Bearcats Defeat Xavier, Fall to Freedom in Exhibition

Bearcats Defeat Xavier, Fall to Freedom in Exhibition

More than 1,000 fans gather to see event

Contact: Christie Hadley

3/28/2004

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- More than 1,000 fans gathered to see the Washington Freedom Exhibition match hosted by the University of Cincinnati on Sunday. Cincinnati defeated Xavier in the first 45 minute half, while the Freedom won both of its scrimmages.

Florida transfer Jen Leiter started her Cincinnati career off in style, feeding the ball to Becky Imhoff who found the back of the net for the first goal of the day. Bearcat Keeper Tracy Hale with help from a strong defensive line held off the Musketeers to win the 45 minute scrimmage, 1-0.

?The first game was very competitive,? Cincinnati?s head coach, Meridy Glenn, said. ?It was a good college game.?

Xavier took on the Freedom in the second game of the afternoon. Freshman Ashley Valdeseri broke away from the Freedom?s quick defensive line to register the lone shot for Xavier. The first Freedom goal came seven minutes into the game when the 2003 Chevrolet Player of the Year, Abby Wambach fed the ball up the middle to Jacqui Little who blasted the ball in from 10 yards out.

Wambach scored the first of her threes goals on the day four minutes later when Lori Lindsey stole the ball and passed it to Wambach who found the back of the net from 20 yards out. Lori Lindsey scored the final goal of the match off an assist from Nicci Wright. Xavier keeper Andrea Garber posted six saves on the day.

?It was a beautiful day,? Freedom head coach Jim Gabarra said. ?We are very grateful for all the hard work of many people who went into this event. The reward was for our players to step onto the field as a team again, and for the fans to see a good quality product on the field.?

Cincinnati played the Freedom in the final match of the day. Hale posted a dynamic performance in goal for the Bearcats recorded five saves on the day. Little and Wambach netted two goals each for the Freedom with one each for Carrie Moore and Monica Gerardo.

?I just think it was great,? Glenn added. ?The Freedom helped us improve our speed of play. A good team is going to make you play like that. This is what people aspire to be.?

The Bearcats continue the spring season next Saturday when they travel to the Western Kentucky Invitational to take on the host Hilltoppers at 10 a.m. CT and then Middle Tennessee State at 2 p.m. CT.

Cincinnati returns home on April 17 to take on Akron at Kolping Park in the Blue Chip Showcase at 5 p.m. ET.