Oct. 7, 2005

With a new coach at the helm of the University of Dayton men's soccer program, the Flyers are headed towards conference play with their new identity taking shape.

Dennis Currier took over the UD program in January, after a 62-15-7 run at the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. His UIW team finished the 2004 season ranked fifth in the nation and posted four-straight NCAA Division II Tournament berths from 2001-04. With him came two D-II All-America picks, as forward Lubomir Bogdanov and midfielder Terry Alvino elected to transfer to UD for their senior seasons. They joined an experienced cast of 11 other returning seniors, including the Atlantic 10's leading returning scorer, forward Omar Jarun, and defender Nate Darr. Both were Second Team All-Atlantic 10 picks in 2004.

But while the Flyers may have plenty of veteran players, they also add an equal amount of new blood. Alvino, Bogdanov, transfer forward Jonathan Welsh (Creighton) are also part of the 11 newcomers Dayton has on the roster.

After posting a convincing 2-1 win over No. 18 ranked Ohio State in an exhibition game, the Flyers opened the regular season at Cincinnati and posted a 3-2 win over the Bearcats, thanks to two goals and an assist from Bogdanov. For that performance, Bogdanov earned Atlantic 10 Player of the Week honors.

Dayton made a grueling road trip to California for back-to-back 1-0 losses to Sacramento State and UC Davis, with the UC Davis match going into overtime. Senior goalkeeper Nick Tarkany, from Miamisburg, made 11 saves in goal for the Flyers in those two games, but ended up with two hard-luck losses.

Fifth-year senior Steve Ladislaw replaced Tarkany in net and posted back-to-back shutouts at the Dayton Marriott Flyer Classic. Dayton blanked Marshall, 2-0, and Cal Poly, 1-0, to finish the Classic 2-0. Ladislaw, Alvino and freshman forward Joe Olwig were named to the All-Classic Team.

Dayton then split at the Aces' Soccer Classic, falling 1-0 to No. 14 Missouri State and pummeling host Evansville, 6-2.Olwig, Welsh and Jarun each scored twice. Welsh, Jarun and defender Ian Mulligan earned spots on the All-Tournament team.

The Flyers showed the ability to bounce back, when they responded to a goal by Michigan with game-tying goals within the next three minutes twice, in a 2-2 tie with the Wolverines. Dayton then blanked Wright State, 1-0, in Fairborn, with Alvino picking up his second goal in as many games and Ladislaw earning his third shutout.

At 5-3-1, the Flyers continue to gel as a team headed into a nine-game Atlantic 10 Conference schedule.