Marquette Beats Dayton, Earns Bennett Win No. 200

Sept. 7, 2015

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MILWAUKEE - In front of a large holiday crowd, the Marquette University men's soccer team took advantage of key opportunities and defeated visiting Dayton, 3-2, in the home opener at Valley Fields and earned win No. 200 for head coach Louis Bennett Monday night, Sept. 7.

The Golden Eagles overcame a feisty Flyers (2-2-0) attack that created several chances in the first half. Redshirt senior Kelmend Islami got Marquette on the board in the 37th minute by converting a penalty kick before freshman Jesper Larsson and senior David Selvaggi capitalized on two quick ones in the 67th and 68th minutes, respectively.

Dayton didn't go quietly, registering the tying goal on a score by Maik Schoonderwoerd in the 57th minute and then making it a one-goal match with a score by Tommy Harr in the 77th.

The match was physical throughout as Dayton tallied 18 fouls, including 12 in the second half, compared to Marquette's six in the match.

MU opened the scoring off Islami's penalty, which was created when he received a cross from Daniel Szczepanek and then was taken down from behind in the box by Dayton defenders.

The scoring picked up in the second half as four goals were scored in a 20-minute stretch, beginning with a tying goal from Schoonderwoerd, who gathered the ball six yards out and snuck a shot inside the left post.

MU recaptured the lead when Louis Bennett II sent a beautiful cross to the far post and Jesper Larsson headed it into the back of the net for his first career goal.

One minute later, Selvaggi gathered Islami's cross and sent it into the right upper-90 for his first goal of the season, which gave the Golden Eagles a two-goal lead.

Harr got the Flyers within striking distance when he was able to beat MU keeper Luis Barraza to the far post.

From that point forward, the Golden Eagles possessed the ball to their satisfaction and was able to preserve the 3-2 victory.

Bennett, who is in his 10th year with the Golden Eagles (2-1-1), collected his 200th career coaching victory and 65th win as the fixture on the Marquette sidelines.

Bennett and Golden Eagles will welcome No. 22-ranked Nebraska-Omaha to Valley Fields for a non-conference showdown Friday, Sept. 11. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

GOAL SUMMARY

37' | MU Kelmend Islami (Penalty Kick): Daniel Szczepanek crossed a ball into the box and Islami, who had an open lane to the goal, was taken down in the by Dayton defenders and led to a PK, which he converted into the right upper-90.

58' | UD Maik Schoonderwoerd (Unassisted): Dayton Striker tallies team's first goal by sneaking shot inside left post from 6 yards out. Schoonderwoerd had his back to the goal, gathered, turned and fired the shot that somehow made inside the left post.

67' | MU Jesper Larsson (Louis Bennett II): Bennett delivered a perfect left-footed cross that led to a well-placed Larsson header inside left post to give MU a 2-1 lead.

68' | MU David Selvaggi (Kelmend Islami): Islami sends one into box to Selvaggi, who turns and buries it in the right upper-90.

77' | UD Tommy Harr (Unassisted): scores Dayton's second goal of the evening into far side of the net.

KEY SAVES AND PLAYS

6' | UD - Dayton unable to capitalize on two early shots and a corner kick which was sent out of the box by MU defenders.

17' | UD - Dayton creates a scoring chance with Schoonderwoerd putting a shot on target but it is sent out by Barraza.

22' | MU - McBride leaves it off for Bennett who slides it just past the left post from 20 yards out and the match remained scoreless.

54' | UD - Dayton's first opportunity of the second half came on a header from Schoonderwoerd that sails just wide right of the frame.

LINEUPS

MARQUETTE - 1-Barraza, 2-Pothast, 3-Alberts, 6-Alba, 7-Islami, 9-Selvaggi, 10-Nortey, 12-McBride, 15-Sanchez, 17-Hermsen, 19-Bennett II

DAYTON - 4-Abubakar, 5-Frasca, 11-Haupt, 16-Amankona, 17-Sendin, 18-Brezovsky, 21-Lightner, 24-Schoonderwoerd, 25-Saliba, 33-Harr, 35-Emery

COMING UP NEXT

OPPONENT: Nebraska-Omaha
LOCATION: Valley Fields
DATE: Friday, Sept. 11
TIME: 6:00 PM CT