TicketsSept. 14, 2005
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FOR STARTERS:
The men's soccer team will welcome two BIG EAST foes to Gettler Stadium for the first time this weekend. UC will battle No. 5 Connecticut on Friday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. The Bearcats will then play host to on Sunday, Sept. 18 at 1 p.m.
BEARCAT BITES:
The Bearcats have scored eight goals through four matches this season.
UC's 4-3, overtime win at was the first BIG EAST win for any UC athletic team.
Fifth-year senior Tony Morelli scored the first two goals of his career, including the game-winner, against .
Eleven different Bearcats have notched at least one point this season.
ABOUT THE BEARCATS:
(2-2-0) split its two matches last week. The Bearcats opened their inagural BIG EAST campaign with a 4-3, overtime victory at on Sept. 7. UC then dropped a non-conference road contest to , 1-0, on Sept. 11.
Fifth-year senior Tony Morelli scored the first two goals of his career, including the game-winner in overtime, to lead UC past rival . The Bearcats grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first half on goals by Mike Dwyer, his second in two matches, and Noah Davidson, the first of his career. After the Cardinals cut the lead to 2-1, Morelli posted the first marker of his career to re-establish UC's two-goal cushion. scored two goals in a ten-minute span to knot the match at three and set the stage for Morelli's heroics. In the 98th minute, Morelli took a pass from Sam Miller and fired a shot from 35 yards out, beating U of L keeper Charlie Edwards in the upper left corner of the net to send UC to its first BIG EAST win.
On Sept. 11, the Bearcats were shutout for the first time this season in a 1-0 loss at . The defensive struggle featured just nine combined shots. took the lead in the seventh minute on a header by John DaVae. The Bearcats were unable to get much going offensively and fell to 2-2-0 on the season.
UC is led offensively by Dwyer and Morelli, who have each scored twice this season. Dwyer is the leading point-scorer with five (2 G, 1 A). Mike Vessells has
made 12 saves and holds a 1.98 goals against average.
Head coach Hylton Dayes is in his fifth season with the Bearcats. He is 37-32-14 during his tenure at UC. He will face and for the first time.
SCOUTING THE HUSKIES:
Undefeated UConn, ranked No. 1 in the most recent Soccer America poll, makes its first-ever visit to with a 4-0-0 record. The Huskies asre coming off wins against George Mason (2-1) on Sept. 9 and No. 24 UNC-Greensboro (2-0) on Sept. 11, capturing the adidas-Brown Classic title. The Huskies placed Mpho Moloi, Willis Forko and goalkeeper Adam Schuerman on the all-tournament team. UConn has allowed just one goal all season.
Ryan Coreiro and Chukwudi Chijindu lead the Huskies with two goals and five points apiece. UConn is lead in goal by four-year starter Schuerman, who holds a 0.25 GAA and has made 10 saves. He has posted three shutouts this season.
UConn head coach Ray Reid, the winningest active coach in NCAA men's soccer (.784), holds a 270-63-28 mark in 16 seasons. He is 0-1-0 against , dropping a 2-1 decision in 1999.
UC-CONNECTICUT SERIES HISTORY:
holds a 1-0-0 mark all-time against UConn. The only meeting took place in 1999 when the Bearcats grabbed a 2-1 victory in
SCOUTING THE FRIARS:
travels to with a 2-0-2 record, the first time since 1993 that the Friars have been undefeated through four matches. topped Sacred Heart, 2-0, on Sept. 8. On Sept. 11, the Friars played to a 1-1 tie against Yale. is outscoring its opponents, 8-2, this season and has accumulated 23 points to its opponents five.
The Friars are led offensively by Eoin Lynch. Lynch has scored three goals and assisted on another for seven points. Goalkeeper Chris Konopka owns a 0.45 goals against average, allowing just two goals in four matches. He has made 20 saves and has two shutouts to his credit this season.
head coach Chaka Daley is in his sixth season with the Friars, holding an 18-64-6 career record. Daley has never faced the Bearcats.
UC-PROVIDENCE SERIES HISTORY:
This is the first meeting between the Bearcats and Friars.
MUCH MORELLI:
Fifth-year senior Tony Morelli has started all four matches this season for the Bearcats. The former walk-on scored the first two goals of his career in the BIG EAST opener against . His second tally was an overtime game-winner. Prior to this season, Morelli had played in 14 contests, making four starts. He had managed four shots. He has three already in 2005.
WELCOME BACK, MIKE:
Mike Dwyer, who has been hobbled by injuries over the last two seasons, made his first appearance of 2005 against . It didn't take him long to find his rhythm, as he scored his first goal since 2003 and picked up an assist. Dwyer scored again in a 4-3 overtime win against , giving him two goals and five points in a two-match span.
FIRE AWAY:
UC has put pressure on opposing defenses and goalkeepers, as the Bearcats have attempted 54 shots, with 26 of those on goal. By contrast, UC has limited opponenets to just 40 shots, including 20 on goal.
OFFENSIVE DEFENSE:
The Bearcats have gotten some offensive help from their backline through the first four matches of the season. UC defenders Ewan Blair, Amir Ikner and Kevin Schrand each have recorded assists. Blair connected with Kenny Anaba for the game-tying goal against , while Ikner assisted freshman Dominic Oppong on the game-winner in that contest. Schrand fed Mike Dwyer for UC's first goal against .
:
Sophomore Noah Davidson netted his first career goal against , giving UC a 2-0 lead in the first half. Davidson has stepped into the starting lineup for injured captain Matt Hayden, starting in each of UC's first four contests. He played in just one match for the Bearcats in 2004.
SPREADING THE WEALTH:
has spread the scoring around this season. Through four matches, 11 different Bearcats have tallied at least one point. Six different players have scored goals, with five notchng their first career markers for UC.
YOUTHFUL IMPACT:
UC features seven first- or second-year Bearcats who have scored points. Sophomores Kenny Anaba (1 G, 1 A), Noah Davidson (1 G), Kevin Schrand (1 A), and Amir Ikner (1 A) have combined to produce two goals and three assists. True freshmen Dominic Oppong (1 G) and Landry Gray (1 A) have combined to contribute a game-winning goal and an assist. Junior transfer Omar Cummings has scored one goal and leads the squad with 15 shots.
SOCCER GRABS FIRST BIG EAST WIN:
The men's soccer team became the first of athletic program to win a BIG EAST Conference game with its 4-3 victory at on Sept. 7. The women's soccer team will have a chance to win its first BIG EAST match against on Sept. 15. Volleyball welcomes on Sept. 23 for its first conference match. Football opens its BIG EAST slate at on Oct. 8.
BEARCATS WELCOME TWO NEW COACHES:
Head coach Hylton Dayes brought in two new assistant coaches this season to help with the transistion to the BIG EAST Conference. Former Duke assistant Dan Ensley joins the staff along with goalkeeper coach Joe Spagnola.
UP NEXT:
UC hits the road for a tough two-match conference slate next week. The Bearcats head to , for a date with on Sept. 23. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT. UC will then take on national-power Notre Dame on Sept. 25 at 2 p.m. ET.