TicketsSept. 27, 2005
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
FOR STARTERS:
The men's soccer team, ranked No. 15 by Soccer America, will play host to crosstown rival Xavier on Sept. 28 in Gettler Stadium. The Bearcats and Musketeers will meet for the 34th time. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
BEARCAT BITES:
UC leads the BIG EAST Red Division with a 4-0-1 conference mark, one point ahead of .
The Bearcats have scored 15 goals through eight matches this season.
UC is ranked in four national polls this week. The Bearcats are No. 15 in the Soccer America poll, No. 21 in the NSCAA Coaches Poll, No. 22 in the Soccer Times poll, and No. 23 according to College Soccer News.
Twelve different Bearcats have notched at least one point this season.
Goalkeeper Mike Vessells has posted a 0.47 goals against average and two shutouts over the last four matches.
UC is undefeated through its first five conference matches for the first time in its history.
ABOUT THE BEARCATS:
(5-2-1, 4-0-1) remained unbeaten in BIG EAST play with a 2-0 win at and a 2-1 victory on the road against No. 18 Notre Dame last weekend.
Sam Miller scored on a penalty kick and Omar Cummings, the reigning Soccer America Player of the Week, scored his third goal in as many matches to lead UC to victory at on Sept. 23. Goalkeeper Mike Vessells earned his second shutout of the season, making three saves.
Against Notre Dame on Sept. 25, Kenny Anaba put UC on top and Amir Ikner scored his first goal of the season with a header for the game-winner as the Bearcats knocked off a top-25 opponent for the second week in a row. UC topped No. 1 and previously unbeaten , 2-0, on Sept. 16. Vessells made six more saves in running the UC unbeaten streak to four straight.
The Bearcats sport a balanced offensive attack with 12 different players scoring points and eight scoring goals. Cummings leads the squad with four goals and eight points. Mike Dwyer is close behind with two goals and two assists for six points. Vessells has registered 30 saves and a 1.21 goals against average this season.
Head coach Hylton Dayes is in his fifth season with the Bearcats. He is 40-32-15 during his tenure at UC. He is 2-1-1 in his career against Xavier.
SCOUTING THE MUSKETEERS:
The Xavier Musketeers, losers of four straight matches, enter the annual rivalry match against UC with a 1-5-1 record. XU has been outscored, 17-1, during the losing streak. The Musketeers fell, 5-1, to at home on Sept. 25. XU dropped a 3-0 decision at on Sept. 23.
Xavier is led by Jon Enders and Matt Kmetz, each of whom have notched five points this season. Enders and Matthew Wheeler lead the Musketeers with two goals apiece, while Kmetz tops the squad with three assists. Liam Curran and Adam Sokolowski have shared goalkeeping duties, with Curran holding a 1.70 goals against average and two shutouts, leading the team in both categories.
Head coach Dave Schureck, in his first season at XU, holds a 1-5-1 record. The former head coach, Schureck holds a 58-38-9 overall record in his sixth season.
UC-XAVIER SERIES HISTORY:
Xavier is 's oldest rival, having met 33 times on the soccer field since 1974. Xavier topped UC on Sept. 22, 2004, snapping the Bearcats' seven-match unbeaten streak against their rivals from across town. The annual series began in 1974, with UC earning a 2-0 win at home. The Bearcats also own an eight-match unbeaten streak against the Musketeers, sporting a 7-0-1 mark between 1984 and 1991. UC has outscored Xavier, 66-40, in the series and is unbeaten in eight of the last 10 matches.
LAST TIME VS. XAVIER:
The men's soccer team fell, 1-0, against Xavier on Sept. 22, 2004. UC had plenty of chances, but was unable to capitalize.
A physical first half was dominated by the Bearcats, as they outshot the Musketeers, 7-4. Xavier netted the lone goal of the game just after halftime. XU's Nick Frasher found himself all alone on the weak side after a cross from Jim Cummings, and put home the game-winner in the 46th minute.
A Ewan Blair free kick in the final minute was wide of the mark, sending the Bearcats to just their eighth loss in 33 matches against Xavier.
THE POLLS ARE OPEN:
The Bearcats are currently ranked in four national polls. UC is No. 15 in the nation according to Soccer . The Bearcats also check in at No. 21 (NSCAA), No. 22 (Soccer Times), and No. 23 (College Soccer News).
UNDEFEATED, UNPRECEDENTED:
The Bearcats 4-0-1 start in BIG EAST action this season marks the first time in the history of the program that UC has been undefeated five matches into the conference slate. UC leads the Red Division of the BIG EAST, one of the nation's elite soccer conferences, by one point over (4-0-0).
VESSELLS DOMINATES:
Junior goalkeeper Mike Vessells has been nothing short of dominant in his last four matches, owning a 0.47 goals against average and leading the Bearcats to a 3-0-1 record. Vessells, a co-captain, has allowed just two goals, one coming off a penalty kick, and has made 18 saves. The 2004 third-team All-Conference USA selection has started every match for the Bearcats this season, and is responsible for all 743:02 minutes in goal.
SPREADING THE WEALTH:
has spread the scoring around this season. Through eight matches, 12 different Bearcats have tallied at least one point. Eight different players have scored goals, with five notching their first career markers for UC.
OFFENSIVE DEFENSE:
The Bearcats have gotten some offensive help from their backline through the first eight matches of the season. UC defender Amir Ikner scored the game-winner against No. 18 Notre Dame. He has also posted two assists, accounting for four points. Fellow defender Kevin Schrand has added two assists and Ewan Blair has also added a helper, giving UC defenders seven points on the year.
THE RETURN OF THE MATT:
Senior captain Matt Hayden, recovering from a foot injury, made his first start of the season against Notre Dame and posted an assist, finding teammate Kenny Anaba for the first goal in UC's 2-1 win against the 18th-ranked Irish.
OH MY, OMAR!:
Junior Omar Cummings earned BIG EAST and national honors on Sept. 20 after scoring both UC goals in the Bearcats' 2-0 win against No. 1 UConn on Sept. 16. Cummings earned Soccer America Player of the Week honors as well as being named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week. The transfer from nearby leads UC with four goals and eight points. He also ranks second in the BIG EAST with 32 shots.
BRINGING OUT THE BEST:
UC has played its best this season against its top competition. On Sept. 16, the Bearcats dropped No. 1 UConn from the ranks of the unbeaten win a 2-0 win at home. Just a week later, UC topped No. 18 Notre Dame on the road to stay unbeaten in BIG EAST play.
FIRE AWAY:
UC has put pressure on opposing defenses and goalkeepers, as the Bearcats have attempted 120 shots, third in the BIG EAST. By contrast, UC has limited opponents to just 96 shots, including 40 on goal.
FABULOUS 40:
With the Bearcats' 2-1 victory at No. 18 Notre Dame on Sept. 25, head coach Hylton Dayes earned his 40th win with UC. The 2003 Conference Coach of the Year now holds a 40-32-15 record in his fifth season with the Bearcats.
UP NEXT:
UC will travel to , for a match-up with BIG EAST adversary on Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. The Bearcats and Scarlet Knights have met just once, with Rutgers defeating , 2-1, in 2001.