TicketsSept. 19, 2005
FOR STARTERS:
The University of Cincinnati women's soccer team will take on its oldest rival, crosstown foe Xavier, on Tuesday, Sept. 20. Kickoff between the Bearcats and Musketeers is set for 7 p.m. at UC's Gettler Stadium.
BEARCAT BITES:
UC and Xavier have met 22 times on the soccer field, UC's longest rivalry. UC has dominated the series, leading 19-3-0.
Cincinnati has won the last five meetings between the crosstown rivals.
The Bearcats have scored seven goals in seven matches this season. UC scored just 11 goals in 18 matches in 2004.
Andrea Haney and Jenn Johannigman lead the Bearcats with two goals apiece.
Goalkeeper Sherry Slye's two shutouts this season have doubled her career total .
ABOUT THE BEARCATS:
Cincinnati opened its inaugural BIG EAST slate with a 1-0 loss against long-time rival Louisvile at Gettler Stadium. Goalkeeper Sherry Slye made nine saves, but the Bearcats were unable to crack the Cardinal defense and keeper Deana Waintraub, who lowered her goals against average to 0.17 with her fifth shutout.
The Bearcats are led offensively by Haney and freshman Jenn Johannigman, each of whom have tallied two goals. Haney is UC's top returning scorer from 2004, when she netted two goals. Kate Norton and Chelsea Kindschuh have contributed one goal and one assist apiece from their midfield positions. Slye holds a 1.07 goals against average and has made 27 saves.
Head coach Meridy Glenn, in her 23rd year with the Bearcats, holds a241-157-30 ledger during her tenure. She is 18-3-0 agaist Xavier, winning the last five match-ups with the Musketeers.
SCOUTING THE MUSKETEERS:
Xavier is coming off a 3-1 win over Louisville on Sunday afternoon at the Xavier University Soccer Complex.
XU is led by senior Angie Scarlato, who has scored three goals. Amber Silvis has scored twice and tacked on an assist for five points. Freshman midfielder Maggie O'Neal leads the Musketeers with three assists. Xavier has used two goalkeepers, splitting time between Lindsey Cullins and Ashley Donaldson. Cullins has posted better numbers, holding a 2-1-0 record and a 1.17 goals against average.
Former Notre Dame assistant Alvin Alexander is in his first season as head coach at Xavier. Alexander helped the Fighting Irish to the 2004 NCAA Championship. This is his first meeting with Cincinnati.
UC-XAVIER SERIES HISTORY:
Cincinnati leads the all-time series with Xavier, 19-3-0. UC has won the last five meetings between the two by a combined 17-5 score. The Bearcats and Muske
teers first met in 1982, with UC earning a 3-0 win.
LAST MEETING:
UC and Xavier last squared off on Sept. 16, 2004, with Cincinnati grabbing a 3-2 victory at the XU Soccer Complex. Marie Strelka scored her first goal of the season for the game-winner as the Bearcats won their fifth straight against Xavier.
UC PICKED EIGHTH:
The Bearcats were chosen to finish eighth in the BIG EAST's Division B in a preseason poll of the BIG EAST head coaches. Defending national champ Notre Dame was unanimously selected to capture the Division B crown, while Connecticut was tabbed as the Division A favorite. Fellow NCAA qualifiers West Virginia and Villanova were selected to finish second in Divisions A and B, respectively.
VERY SHERRY:
Bearcat goalkeeper Sherry Slye holds a 1.07 goals against average this season through seven matches. In her last 12 matches dating back to last season, Slye has guided the Bearcats to a 4-6-2 record, while posting 58 saves (4.8 per match), three shutouts and a stellar 0.90 goals against average.
"FRESH" STARTS:
Five freshmen have started each of the first seven matches for the Bearcats. Forwards Jenn Johannigman and Kristin May, along with midfielders Chelsea Kindschuh and Lindsey Noteboom earned starting nods. Defender Kim Sykes also started each match along the backline for the Bearcats. Johannigman leads UC with two goals and four points. Kindschuh is tied for third on the team with one goal and one assist for three points. Sykes scored the game winner in UC's 1-0 victory against Michigan State on Aug. 28. May and Noteboom have each picked up one assist on the season.
RIVALRY DOMINCANCE:
Since 1982, the Bearcats and Musketeers have met 22 times. UC is 19-3-0 in those contests. The Bearcats have outscored Xavier, 58-13, during the rivalry, scoring an average of 2.6 goals per match. UC won the first eight matches between the two, holding a 27-1 edge in goals scored. UC also owns winning streaks of six matches and five matches against the Musketeers.
TYING IT UP:
UC has managed ties against two undefeated squads this season, knotting up then-No. 10 Ohio State, 2-2, and playing 3-0-1 Kentucky to a draw. Both matches were away from Gettler Stadium.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES:
Through seven matches this season, the Bearcats have scored seven goals. In 2004, UC scored a total of 11 goals in 18 matches. The Bearcats were shutout 11 times in 2004. They were shutout for the first time against Louisville.
STEADY HANEY:
Sophomore Andrea Haney leads the Bearcats with two goals this season, matching her total from her freshman campaign. The leading returning scorer from 2004, Haney has picked up where she left off, leading the squad with four points and tying for second with seven shots.
SISTER, SISTER:
The Bearcats sport a pair of siblings on their 2005 roster. Redshirt sophomore Amy May is joined by her sister, freshman Kristin. Sophomore Andrea Haney, the team's leading returning scorer, welcomes her sister, Heather, a junior transfer from Indiana University.
TOUGH SLEDDING:
The Bearcats face one of the most difficult schedules in the country in 2005, the team's first year in the BIG EAST Conference. UC will play six NCAA College Cup qualifiers, including defending national champion Notre Dame. The majority of those contests come on the road, making things even more difficult for UC. A look at UC's toughest competition in 2005:
Date Team `04 Rec./'05 Result
8/26 William & Mary L, 1-2
9/2 vs. Ohio State T, 2-2 (2 ot)
9/4 at Dayton L, 1-2
9/23 at Notre Dame 25-1-1
9/30 at Connecticut 18-7-1
10/7 at Villanova 14-6-2
UP NEXT:
The Bearcats will travel to South Bend, Ind. on Sept. 23 for a matchup with Notre Dame, the defending NCAA champions. UC and the Irish will kick off at 6 p.m. ET. The Bearcats then return home for a BIG EAST match against former Conference USA foe DePaul onSept. 25 at 1 p.m.