TicketsOct. 5, 2005
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- Two early goals were enough to carry the No. 17 University of Cincinnati men's soccer team to a 2-1 win against Alabama A&M this afternoon at the A&M Soccer Complex. With the win, the Bearcats improve their unbeaten streak to seven straight matches, tying a school record set in 1999 and matched in 2003. UC is now 7-2-2 overall, and 5-0-2 in its last seven matches. Alabama A&M drops to 4-9-0 on the year.
Sophomore Kenny Anaba (Westerville, Ohio/Worthington Christian) got UC on the board in the third minute of the match, taking a pass from Omar Cummings (Old Harbour, Jamaica/Cincinnati State) and beating Bulldogs goalkeeper Mlondi Mdluli for his fifth goal of the season. Anaba scored for the fourth straight match and took sole possession of the team goal-scoring lead. That lead would not last long, however, as Cummings scored his fifth marker of the season just 1:24 later on a direct kick to give UC a 2-0 lead just 3:33 into the match.
The Bearcats then held on, despite being ousthot, 21-9, just the third time this season that UC has been outshot by its opponent. Alabama A&M got within a goal in the 82nd minute on a converted penalty kick by Musa Gibba, but was unable to get any closer.
Cincinnati goalkeeper Mike Vessells (Cincinnati, Ohio/Turpin) made six saves and allowed just the one goal. During UC's unbeaten streak, Vessells has posted a 0.54 goals against average and three shutouts. Of the four goals allowed during the stretch, two have come via penalty kicks.
"We are happy to come out with a win on the road," head coach Hylton Dayes said. "Alabama A&M is a very athletic team and they created a lot of chances, but we were able to hang on at the end. We have to give them (Alabama A&M) credit for the way they played."
The Bearcats return home for a crucial BIG EAST match on Saturday, Oct. 8 against No. 3 St. John's. The Bearcats (4-0-2 BIG EAST) are second in the BIG EAST Red Division, while St. John's is 3-0-2, just three points behind UC. Kickoff between the Bearcats and Red Storm is set for 7 p.m. in Gettler Stadium.