TicketsMen's Soccer Takes On Rival Xavier, C-USA Foe ECU
UC opens conference play at Gettler Stadium
Contact: Jeremy Martin
9/21/2004
Senior Wiremu Patrick |
The University of Cininnati men?s soccer team (1-4-0) will travel to rival Xavier University on Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. The Bearcats then open the Conference USA season against East Carolina on Sept. 25 at 7 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT: The Bearcats lost, 1-0, to the Oakland Golden Grizzlies on Sept. 18. UC defeated Bradley, 3-2, on Sept. 16 for its first win of the season.
SCOUTING THE MUSKETEERS: The Xavier University Musketeers enter the match with a 1-4-0 record following a 4-1 loss against Valparaiso on Sept. 19.
Xavier is led by Toni Skudrizik, who has scored three goals and assisted on another for seven points.
Head coach Jack Hermans (St. Olof of Holland) is in his 14th season in that capacity with the Musketeers.
UC-XAVIER SERIES HISTORY: UC has dominated the all-time series between the crosstown rivals, holding a 20-7-5 advantage. The Bearcats won the last meeting between the two, 2-0, last season. UC has won two in a row and has not lost in the last seven matches against Xavier.
SCOUTING THE PIRATES: The East Carolina Pirates come into this week with a 3-3-0 record, winning two of their last three,including a 3-0 shutout victory against UNC Asheville on Sept. 19.
Terron Amos leads the ECU offensive attack with seven goals, including three game-winners. Amos also has added two assists for 16 points.
Michael Benn (Lehigh '96) is in his first season as East Carolina's head coach.
UC-EAST CAROLINA SERIES HISTORY: The Bearcats have controlled the short Conference USA rivalry with ECU, winning all three matches between the two. Last season, UC defeated East Carolina, 4-2.
PATRICK CLIMBING CHARTS: Senior forward Wiremu Patrick continues his ascent up the Bearcat career scoring lists. Patrick has scored three goals this season, moving into sole posession of seventh place on the school?s all-time goals list with 23. He is just two goals away from sixth-place Craig McDowell (1980-83). Patrick also owns the seventh-highest career point total in UC history with 57 total points.
CUTTING IT CLOSE: Although the Bearcats are 1-4-0, they have played each match tight, with all five being decided by one goal. Cincinnati, playing a tough schedule that has included two top-25 teams and three 2003 NCAA Tournament participants, has held its own fielding a young team that starts only four seniors.
WHO WILL SCORE?: With the losses of Josh Gardner, Tim Brown and Justin Lewis, who accounted for 18 goals last season, UC is looking for scoring punch from several frontliners this season. Senior Wiremu Patrick, the leading returning scorer, currently leads the team with three goals and has added one assist. Senior Jeremiah Gallegos, the 2002 team MVP, scored twice against Bradley on Sept. 16. Senior John Liersemann, the only underclassman to start all 20 matches last season, has recorded two assists thus far in 2004. Junior transfer Jeff Hughes led the Mid-American Conference with 16 goals and 36 points in 2003 at Western Michigan and recorded a hat trick in UC?s exhibition win against Wright State. UC is expecting more help from Junior Jarrett Devereaux, who has yet to get on track this season, taking only one shot.
C-USA POLL: The Bearcats have been picked to finish fifth in a preseason poll of Conference USA?s coaches. Perennial power Saint Louis was tabbed as the top team in the conference, while UC, UAB, USF, and Charlotte look to wrestle the title away from the Billikens.
COMING UP: UC will play host to the Memphis Tigers on Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. at Gettler Stadium. The Bearcats will then embark on their longest road swing of the season, a three-game trip, starting at UAB on Oct. 2 at 7 p.m.