TicketsOct. 22, 2005
CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Omar Cummings (Old Harbour, Jamaica/Cincinnati State) and Kenny Anaba (Westerville, Ohio/Worthington Christian) led the University of Cincinnati men's soccer team to a 3-1 BIG EAST win against Villanova tonight at Gettler Stadium. Cummings scored twice and added an assist, while Anaba scored the first goal of the match and assisted on both of Cummings' tallies. Cincinnati moves to 9-5-2 overall and 5-2-2 in the BIG EAST, while Villanova, winless in seven straight matches, falls to 4-7-3, 3-4-1 in conference play.
Anaba got the Bearcats on the board first in the 23rd minute after taking a feed from Cummings. The sophomore striker get inside his defender along the right side of the box and flipped a shot into the upper right corner of the goal for his team-leading eighth marker of the season. Anaba has now scored in seven of his last nine matches.
Villanova answered in the 40th minute after Neil McNulty took throw in along the right sideline. The heave landed in the Bearcat goal box and was batted around before Brett Stassfurth got a foot on the loose ball and tapped it past UC goalkeeper Mike Vessells (/Turpin) for his third goal of the year. Vessells made three saves in earning his eighth win of the season.
The teams went to the half knotted in a 1-1 tie. UC controlled the midfield for most of the half, outshooting Villanova, 11-8, and creating several dangerous chances.
Cummings netted the game-winner for UC in the 64th minute on a feed from Anaba. Anaba chipped a pass over the top of the Wildcat defense and Cummings outran his defender to the ball. After angling left, the junior from beat VU keeper Jason Friel to the far post for his sixth goal of the season. Cummings iced the contest for at the 88:45 mark after taking another pass from Anaba and racing pass three defenders before pulling Friel out of his net and sliding home his seventh goal.
The physical Wildcats were whistled for 18 fouls, while UC was called for just seven. Villanova has now out-fouled its opponents, 241-149. The Bearcats outshot Villanova, 21-12, in the match, the fifth time this season that UC has posted 20 or more attempts.
"This was a good win for us," head coach Hylton Dayes said. "Villanova is a tough team, but our two forwards (Cummings, Anaba) played great tonight. They were dangerous all night and scored three great goals. This is definitely a great way to start this two-match homestand."
The Bearcats will play host to DePaul on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at Gettler Stadium in the final regular season home match of 2005. UC will recognize seniors Ewan Blair (St. Catherine, Jamaica/St. John's (NY)), Matt Hayden (Colorado Springs, Colo./Liberty), and Tony Morelli (Holly, Mich./Brother Rice) in a Senior Day ceremony prior to the 7 p.m. kickoff with the Blue Demons.