DAYTON, Ohio - Senior Daniel Berko netted his first career hat trick as the University of Dayton men’s soccer team (2-0) capped off a perfect weekend with a 4-3 win over the Kentucky Wildcats (0-1) at Baujan Field on Sunday.

“We wanted Berko to get out there and really run and that proved to be the difference for us this afternoon,” University of Dayton Men’s Soccer Head Coach Dennis Currier said.

The win topped off an impressive weekend in Flyers sports. The men’s and women’s soccer teams and the women’s volleyball team went 7-0, knocking off three ranked teams and nationally-prominent schools Ohio State and Kentucky.

Freshman goalkeeper Chris Froschauer made four saves in the win. The Flyers had 10 shots on goal while Kentucky only had seven on frame.

The teams played to a scoreless first half before Berko opened up the scoring in the 52nd minute. Berko got a foot on Kentucky goalkeeper Callum Irving’s misplay. He wasted no time in finding the back of the net, scoring opposite post on Irving.

Kentucky charged back with its own goal just two minutes later. Tyler Riggs headed the ball into the lower side to knot the game at one apiece.

“We knew this was going to be a fast game,” Currier said. “Kentucky likes to get up and down the field. Our finishing in the second half was a lot crisper and that really showed.”

Berko found the back of the net once again in after a nice pass from junior defender Jonathan Nelson across the box.

Junior Andres Acevedo gave UD a 3-1 lead, heading in a ball that was originally headed by sophomore Greg Enstone. Eddie Jones was credited with his second assist of the day, after taking the corner kick on the play.

Berko buried his third goal in the 65th minute on a pass from Acevedo to seal the hat trick. Berko’s third goal put Dayton ahead 4-1.

Charles Pettys scored moments later on a penalty kick after a foul in the box by UD. Matt Lodge made it a one-goal game after scoring on the near post with five minutes remaining in the match.

The Flyers held off the late-game attack by the Wildcats, clearing several balls down field in the closing minutes.

Sunday’s win puts the Flyers at 2-0 on the season. The last time the Flyers opened the season 2-0 was in 2008 when Dayton went on to win the Atlantic 10 Tournament Championship.

The Flyers are on the road next weekend, playing in the Aaron Olitsky Memorial Classic in Charleston, S.C. UD plays Furman on Friday, Aug. 31 at 5 p.m. and the College of Charleston on Sunday, Sept. 2 at 2:30 p.m.

 

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