TicketsOct. 6, 2005
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
FOR STARTERS:
Ranked No. 17 in the nation in both the NSCAA Coaches Poll and the Soccer America poll, the University of Cincinnati men's soccer team will face its second top-five opponent of the season as No. 3 St. John's visits Gettler Stadium for a BIG EAST tilt on Oct. 8. The Bearcats and Red Storm, tied for second in the BIG EAST Red Division, will kickoff at 7 p.m. Both teams are riding a seven-match unbeaten streak (5-0-2).
BEARCAT BITES:
UC remains undefeated (4-0-2) in BIG EAST play and is one point behind South Florida (5-0-0) for first place in the Red Division.
The Bearcats are 2-0-0 this season against ranked teams.
UC's win at Alabama A&M improved its unbeaten streak to seven matches (5-0-2), tying the single-season school record set in 1999 and matched in 2003.
The Bearcats have scored 19 goals through 11 matches this season.
UC is currently ranked in four national polls. The Bearcats are No. 17 in both the NSCAA Coaches Poll and the Soccer America poll, No. 24 in the Soccer Times poll, and No. 24 according to College Soccer News.
Twelve different Bearcats have notched at least one point this season.
Goalkeeper Mike Vessells has posted a 0.54 goals against average and three shutouts over the last seven matches (5-0-2).
UC is undefeated through its first six conference matches for the first time in its history.
Sophomore Kenny Anaba has scored in four straight matches, including tallying the game-winner with 16 seconds remaining against Xavier on Sept. 28.
Senior defender Ewan Blair transferred from St. John's after the 2003 season.
ABOUT THE BEARCATS:
Cincinnati (7-2-2, 4-0-2) ran its unbeaten streak to seven matches with a 2-1 win at Alabama A&M on Oct. 5. Kenny Anaba scored for the fourth straight match, while Omar Cummings tallied the game-winner. The Bearcats were outshot for just the third time this season, as Alabama A&M held a 21-9 edge.
UC is still outshooting its opponents, 163-137, this season and has outscored the opposition, 11-4, during the seven match unbeaten streak. The Bearcats are third in the BIG EAST in shots and sixth in goals (19).
The Bearcats sport a balanced offensive attack with 12 different players scoring points and eight scoring goals. Cummings leads the squad with five goals and 12 points, while Anaba has five goals and 11 points. Mike Dwyer has tallied two goals and two assists for six points. Goalkeeper Mike Vessells has registered 42 saves, three shutouts, and a 1.05 goals against average this season.
Head coach Hylton Dayes is in his fifth season with the Bearcats. He is 42-32-16 during his tenure at UC. He has not faced St. John's.
SCOUTING THE RED STORM:
The St. John's Red Storm, tied with UC for second place in the BIG EAST's Red Division, is riding a seven-match unbeaten streak (5-0-2), identical to that of the
Bearcats. Bill Hole scored his first career goal in the 83rd minute to lead the Red Storm to a 1-0 conference victory at Syracuse on Oct. 5. Goalkeeper Jason Landers and the St. John's defense pitched its fifth straight shutout in the win.
The preseason BIG EAST Red Division favorite, St. John's is outscoring its opponents, 16-4, this season and leads the BIG EAST with a 0.38 goals against average.
Hermann Trophy Candidate Matt Groenwald leads the Red Storm with five goals and three assists for 13 points. Landers leads the BIG EAST with a 0.38 goals against average and six shutouts.
Head coach Dave Masur is 224-60-41 in his 15th year at St. John's. He has led the Red Storm to three NCAA Final Fours and the 1996 NCAA Championship. Masur has never faced Cincinnati.
UC-ST. JOHN'S SERIES HISTORY:
The Bearcats and Red Storm, new conference rivals, will face each other for the first time.
THE POLLS ARE OPEN:
The Bearcats are currently ranked in four national polls. UC is No. 17 in the nation according to Soccer America. The Bearcats also check in at No. 17 (NSCAA), No. 24 (Soccer Times), and No. 24 (College Soccer News).
UNDEFEATED, UNPRECEDENTED:
The Bearcats' 4-0-2 start in BIG EAST action this season marks the first time in the history of the program that UC has been undefeated six matches into the conference slate. UC is tied with St. John's for second place in the Red Division of the BIG EAST, one of the nation's elite soccer conferences. The Bearcats (14 points) trail former Conference USA affiliate South Florida (5-0-0, 15 points) by just a point.
WHAT'S THE FREQUENCY, KENNY:
Coming into the season, the question surrounding the Bearcats after losing the top four scorers from the 2004 sqaud was: Who will score the goals? Sophomore Kenny Anaba has stepped up, scoring five times thus far, including the game-winner against Xavier. The two-headed scoring attack of Anaba and Omar Cummings has yielded 10 of UC's 19 goals and accounted for 76 of the Bearcats' 163 shots. Anaba, who scored 40 goals as a senior in high school, has scored in each of the last four matches and added an assist against Louisville on Sept. 7. He scored UC's first goal of the season on Sept. 2 against Wright State.
VESSELLS DOMINATES:
Junior goalkeeper Mike Vessells has been nothing short of dominant in his last seven matches, owning a 0.54 goals against average and leading the Bearcats to a 5-0-2 record. Vessells, a co-captain, has allowed just four goals, two coming off penalty kicks, and has made 30 saves during that span. The 2004 third-team All-Conference USA selection has started every match for the Bearcats this season, and is responsible for all 1033:02 minutes in goal.
SPREADING THE WEALTH:
Cincinnati 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. The Bearcats have recorded seven wins, and six different players have accounted for game-winning goals.
OFFENSIVE DEFENSE:
The Bearcats have gotten some offensive help from their backline through the first 11 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.
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.
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 Cinicnnati State leads UC with five goals and 12 points. He also ranks second in the BIG EAST with 44 shots.
FIRE AWAY:
UC has put pressure on opposing defenses and goalkeepers, as the Bearcats have attempted 163 shots, third in the BIG EAST. By contrast, UC has limited opponents to just 137 shots, including 54 on goal. The Bearcats have posted double-digit shots in all but two matches this season, including four matches with 20 or more attempts. UC has outshot its opponent in all but four matches this season.
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 USA Coach of the Year now holds a 42-32-16 record
in his fifth season with the Bearcats.
BALANCED ATTACK:
Through the first 11 matches of the season, the Bearcats rank in the top 10 in the BIG EAST in each of nine statistical categories. Offensively, UC is sixth in goals, seventh in goals per match, tied for sixth in assists, third in shots, and tied for ninth in corner kicks. On the defensive side, the Bearcats are eighth in goals allowed, seventh in goals against average, seventh in saves, and tied for seventh in shutouts.
IRON IKNER:
Sophomore defender Amir Ikner has started all 11 matches for the Bearcats in 2005 and has yet to leave the field. He and goalkeeper Mike Vessells are the only Bearcats to play in every one of the 1,033 minutes of action this season. After starting the final 11 matches of his freshman campaign, Ikner has played in 1,911 of a possible 2,066 minutes over the last 22 matches. The Bearcats are 12-6-4 and have given up just 21 goals in that span.
NEW FACES MAKING AN IMPACT:
Eight first or second-year Bearcats have scored points for UC this season. Junior transfer Omar Cummings (5G, 2A) leads the Bearcats with 12 points, while sophomore Kenny Anaba (5G, 1A) is close behind with 11. Sophomores Amir Ikner (1G, 2A), Noah Davidson (1G, 1A), and Kevin Schrand (2A), have combined for two goals and five assists while true freshmen Dominic Oppong (1G) and Landry Gray (2A) have posted two points each.
SOCCER EARNS FIRST BIG EAST WIN:
The men's soccer team became the first University of Cincinnati athletic program to win a BIG EAST Conference game with its 4-3 victory at Louisville on Sept. 7.
UP NEXT:
UC will wrap up a two-match homestand on Wed., Oct. 12, as Oakland heads to Gettler Stadium for a non-canference tilt. Kickoff between the Bearcats and Golden Grizzlies is set for 7 p.m.