KINGSTON, R.I.—Dayton used a dominant offensive attack and a hat trick from Libby Leedom to win the 2016 Atlantic 10 Women’s Soccer Championship 7-0 over Saint Joseph’s Sunday afternoon at URI Soccer Complex.
The Flyers set a number of conference championship records, including number of goals scored in a single game, besting the six scored by Massachusetts in the 1995 final. Leedom, the championship’s Most Outstanding Player, equaled a league record in points (7) and goals (3) scored in a championship game, set by her former teammate Ashley Campbell in the 2013 quarterfinals. Dayton also set a number of records for an entire championship:
- Most team shutouts (3)
- Individual points - Alexis Kiehl (12)
- Individual goals - Kiehl (5)
UD (9-9-3) earned its 10th A-10 title and the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Saint Joseph’s, which won the regular season, was ranked first in the Mid-Atlantic Region, and lost only once during the regular season, is 18-2-2 and awaits the NCAA selection show. The selection show will be broadcast on NCAA.com Monday at 4:30 pm.
After a few early chances missed the mark, Leedom broke through and tallied a goal in the 38th minute off a pass from Micayla Livingston that was redirected by Kiehl. Livingston scored her goal less than a minute later on a header off a cross by Nadia Pestell. Dayton took the 2-0 lead into halftime.
Leedom tallied her second goal eight minutes into the second half, followed by back to back goals by Kiehl, who also had a pair of goals in the semifinals. Leedom finished the hat trick with an unassisted straightaway 20-yard shot from outside the box. Beth Kamphaus finished the scoring for the Flyers with a one-timer. Livingston, Kiehl, Pestell, Mink, Leedom, and Meghan Blank all recorded assists for UD.
Dayton’s defense limited Saint Joseph’s offensive opportunities, holding the Hawks to five shots and two corners. The Flyers had 29 shots and eight corners. SJU keeper Grace Bendon made five saves to one by Kaelyn Johns for UD. The Dayton defense did not allow a goal in all three games of the championship.
It was the final A-10 Championship game for retiring Dayton coach Mike Tucker. He coaches the Flyers to all 10 Atlantic 10 titles and a 31-7-3 record in A-10 Championship games.
Joining Leedom on the All-Championship Team were Kiehl, Livingston, Pestell, Johns, and Nicolette Griesinger from Dayton, Bendon, Dakota Mills and Gabrielle Vagnozzi from Saint Joseph’s, Erin Mitchell of George Mason and Brittany Cooper of George Washington.