TicketsSept. 4, 2005
CINCINNATI, Ohio -- The University of Cincinnati men's soccer team fell to rival Dayton, 3-2, on Sunday afternoon at Gettler Stadium. The Bearcats split the weekend series against Dayton-area teams, earning a 2-1 win against Wright State on Friday night.
UC dug itself a hole just two minutes into the match. Dayton's Lubo Bogdanov served a corner kick perfectly onto the foot of a sliding Dasan Robinson, who redirected his shot under the arms of Cincinnati keeper Mike Vessells (Cincinnati, Ohio/Turpin), giving UD a 1-0 lead.
The Flyers added to the lead in the 29th minute when Robinson served the ball to Lubo Bogdanov, who fired a shot from inside the box into the upper left corner of the goal.
Dayton took a 2-0 lead into the half. UC outshot Dayton, 9-4, in the first half.
As it did on Friday night against Wright State, UC fought back. In the 59th minute, Mike Dwyer (Cincinnati, Ohio/ Summit Country Day) ran down a long pass from defender Kevin Schrand (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota West) and hooked the ball into the net from a nearly impossible angle along the far side of the box, pulling UC to within a goal.
As time wound down in the match, the Bearcats fielded an extra attacker, and had several chances for the equalizer. Dayton goalkeeper Nick Tarkany, who made seven saves, knocked away a wide open look from Dominic Oppong (Toronto, Ontario/Cardinal Newman). The Flyers mounted a counter attack and after a misplayed ball at midfield, found themselves with a three-on-two scoring opportunity. Omar Jarun plyed the ball ahead to Antti Arnst, who then slid a pass all the way across the face of the goalbox to a wide-open Bogdanov for his second goal of the match.
UC answered less than a minute later as Omar Cummings (Old Harbour, Jamaica/Cincinnati State) took a pass from Dwyer in the box and drilled a bicycle kick over the head of Tarkany for his first goal of the season.
"You have to give credit to Dayton," stated head coach Hylton Dayes. "They are a very good team. But I was happy with the way our guys battled back again. We're a young team, but we keep fighting."
UC will open its inagural BIG EAST schedule against long-time rival Louisville on Wed., Sept. 7 at Cardinal Park. Kickoff between the Bearcats and Cardinals is set for 7 p.m.