TicketsBearcats Notch First Win
Hale pitches shutout as Ryan, Epps net goals for UC
Contact: Jeremy Martin
9/12/2004
Freshman Rachel Epps |
The University of Cincinnati women?s soccer team (1-4-0) earned its first win of the season against the University of Evansville today with a 2-0 victory at Gettler Stadium.
UC dominated the game from the start, taking a 1-0 lead just 43 seconds into the match when freshman Amanda Ryan (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley) got behind the Evansville defense after gathering in a perfect pass from senior Lisa Stevens (Union, Mo./Union) and beating UE goalkeeper Whitney Raeon for her first career goal.
Evansville dropped to 0-6-0 with the loss. The Purple Aces had several scoring chances, but UC senior keeper Tracy Hale (Westerville, Ohio/Westerville South) made five saves to record the shutout, her first of the season.
Cincinnati took the 1-0 lead into the half and came out just as intense in the second 45:00. The Bearcats got off 10 shots in the second stanza as they outshot Evansville 17-10 for the game. Freshman Rachel Epps (Grapevine, Texas/Grapevine) scored her first career goal in the 60th minute when she knocked home a Cara Alldred (Batavia, Ohio/McNicholas) pass to put the match away for the Bearcats.
Prior to today?s game, UC had been shutout in two straight matches and had scored only one goal in four matches overall.
The UC defense, led by senior Renee Balconi (Westerville, Ohio/Westerville North), played ferociously, committing 15 fouls, but keeping the Purple Aces off the scoreboard. Balconi picked up her second yellow caution of the season defending Evansville forward Heidi Gray.
?They just need to come out and play harder and be more positive,? said UC head coach Meridy Glenn. ?When we play good team defense, we can start attacking and we can be a really good team.?
The Bearcats travel across town to face rival Xavier University on Thursday, Sept. 16.