TicketsOct. 26, 2005
CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Kenny Anaba (Westerville, Ohio/Worthington Christian) scored his ninth goal of the season in the 106th minute to send the University of Cincinnati men's soccer team to a 2-1, double-overtime victory against DePaul tonight at Gettler Stadium. The Bearcats outshot the Blue Demons, 18-7, in moving to 10-5-2 overall and 6-2-2 in BIG EAST play. DePaul drops to 3-10-2, and 1-7-1 in conference action.
After controlling possession for much of the first half, the Bearcats got on the board in the 41st minute, as Tony Morelli (Holly, Mich./Brother Rice) flicked a header in the box to Mike Dwyer (Cincinnati, Ohio/Summit Country Day). Dwyer volleyed the header past DePaul keeper Brian Visser from six yards out for his third tally of the season, giving UC a 1-0 lead heading into the half. Dwyer scored for the first time since Sept. 7 against Louisville. UC outshot DePaul, 7-1, in the stanza.
The lead did not last long, however, as the Blue Demons opened the second 45 minutes by controlling play and scored the equalizer just 1:14 into the half. After a failed clearing attempt landed on the foot of DePaul's Adam Hermsen, the Blue Demon striker blasted a shot from just inside the UC box, beating Mike Vessells (Cincinnati, Ohio/Turpin) to the far post.
The DePaul defense settled in, appearing content to leave Cincinnati with a tie. UC fired seven shots in the second half, but created only a few dangerous chances. The best opportunity came in the 71st minute when Omar Cummings (Old Harbour, Jamaica/Cincinnati State) made a run down the left side and blasted a left-footed shot that beat Visser, but glanced off the crossbar and back into the box. No Bearcat was able to get a good strike on the loose ball and it was eventually cleared by the DePaul defense.
Neither team had many chances in the first overtime period, as UC fired the only two shots of the session. In the second overtime, Anaba notched his third game-winner of the season at the 105:39 mark. Cummings brought the ball up the middle of the field and flicked a pass over the top of the defense. As Anaba raced in on the ball, Visser left his line. Anaba won the race to the ball and tapped it out of the air past the DePaul keeper. Anaba has now scored in eight of his last 10 matches.
Prior to the match, UC honored seniors Ewan Blair (St. Catherine, Jamaica/St. John's (N.Y.)), Matt Hayden (Colorado Springs, Colo./Liberty), and Morelli in a Senior Day ceremony.
Vessells made four saves to record his ninth win of the season.
"You've got to give a lot of credit to DePaul," head coach Hylton Dayes said. "Our guys are learning that you have to play 90 minutes, challenge for every ball and play as a team. I am certainly glad that we are learning and winning."
The Bearcats clinched at least a third-place finish in the BIG EAST Red Division with the win. UC sits in a second-place tie with St. John's and remains eligible for a first round bye in the BIG EAST Championships.
Cincinnati will travel to Tampa to take on South Florida in the final match of the regular season on Oct. 29. Kickoff between the Bearcats and Bulls will be at 7:30 p.m.