ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – A late Dayton penalty kick and an overtime goal shut the St. Bonaventure men's soccer team down as it fell to Dayton 2-1 in on Sunday afternoon in the regular season wrap-up at McGraw-Jennings Field.

St. Bonaventure ends the regular season 9-8, 5-3 in the Atlantic 10 conference for a total 15 points and sixth seed in the Atlantic 10 Championship. Dayton clinched the regular season title in the game, finishing up the regular season 13-4-1.

“It was a bittersweet day. It was great to wrap up the regular season in that we accomplished one of our major goals, which was getting into postseason,” said head coach Mel Mahler. “It is always difficult to have a minute to go and give up a penalty kick and then give up a goal in extra time. We have to give credit to Dayton. They were resilient and stayed at it, finding a way to win. It was indicative to why they're regular season champs.”

In overtime, at 91:41, Popella used a misstep by the Bonnies' defense to shoot to the left side and close the game.

At the 88:53 mark, St. Bonaventure fouled inside the box allowing Dayton's Jeff Popella to fire a penalty kick past the right side of keeper David Flynn to tie the score going into overtime.

Just over three minutes into the game, senior Sam Maheu hit a shot to the left side of the net past Dayton keeper Tyler Picard. Maheu started the play in the middle of the net and passed to the outside to junior Brett Allen who made a nice touch back to Maheu in the middle. Allen's assist is the sixth of year to sit behind Maheu who has seven.

Dayton had a great chance at 1:46 left in the first half, on a shot by Nate Dombrowski, but Flynn punched the ball out to stop the attack.

Dayton led offensively firing 14 of the 22 shots, but St. Bonaventure edged the Flyers in corners 10-7. Flynn picked up six saves in the loss.

The Bonnies will open Atlantic 10 tournament play on Thursday, Nov. 12 in Kingston, R.I. on the campus of the University of Rhode Island.

“I think we're excited about the opportunity to play in the postseason. Even though we've had two losses to end the season, I still think we're playing very well and we have our best soccer ahead of us.”