Women’s Soccer to face crosstown foe Dayton

Sunday, August 21

Dayton, OH

6 PM

Wright State University

Dayton

Photo by: Joseph Craven

8/20/2022 9:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

DAYTON — The Wright State women's soccer program will matchup against crosstown rival Dayton on Sunday, August 21, at Baujan Field. The non-conference match will kickoff at 6 p.m. and air on ESPN+.

MATCH INFORMATION
Sunday, August 21 - 6 p.m. - Watch - Live Stats

LAST TIME OUT
The Raiders are coming off a 2-1 comeback victory over Bellarmine last Thursday in Louisville, Ky. Wright State overcame an early opening-half deficit with two unanswered goals to claim the season-opening win. Olga Massombo netted the first goal of the season for the Raiders in the 39th minute, while Michelle Rings connected on the game-winning goal off a free kick with just 10 minutes left in the non-conference contest. Amber Branum and Kaylin Helinski contributed with assists on Massombo's score, which came off WSU's first corner kick of the match. Goalkeeper Jessika Seward finished with two saves in the winning effort. The Raiders outshot Bellarmine 10-9, including four shots on goal. Lauren Borchert and Massombo shared the team lead in shots with two apiece.

SCOUTING THE FLYERS
The Flyers were picked second in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll and opened their 2022 campaign with a 2-2 draw versus Toledo at home. Dayton finished the 2021 season with a 12-6-2 overall record and an 8-2-0 mark in A-10 play, earning a conference tournament win over No. 7 seed Richmond (3-1) before losing to No. 3 seed Saint Louis in the semifinals. UD was at its best in home matches, posting a 7-1-1 record.

HISTORY VS. DAYTON
WSU has gone 5-21-4 in 30 career meetings against Dayton. The teams last met during the 2016 season, battling to a 1-1 double-overtime draw at Alumni Field. Jordyne Helinski, sister of current Raider Kaylin Helinski, netted the match's first goal in the tie. In 2015, the Raiders earned a 1-0 victory over the Flyers on the road.

PRESEASON PREP
Exhibition contests against Michigan State, Western Michigan, and Morehead State served as tune-ups for the 2022 season. Wright State concluded preseason play with a 3-0 victory over Morehead State at Alumni Field. Josie Krupp, Elise Canter, and Annika Samborski found the back of the net in the victory, while Jessika Seward and Hanna Hargrave combined for the shutout in goal.

RETURNING TALENT
Wright State returns 10 players who logged nine or more starts and 700-plus minutes, including a pair of All-Horizon League performers in Olga Massombo and Olivia Mace. The trio of Madison Keller, Taylor Lauck, and Josie Krupp are in the midst of their fifth year with the Raiders.

Massombo, Krupp, Maddie Mitchell, and Michelle Rings found the back of the net multiple times a season ago, while Lauren Borchert tied for second on the team with two assists. Mace was the lone Raiders to appear and start in all 18 matches, totaling a team-leading 1,578 minutes. Jessika Seward is in her third season as WSU's goalkeeper, where she has tallied 105 saves in 22 career starts.

MEET THE COACHES
The Raiders are led by second-year head coach Travis Sobers, a longtime assistant coach at WSU before taking reigns on the sidelines last summer. The former Wright State men's soccer standout player helped the Raiders to victories over Marshall, Akron, IUPUI, Cleveland State, and UIC in 2021. Assistant coach Abbey Frail joined the Raiders in January 2022 after two seasons on the staff at her alma mater Wingate University. Last fall, as interim head coach, she guided the Bulldogs to an 11-6 overall record.

WELCOME TO THE FAM
WSU welcomes 10 first-year students and two transfers to this season's squad. Marcella Sizer joined the Raiders after three seasons at fellow Horizon League school Youngstown State, where she totaled 23 points on 10 goals — two game-winners — and three assists over three seasons.

OHIO STRONG
Wright State's 2022 roster features 20 players from Ohio. A team-high three Raiders in Elise Canter, Ashley Vaughn, and Heidi Orloff came to WSU from nearby Beavercreek High School.

PRESEASON POLL
The Raiders were picked sixth in the annual Horizon League preseason poll, which the league's 11 head coaches voted on. Oakland topped the conference poll while defending HL tournament champion Milwaukee was close behind in the second.

NEXT UP
After Dayton, Wright State will stay on the road for a non-conference contest at Miami (OH) on Thursday, August 25. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. in Oxford, Ohio.