Written By:   Thomas Costello
​              Central Region Contributor

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The Dayton Dutch Lions and FC Dayton brought different tactics to a new rivalry, with WPSL expansion team FC Dayton’s high pressure leading to a dominating victory

 

The city of Dayton, Ohio sits an hour outside of both Columbus and Cincinnati. While both cities tout professional sports teams and large populations, Dayton features a strong history of soccer that added a new chapter on Saturday.

 

For the first time, two WPSL teams benefiting from the strong pool of Ohio soccer talent faced off for the first Dayton derby between the Dayton Dutch Lions and expansion-side FC Dayton, with FC Dayton dominating 6-0.

 

FC Dayton played as the away side in the new local rivalry and jumped ahead quickly. In the 5’ minute, FC Dayton earned a corner kick. Midfielder Lauren Bastian sent the corner into defender Kaylin Helinski who was left unmarked on the far post. Helinski sent a towering header into the back of the net.

 

After the early goal, each side worked to implement their match strategies. Dayton Dutch Lions play a tactical, passing, style of play synonymous with the Dutch Lions organization while FC Dayton leveraged a high-intensity press. FC Dayton’s position as the aggressor caused mistakes and the second goal.

 

In the 24’ minute, Bastian pressed the Dutch Lions' backline into a mistake. A deflected pass near the corner of the penalty area landed to FC Dayton forward Leah Firsdon whose shot was deflected out of danger, but only for a moment. Bastian received the returning pass to the penalty area and held it at the top of the box, waiting for FC Dayton’s moment.

 

Charging behind the Dutch Lions' defense was midfielder Ava Hall. Bastian saw Hall raise up an arm, calling for a pass, and Bastian lobbed in for her. Hall brought the ball down with her chest and slotted a shot across the goal line, doubling FC Dayton’s lead. In two goals, Bastian played part in both, which is no surprise to head coach Bradley Schulter.

 

“Lauren [Bastian] is the type of player that is always going to do something that gets people out of their seats,” Schulter said. “She is able to find and execute passes that many other players wouldn't even see. Her knowledge of the game and ability to execute at such consistently high levels is a testament to all the hard work she puts in to improve and how meticulous she is as a student of the game.”

 

Down two goals, the Dutch Lions created a chance of its own. In the 29’ minute, FC Dayton goalkeeper Kassidy Roshong received a strong pass that ended with a hard first touch. Dutch Lion forward Maya Ryder grabbed the pass and sent it wide to the right.

 

After a quick trading of possession by the two sides, the Lions had the final chance and sent a pass into the center of the penalty area. Forward Bailey Sedlak tried to get off a shot, but an FC Dayton deflection stopped what was the home team’s best opportunity of the night.

 

FC Dayton added a third goal two minutes later. The midfield pressure of FC Dayton earned possession in its defensive half. Forward Mackenzie Evans crossed into the penalty area after running down the right sideline. Hall added a second goal, taking the cross on a bounce and shooting into an open net.

 

The away team wasted no time entering the second half. Just 34 seconds in, another cross turned into a headed goal. This time, forward Chloe Spitler passed to Firsdon, who added to an already impressive first 45 minutes.

 

Now with a four-goal lead, and slightly less urgency for FC Dayton to score, the Dutch Lions started to string together sets of passes. Unfortunately for the home team, never enough to challenge FC Dayton. The visitors still pressed, although not with the same fervency, but made the best of the few chances they created.

 

In the 69’ minute, FC Dayton added a fifth. It was the defensive midfield of FC Dayton that started another attack off an interception that sent the ball wide to the left sideline. With the Dutch Lions rushing to get the ball back, Firsdon received a pass at midfield and sent a first touch ball forward to Bastian, with two opponents quickly closing in.

 

Bastian received the pass and found forward Alaina Huber who had space on the field to run. Through defensive pressure by the Lions, Huber shot low, in an attempt to save her shot by the keeper, and into the back righthand corner. That goal earned Bastian her third assist on the day.

 

Up five goals, FC Dayton began passing the ball around but couldn’t fight the urge to push the ball forward. In the 83’ minute, substitute forward Anna Sweeney passed a long ball to Jenna Foley, adding the sixth and final goal of the evening.

 

A rivalry is built in many ways. In Dayton’s case, it started geographically. Both teams have similar player access and feature athletes from across NCAA Divisions of soccer, and FC Dayton even featured former WPSL players from the Dayton Dutch Lions. All of the crossover combined for a little extra to play for.

 

“There was certainly some added motivation heading into our match against the Dayton Dutch Lions,” Schulter said. “When you play against a local rival you always want to come out on top. I hope that this platform will allow us and DDL to display a high level of female soccer to the Dayton community.”

 

FC Dayton has two wins and no losses in its first matches of the 2022 WPSL season, after a 0-0 draw against the Cincinnati Sirens turned into a forfeiture. Those six points put FC Dayton at the top of the Ohio Valley Conference’s Western Division and an early challenger for a spot in the conference championship match.

 

FC Dayton continues its stellar start to the season on Saturday when it welcomes FC Pride to Dayton. On the other side of the rivalry, the Dutch Lions have a chance at revenge on June 26, when the Dayton derby adds its second chapter.