1-3) suffered their first loss of the season.
“We talked before the game that we had an opportunity for a historical win,” said head coach Dennis Currier. “We came off a tough loss and I thought the guys’ performance tonight was tremendous. We were on the front foot through the entire game. To put five goals against an amazing team was just incredible for our fans and all the players.”
Dayton scored the opening goal in the 17th minute with a strike from senior Joseph Melto Quiah after graduate student Geni Kanyane fed him a through ball into the box.
Sophomore Martin Bakken followed up with a goal of his own off the assist from fellow sophomore Cooper Lijewski in the 22nd minute to give the Flyers a 2-0 lead. Freshman Felix Buabeng put Dayton ahead by three before the half with his quality finish off the assist from Bakken.
Dayton put the game even further out of reach after Melto Quiah earned the penalty and converted the PK to make it 4-0. West Virginia broke up the shutout with a headed goal in the 67th minute.
Lijewski capped off the game with his goal in the 84th minute on yet another assist from Bakken, returning the favor from the first half.
This was the second time in program history Dayton has faced the No. 1 team in the country, last playing SMU on Sept. 17, 2006. This was the first win over the top-ranked team ever though.
The Flyers return to A-10 play and head to St. Bonaventure Saturday, Oct. 19 for a 12 p.m. contest.
