Dayton -  Three Star Class Ranking - Dennis Currier has added a recruiting class that is long in competitive experience and height.  Dayton’s newcomers have a solid background of play at the high school and club levels and an average height in excess of six feet which would appear to bode well for the ability of the Flyers to prevail in the air in the future.  Currier will enter the 2009 campaign needing to plug a few gaps due to the graduation of forwards Florian DeCamps (9g, 5a) and Simeon Zapryanov (0g, 5a) and midfielder Joe Olwig (3g, 1a).  The departure of DeCamps, who was a First Team All-Atlantic Ten team selection with five game-winning goals in 2008, will take a bite out of the Flyer attack but with eight starters scheduled to return positive signs abound for Dayton heading into the 2009 season.  The conventional wisdom is that Dayton should be just as competitive in 2009 as they were in 2008 when they were 15-4-3 overall,  won the Atlantic Ten Conference Tournament,  and earned the program’s first ever invite to the NCAA Tourney.   There are at least three things that you can count on from Dayton in 2009.  They are going to be attack oriented, they will have a work ethic that is second to none, and they will be extra tough to beat when playing at home in the friendly confines of Baujan Field were they were a perfect 9-0-0 last year.  Senior forward Alex Torda (10g, 3a) returns to lead the Flyer attack.  Torda’s presence pretty much assures that Dayton will again have an explosive offense.  Seniors Jeff  Popella (4g, 2a) and Ryan Hartman (1g, 1a) are among others who return up top.  Senior Ben Murray (1g, 4a) returns to anchor the center of the Flyer midfield.  Murray is a tough competitor whose play will set the pace for the Flyers.  Seniors Zach Weiss (2g, 5a) and Isaac Kissi (5g, 2a) and sophomore Luke Baker (0g, 1a) round out what looks to be a very capable group of linkmen with the ability to add additional firepower to the Dayton offense.  Everyone returns in the back which means that the Flyer defense should be very talented, experienced, and deep in 2009.  Center back senior Ryan Handbury (1g, 2a) returns with three years of starting experience under his belt.  Handbury, who is a rock solid defender, is among the most productive backs in the A-10.  Sophomore Jack Pearson (4g, 1a) who was a member of the College Soccer News 2008 All-Freshman Team also returns along with seniors Randy Dennis (0g, 2a) and Sonny Renner (0g, 3a) and junior Tommy Watkins (1g, 5a).  The Flyer backline, which limited opponents to a total of twenty-three goals last year and recorded eight clean sheets, should be able to hold their own with anyone in 2009.  Red Shirt Sophomore Tyler Picard returns in goal after gaining valuable experience between the pipes last year that should enable him to hit the ground running in 2009.  Sophomore Patrick Hardt also returns between the pipes.  Dayton looks to have the talent, the experience, the depth, and the toughness needed to build on the success they enjoyed last year but it is not going to be easy due to the parity that exists among the frontrunners in the A-10.  There also is the question of just how hungry the Flyers will be as a team in 2009.  Back to back A-10 Championships and a return trip to the NCAA Tourney are certainly not out of the question for this team.  In fact, anything less will be a disappointment. 

 

Sewell Strifler - Plano, Texas - Midfielder - Jesuit Preparatory School of Dallas - Played club for Andromeda SC - Very versatile and athletic midfielder - Team captain at Jesuit Preparatory.

 

Evan McCreary - Canton, Ohio - Midfielder - Massillon Jackson High School - First Team All-Region and All-State selection - Played for the Everest FC - Big and strong target player up-top.

 

Nathan Dombrowski - Flower Mound, Texas - Forward - Jesuit Preparatory School of Dallas - Played club with FC Dallas Academy - A quick and talented goal scorer.  Second Team All-District.

 

Ryan Bauer - O’Fallon, Missouri - Forward - Chaminade College Preparatory - Played club for Scott Gallagher - Second Team All-State selection - Named Starting XI in Midwest Region. 

 

Sam Cooksey - O’Fallon, Missouri - Goalkeeper - St. Dominic High School - Played club for Scott Gallagher - Named Missouri Goalkeeper of the Year - Three-time Class 2 All-State selection.

 

Matt Russo - Denton, Texas - Defender - Lake Dallas High School - Two-Time Second Team All-District selection - Played club for the Dallas Texans - Very sound and soccer savvy center back.

 

Chad Caldwell - Highland Village, Texas - Forward - Marcus High School - Netted twenty goals and contributed twelve assists in two seasons for Marcus - Played club with Andromeda.

 

Daniel Rice - Annandale, Virginia - Midfielder - Gonzaga College High School - Played club with DC United Academy - Third Team All-Met -  Netted thirty goals in three seasons at Gonzaga.