The Dayton Dutch Lions FC women return home to DOC Stadium this weekend for a pair of Women’s Premier Soccer League matches. Dayton hosts the St. Louis Lions at 7 PM on Saturday. The game against Lady Victory FC is set for a 4:30 PM kickoff on Sunday.
The weekend homestand is the final leg of a grueling stretch in which Dayton will have played 5 games in only nine days. The Dutch Lions started this portion of the schedule earning 4 points in back-to-back days on the road in St. Louis.
“This has been an incredibly busy week and we still have more matches to look forward to,” said Dutch Lions Head Coach Bradley Schluter.
“Our trip to Saint Louis was positive in my opinion. Traveling with a limited roster and getting 4 of 6 points on the road is difficult, said Schluter.
A late goal by Fire and Ice SC kept Dayton from earning all 6 points in Missouri.
The Dutch Lions dropped a midweek result at Cincinnati Sirens FC, the only team to defeat Dayton this season. It took a pair of late goals in stoppage time for Cincinnati to seal the win.
Schluter understands the Dutch Lions need to minimize late-game mishaps to get results this weekend.
“Late in the game we just need to stay focused, organized, and committed,” Schluter said. “Most of the goals we’ve conceded late in matches this season have just been from silly mistakes or a lack of willingness to challenge for a ball.”
This is the second meeting between the Dayton Dutch Lions and the Saint Louis Lions this season. Dayton upended St. Louis 6-1 on the road in the previous match.
Lady Victory FC, 2021 WPSL debutants, travel from Indianapolis for the club’s first match ever against the Dutch Lions. The expansion side has so far lived up to its name, losing only once and outscoring opponents by a combined score of 20-5 heading into Sunday’s game.
Victories in both of this weekend’s contests would put the Dutch Lions level on points with Lady Victory FC, who currently occupy second place in the WPSL Midwestern Conference.
“The simple answer is to walk away with all six points from the weekend,” Schluter said when asked what it would take for him to be satisfied after the final whistle on Sunday.
Schluter, though, also has the bigger picture in mind.
“Success for me is just the girls competing, enjoying themselves, and using the things we work on and talk about on a consistent basis,” he said. “I think if we do that the results will come.”
The Dutch Lions roster is made up of several local players as well as talent from around the country and the world. Three players to watch this weekend include Bridie Herman (Springboro, OH), Hayley Jakovich (Eureka, MO), and Yaiza Leon (Barcelona, Spain).
“Bridie has been solid for us all year,” said Schluter. “She can play in several positions and does exactly what she’s asked, a great player to work with.”
“Hayley has come in and given us some stability and maturity in the back line,” said Schluter. “Her ability to stretch teams with her passing range has really helped us create more goal-scoring chances as the season has gone on.”
He added, “Yaiza is incredible. She never loses the ball and sees passes that just shred the opposition.” “It’s hard to pick out specific standouts. Each match certain players shine in different ways or rise to a new challenge for that particular match,” said Schluter.