UD coach calls ’09 soccer team his best ever

Former walk-on helps UD make tournament push

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By Doug Harris, Staff Writer 2:08 AM Thursday, November 5, 2009

Mike Tucker, the University of Dayton women’s soccer coach, has warm memories of a euphoric ride in the NCAA tournament in 2001, his team winning twice and taking a trip to UCLA for a Sweet 16 game.

“We flew out on Thanksgiving Day,” said Tucker, whose team eventually was ousted, 3-1. “I can’t remember what we ate, but it sure wasn’t turkey.”

Now in his 15th season, Tucker wouldn’t mind scarfing down carry-out food for his holiday meal again this year.

The Flyers are ranked 24th nationally and will go into the Atlantic 10 tournament this weekend in Charlotte, N.C., as the top seed after winning the regular-season title. They’re 14-0-5 overall and have allowed a nation-low five goals while posting a school-record 14 shutouts.

Four Flyers — Lauren MacCormick, Mandi Back, Kathleen Beljan and Katherine Boone — were named first-team all-conference. Boone, a freshman goalkeeper who took over for an injured starter early in the season, is the league’s defensive player of the year.

“Katherine, at the time, was just to fill in, but she’s just done so well, we can’t get her out of there,” Tucker said.

The Flyers certainly seem like a lock for their first NCAA tourney bid since 2004. But when asked if his team has done enough to get in, Tucker said: “In my mind, we have, but we’ve also learned in past years you just can’t take anything for granted. ... The only sure way is to punch our own ticket by winning the A-10 tournament.”

Tucker has taken five teams to the NCAA tourney, but he said: “Honestly, overall, this is the best team we’ve ever had. There’s no real weaknesses, and we’re deep everywhere.”

UD will have a bye into the A-10 semifinals, and a win likely would mean a rematch with second-seeded Charlotte. The teams played to a 0-0 tie at Baujan Field this season.

“We always want a shot at Charlotte,” junior midfielder Kelly Blumenschein said. “They’re a good team, and we want to beat the best teams there are. ... Especially with Charlotte, we always have a chip on our shoulder.”

UD teams thriving

UD fall sports teams are experiencing unprecedented success. Not only is the women’s soccer team soaring, but UD teams also are in first place in the A-10 in volleyball and men’s soccer, while the football team is tied for first in the Pioneer League.

Those four teams didn’t lose a game for a five-week period from Sept. 19 to Oct. 23.

What’s more, the women’s cross country team just won its first A-10 crown, and the men’s cross country team finished a program-best third with junior Chris Lemon becoming UD’s first individual champion, edging Saint Joseph’s Kevin McDonnell by six-tenths of a second.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or dharris@DaytonDailyNews.com.