Year makes a huge difference for Dayton Dynamo

From last place to a potential playoff contender, the transformation has been significant for the Dayton Dynamo.

The Dynamo posted one win during their inaugural 2016 season, finishing 1-101. Fast forward a year and the 5-3-3 Dayton squad is still in the running for an NPSL playoff berth.

A strong core of international players as well as young collegiate talent has contributed to the Dynamo success.

Kristian Moore-Cowell and Krzysztof Rapacz, of England, Daniel Ramirez Martin, of Spain, and Angelo Willi, Switzerland, are among the international players making an impact for the Dynamo.

“The club took a very big step forward this year in renting a house and finding 1-10-1 8 goals for, 27 against for -19 differential 5-3-3 (to date) 13 goals for, 13 goals against for 0 differential housing for guys so that we could ensure we would have good roster numbers and some guys that were just here in Dayton for the team and would be available all the time,” Dynamo coach Dan Griest said. “I think it showed a very big commitment from the club in terms of trying to move things forward, and I think the fact that we have been sitting atop the table most of the season is a testament to how much it has benefited us.”

And the future looks bright as six of the of the Dayton players — Tate Robertson, Tristan Lyle, Conner Hughes, Eric Hutton, Austin Kinley and Peyton Mowery — just wrapped up their collegiate sophomore seasons.

“They will be juniors when they come back next year, and they already start for us nearly every week and none are older than 20,” Griest said.

“And we have another five sophomores in our training group that are fighting to get in the game-day roster and continuing to train and get better. I think it speaks pretty highly of the future an NPSL team has if they can stay together and continue to grow and develop as a unit.”

The Dynamo host the Erie Commodores today at 7:30 p.m. at Roger Glass Stadium.

The 4-5-2 Dayton Dutch Lions will host the 5-5-1 Cincinnati Dutch Lions on Monday at 7 p.m. at DOC Stadium.

The Dutch Lions women’s team (2-4-1) closes out its season on Saturday against the undefeated Fire & Ice SC (5-0) at 7 p.m. at DOC Stadium.

More information at https://ddlfc.com/.

Dayton Dutch Lions: