TicketsAug. 26, 2005
CINCINNATI, Ohio -- The University of Cincinnati women's soccer team dropped its season-opener to 2004 NCAA qualifier William & Mary, 2-1, tonight at Gettler Stadium. The Bearcats have dropped their last two home openers after winning three straight from 2001-03.
The Bearcats got on the board first on freshman Jenn Johannigman's (Cincinnati, Ohio/Seton) first career goal in the 14th minute. Johannigman, one of five freshman starters for the Bearcats, took a pass from fellow frosh Kim Sykes (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore) and beat W&M keeper Kellie Fenton inside the right post to give UC a 1-0 lead.
The UC youth showed itself when William & Mary tied the match just four minutes later. Claire Zimmeck got behind the young Bearcat defense and received a pass from Katie Hogwood. Zimmeck fired a shot past UC keeper Sherry Slye (Cincinnati, Ohio/Roger Bacon). Zimmeck scored her second goal and the game-winner at 38:59 on an almost identical play. She gathered in a pass from Anna Young and beat Slye one-on-one after getting past the Bearcat backline.
UC had a shot in the final minutes after a Chelsea Kindschuh (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota East) corner kick. Becky Imhoff (Cincinnati, Ohio/McNicholas) gathered in the deflected corner and fired a shot over the head of Fenton and off the crossbar. Several Bearcats attempted shots into traffic, but all were blocked by Tribe defenders before the ball was cleared out to midfield, sealing UC's fate.
"We just mentally let down for about 20 minutes," stated head coach Meridy Glenn. "We were able to recover and get back in it."
UC will welcome Big 10 affiliate Michigan State on Sunday, August 28. Kickoff from Gettler Stadium is set for 1 p.m.