LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Dayton scored an early goal and made it stand up in defeating the Bellarmine University women's soccer team 1-0 on Sunday at Owsley B. Frazier Stadium.

Senior goalkeeper Elyssa Francis was three saves off her career high after amassing nine for Bellarmine (0-2-3). The Knights also had a team save in the first half that helped turn back one of a plethora of dangerous attempts for Dayton (4-1-1) in a match that experienced a weather delay with about 15 minutes left before halftime.

Dayton's goal came exactly 12 minutes into the contest. Coming off a 12-goal campaign in 2021, reigning Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year Itala Gemelli converted a cross from Jessica Sheldon for her fourth goal of the season.

That was the only goal Dayton would score, but the Flyers were close on several other occasions. They finished with 11 shots on goal behind 24 total attempts. Dayton's attack was particularly relentless in the second half, when it generated 16 shots.

Francis racked up seven of her saves in the second stanza, leaping, diving and doing whatever else was necessary to prevent Dayton from adding an insurance goal. Similar sentiments could be said about the back line and defense as a whole, which was under ceaseless pressure from the Flyers.

Bellarmine will host Miami (Ohio) at 7 p.m. (ET) Thursday.

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