There is a lot at stake for the Dayton Dutch Lions as they take their final road trip of the 2013 USL PRO regular season. This has been the most successful season ever played by the Dutch Lions, which has the team and its fans clamoring for a playoff berth. Matches against the Wilmington Hammerheads on Friday and the Richmond Kickers on Saturday could determine the Dutch Lions’ post-season fate.
When all of last week’s game had gone to full time, Dayton (9-7-7) had climbed to fifth place in the league standings, which is as high as the team has been positioned all season. Dayton is tied with a number of teams with 34 points, but the Dutch Lions hold tie-breaking advantages over the other clubs. The six points that would come with a perfect weekend on the road would clinch a playoff spot for Dayton for the first time in team history.
The Friday night contest between the Dutch Lions and the Hammerheads will be a rematch of a game that was played in Dayton last Sunday. Kyle Grieg headed in a goal off a Daniel Roberts corner kick in the second half to give the Hammerheads the lead. Dayton pushed forward several times in an attempt to find the equalizer, but could not find the back of the net. Wilmington escaped with a 1-0 victory, keeping their playoff hopes alive.
“Their men were really physical and we weren’t able to stay with them in the first 60 minutes of the game,” said Dutch Lions Head Coach Patrick Bal. “After their score we made it a lot more physical. We played them a lot tougher. There still wasn’t a lot of flow offensively.”
Wilmington (8-11-4) sits in tenth position in the standings with 27 points. The Hammerheads still have a chance at advancing to the post-season, but they cannot afford to lose another match.
Dayton also faced Richmond earlier this season. The Dutch Lions took a 1-0 lead into the locker room at the half thanks to a goal by Brandon Swartzendruber that was set up by a Gibson Bardsley assist. The Kickers ramped up the pressure after the break. Two goals by Luke Vercollone and another by Michael Seaton were too much for Dayton to overcome. A late goal by Greg Preciado narrowed the gap, but the Dutch Lions had to settle for a 3-2 loss.
Bal said, “We made a couple of mistakes. We should have put it away in the first half. We had a couple of chances. We lost because of us, not because the other team better.”
The Kickers (13-1-9) are perched atop the standings, and have clinched at least one home match in the playoffs. Richmond is coming off its first loss of the season, a 5-2 defeat at the hands of the Charleston Battery, but the club still controls its own destiny in the race for the regular season championship.
Fans are invited to watch the away games with the Oranje Legion at the Dublin Pub in Dayton. The Dutch Lions return home on Saturday, August 17 to close out the regular season against the Harrisburg City Islanders. First kick for the final home game at Beavercreek High School is scheduled take place at 7:30 PM. To purchase tickets, please visit www.ticketfly.com.