ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – Emmett O'Connor hammered home two goals and picked up his 19th career assist to lead the Bonnies (4-10, 2-2) past the Dayton Flyers (7-4-1, 1-2-1) by a score of 3-0 at McGraw-Jennings field Friday afternoon.

SBU controlled the offensive pace early on in this one, but it was Dayton who got the first golden opportunity. Bonnies starting goalkeeper Bobby Diaz came of the net to contest a breakaway chance when the ensuing collision knocked Diaz out of the game. Walk-on senior Abel Bautista took over in net and he kept the Flyers at bay for the remainder of the contest.

Emmett O'Connor and Brad Vanino would get the scoring started in the 31st minute when Vanino took a set kick near the end line on the right side.  Vanino fired the ball on a line into the box and it found the head of O'Connor who spun the offering to the back of the net.

The score would go into halftime 1-0. Dayton would out shoot the Bonnies in the first half 10-5 while attempting more corner kicks (3-1) and committing three more fouls (8-5). Bautista would be forced to make three saves during the first half in relief of Diaz.

Dayton put the pressure on early in the second half but the Bonnies were able to weather the storm. Following a yellow card on SBU junior Kaine Moar, it would be Emmett O'Connor this time creating a scoring opportunity for Vanino. O'Connor dribbled down the right side then used speed to beat his defender on the end line. The Ajax, Ontario native centered the ball to the foot of Vanino who volleyed it home for his team leading fourth goal of the season, giving the Bonnies a 2-0 lead.

Dayton was able to put one last scare to the Bonnies when Abe Keller put a set ball on net only to see Bautista pick up his sixth save of the night.

Vanino would pick up his second assist of the day when he found O'Connor for a breakaway chance in the final minute of the game. O'Connor used his speed once again to pull away from the chasing defenders. With just one man to beat, the junior sidestepped the last defender and chipped the ball of the shoulder of the Dayton goalkeeper for his second goal of the afternoon.

"Great win, I'm really happy for the guys" head coach Mel Mahler added after the game. "We've always been able to create scoring chances but we've struggled finishing. Today we finished and that was the difference."

With the 3-0 victory the Bonnies are now 2-2 in conference play which is already an improvement over their winless record in the A-10 last season.  

"We're defending better as well and that helps a lot" continued Mahler.  "It keeps us in matches and in our last three conference games we've been able to score. We're excited about the win and it keeps us in the hunt in the conference and that's all we can ask for, now it's time to get ready for Xavier."

The Bonnies will be back in action on Sunday at McGraw-Jennings field. SBU will be taking on the #13/9 Xavier Musketeers. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m.

GAME NOTES: The Bonnies were outshot in the win 16-11. Dayton took more corner kicks (7-3) and committed more fouls (16-9). Abel Bautista finished with six saves after being forced into action just 38 seconds into the game. The Bonnies are now 4-4 with Bautista in goal and 0-6 when he is not. With an assist on Friday Emmett O'Connor is now just three assist shy of tying the all-time career assists record of 22.