TicketsNov. 2, 2005
CINCINNATI, Ohio -- The University of Cincinnati men's soccer team allowed two first-half goals, one on a penalty kick, and was unable to overcome the deficit in falling, 2-1, to Providence tonight (Nov. 2) in the first round of the 2005 BIG EAST Men's Soccer Championship. The Friars (6-3-7, 3-3-4), seeded sixth out of the Blue Division, advance to take on Seton Hall on Nov. 5. The third-seeded Bearcats (10-7-2, 6-3-2) will hold out hope for an NCAA Tournament at-large bid.
The Bearcats controlled action early as they pressured in its half of the field. UC had its first scoring chance in the 21st minute when Kenny Anaba (, / Christian) took a through ball and beat his defender down the right side. As he sprinted into the PC box, he was pulled off the ball from behind. The assistant referee raised his flag to indicate a foul, but the referee overruled and awarded UC a corner kick. Omar Cummings (, / ) took the corner, but it was cleared by , ending the threat.
The Bearcats then made a costly mistake defensively, allowing to take a 1-0 lead. In the 30th minute, PC's Timothy Ritter took a long throw-in along the far sideline. Ritter's throw landed in the box and couldn't be cleared by the Bearcats. Joseph Weill wound up unmarked and put home the free ball from six yards out.
Just two minutes later, UC was victimized by a foul called in the box. Amir Ikner (, / West) was whistled for the foul while fighting for a loose ball at the top of the box. Eoin Lynch converted the penalty kick to give PC a 2-0 lead after a lengthy argument by UC, which saw goalkeeper Mike Vessells (Cincinnati, Ohio/Turpin) earn a yellow card.
The teams went to the half with only five shots taken, but PC scoring on each of its attempts. UC crawled back into the match in the 48th minute when Anaba was dragged down in the box, setting up a penalty kick. Captain Sam Miller (, /) beat PC keeper Chris Kanopka to the lower left corner to cut the lead to a single goal.
UC continued to pressure throughout the second half, outshooting the Friars, 11-1, in the stanza. The Bearcats were unable to notch the equalizer despite several quality chances. Captain Matt Hayden (, /), who was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District team earlier in the day, had two opportunities to knot the score. In the 74th minute, Kwame Sarkodie (/Carroll) sent a cross from the near side to the far post where Hayden was waiting. His header beat Kanopka, but sailed just high. Kanopka again foiled Hayden's attempt to tie the score in the final minute of action. The senior's blast from 20 yards out was saved by a diving Kanopka with 30 seconds remaining. The Bearcats had a final chance on the resulting corner kick, but Cummings' kick was ruled out before it ever got to the box, sending UC to the heartbreaking loss.
"I am very disappointed with the result," head coach Hylton Dayes said. "When you spot a team a two-goal lead, it's tough to come back. We kept pressing and pressing in the second half, but the inability to finish chances hurt us today."
The Bearcats will hold out hope for an NCAA at-large bid. The NCAA selection will take place on Nov. 14 and will be televised live on ESPNNews.