TicketsSept. 22, 2005
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FOR STARTERS:
The University of Cincinnati will travel to South Bend, Ind. to take on 2004 NCAA champion Notre Dame on Friday, Sept. 23 at 5 p.m. EST. The Bearcats then return home to square off with former Conference USA foe DePaul on Sunday, Sept. 25. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Gettler Stadium.
BEARCAT BITES:
UC had its five-match win streak against Xavier snapped with a 2-1 overtime loss to the Musketeers on Sept. 20.
UC plays the defending national champion for the third time in its history. The Bearcats met 1985 champ George Mason in 1986, and twice played defending champion North Carolina, in 1985 and 1988.
The Bearcats have scored eight goals in eight matches this season. UC scored just 11 goals in 18 matches in 2004.
Jenn Johannigman scored her team-leading third goal against Xavier.
Goalkeeper Sherry Slye's two shutouts this season have doubled her career total .
ABOUT THE BEARCATS:
Cincinnati lost to rival Xavier for the first time since 1998 on Sept. 20, falling, 2-1, in overtime at Gettler Stadium. Freshman forward Jenn Johannigman scored her team-leading third goal in the defeat.
The Bearcats are led offensively by Johannigman's three goals. Andrea Haney has netted a pair of goals for UC. Junior Becky Imhoff and freshman Lindsey Noteboom lead the Bearcats with two assists each. Goalkeeper Sherry Slye holds a 1.18 goals against average and has made 35 saves.
Head coach Meridy Glenn, in her 23rd year with the Bearcats, holds a241-158-30 ledger during her tenure. She is 1-4-1 all-time against Notre Dame and holds a 9-0-0 career record against DePaul.
SCOUTING THE FIGHTING IRISH:
The defending champion Irish, ranked No. 6 in the nation, own a 7-1-0 record and a 1-0-0 mark in BIG EAST play. Notre Dame topped DePaul, 6-0, on Sept. 18 and followed with a 3-0 victory against No. 20 Michigan.
Notre Dame is led by freshman Kerri Hanks, who is second in the NCAA with
13 goals. Her 13 goals and 29 points lead the BIG EAST. All-American and BIG EAST preseason Player of the Year Katie Thorlakson is right behind Hanks with 28 points (8 G, 12 A). Notre Dame goalkeepers Erika Bohn and Lauren Karas have combined for a 0.68 goals against average and four shutouts.
Head coach Randy Waldrum, a four-time BIG EAST Coach of the Year, is in his seventh season as head coach at Notre Dame. He owns a 126-21-5 record with the Irish and is 233-71-17 overall in 16 years as a head coach.
UC-NOTRE DAME SERIES HISTORY:
Cincinnati and Notre Dame have met six times, with the Irish holding a 4-1-1 advantage. The last meeting was in the second round of the 2001 NCAA Tournament, with UC grabbing one of the biggest wins in school history, knocking off Notre Dame, 3-2. The Bearcats and Irish also played in the 1997 NCAA Tournament, with Notre Dame earning a 7-1 victory. The teams first played in 1991, with Notre Dame topping UC, 4-1, in Cincinnati.
SCOUTING THE BLUE DEMONS:
The DePaul Blue Demons come into the weekend with a 2-4-1 record, including a 0-1-0 mark in the BIG EAST. DePaul dropped its conference opener at Notre Dame on Sept. 16, 6-0. The Blue Demons rebounded with a 2-0 win against Central Michigan on Sept. 18.
DePaul is led by Julianne Stitch, the school's all-time leading scorer. Stitch has two goals, one assist, and five points this season. The Blue Demons have outshot their opponents, 125-113, but have been outscored, 15-4.
Head coach John Wilson is in his sixth season with DePaul. He holds a 42-50-6 record and is 0-5-0 against the Bearcats.
UC-DEPAUL SERIES HISTORY:
Former Conference USA foes, UC and DePaul have met each season since 1996. The Bearcats have dominated the series, owning a 9-0-0 record and outscoring the Blue Demons, 24-2. Last season, UC topped DePaul, 1-0, in Chicago.
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 1.18 goals against average this season through eight matches. In her last 13 matches dating back to last season, Slye has posted 66 saves (5.1 per match), three shutouts and a 1.13 goals against average.
"FRESH" STARTS:
Five freshmen have started each of the first eight 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 three goals and six 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. Noteboom has tallied two assists, while May has added one.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES:
Through eight matches this season, the Bearcats have scored eight 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 on Sept. 15.
UP NEXT:
The Bearcats will return to the road for a BIG EAST match with No. 18 Connecticut on Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. UC will then head to Providence to take on the Friars on Oct. 2. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.