TicketsMay 10, 2006
CINCINNATI, Ohio-The University of Cincinnati men's soccer team set high goals for their 2006 spring season, and worked hard to achieve them. Ending the season 3-1-5, the Bearcats used the spring as a time to play strong, quality opponents, and gained valuable experience as they prepared for the upcoming fall season, their second in the BIG EAST Conference.
The men opened their season as they traveled to Florida during spring break. The Bearcats were victorious against the U-17 National Team on March 22. UC continued their time in Florida posting a pair of ties on March 25, going 1-1 as they matched up against Central Florida, and playing to a 0-0 draw with Rollins College. As well as playing matches, training and team building activities were also part of the team's time in Fort Lauderdale, Bradenton, and Orlando.
The Bearcats returned home and soon after traveled to Indiana on March 31, as they faced off against Indiana University. Part of the Midwest Soccer Coaches Symposium, UC played to heartbreaking 1-0 loss against the seven-time national champion Hoosiers; their first of loss of the spring stretch.
UC continued its spring on April 8, as it hosted the Bearcat Invitational at Gettler Stadium. The Bearcats faced off against the Cincinnati Kings, a USL second division team, and the Thundering Herd of Marshall University. UC first kicked off against the Kings, ending in a 0-0 draw. In the second match of the day, the Kings matched up against Marshall University, earning a 1-0 win. In the third and final match up of the day, the Bearcats took on the Thundering Herd, which ended in a 1-1 draw, leaving UC with two ties on the day.
The Bearcats continued their homestead at Gettler Stadium as they hosted the University of Akron on April 15, who held the number one ranking in the country for much of the fall season and made it to the NCAA quarterfinals. The 1-1 draw was evidence of true teamwork as UC came back from being down one goal, scoring in the final minutes of the match.
Participating in the annual Blue Chip Showcase on April 22, UC continued its spring season as they traveled to Xavier University to take on the Purple Aces of Evansville, defeating the squad 2-1. Plagued by injuries, the Bearcats showed great heart as they battled the Aces with only one sub. Goalkeeper Mike Vessells made an impressive appearance on the field, as he tallied one assist.
The Bearcats closed out their 2006 spring season as they hosted their annual Alumni Weekend on April 29, welcoming back former members of the UC squad, as well as putting on an educational S.A.Y. clinic for kids. A day of friendly competition, the current squad outscored the alums, 3-0, earning their third win of the season.
"I think the big thing we got out of this spring is how it was more of a total team effort in our matches," commented head coach Hylton Dayes. "That's a big thing we saw with this group; how they came together and how as a team we were able to compete against really top teams and there was a resiliency about the group. No matter who we were playing, if we didn't have subs; they found a way. They didn't complain, they competed at a high level through all of the adversity, and I think that's one thing we all took out of the spring. The strength of the group was very evident."
The Bearcats ended the spring with a 3-1-5 record. Junior Omar Cummings led UC in scoring as he tallied five goals on the season. Kenny Anaba, Sam Miller, and Kwame Sarkodie, each added two.
"In midfield, Sam (Miller) had a good spring. He was the anchor. Omar (Cummings) lead us in scoring and he shows why he's one of the best players in the country because we can move him to different positions and he is still very dangerous," commented Dayes. "From a player standpoint, and individual, we can see the guys make progress. This spring set us up now for the players to prepare for the next step, which is the players' summer preparation. We performed at a high level this spring and I think we accomplished all of our goals that we set. Everything from now on points to our fall season."