TicketsAug. 24, 2006
UC OPENS 2006 SEASON:
The men's soccer team opens its 2006 regular season on Aug. 25 against crosstown rival Xavier. The Bearcats and Musketeers will kickoff at 7 p.m. at the XU Soccer Complex.
BEARCAT BITES:
The Bearcats finished their first season in the BIG EAST at 10-7-2 overall and 6-3-2 in conference play.
UC was picked to finish third in the Red Division in the BIG EAST preseason coaches poll.
Senior Omar Cummings has been named the Preseason BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year as well as preseason All-BIG EAST and College Soccer News Preseason All-American.
The Bearcats received votes in the preseason Soccer Times Top 25 poll. UC was ranked No. 40 by the publication.
Head coach Hylton Dayes enters his sixth season at the helm of the Bearcats holding a 45-37-16 mark in his first five campaigns.
SCOUTING THE MUSKETEERS:
Xavier returns six starters and 17 letterwinners to a young roster that finished the 2005 season with a 4-10-5 record. The top four scorers return, led by Jon Enders, who topped the Musketeers with four goals and nine points in 2005.
Head coach Dave Schureck is in his second season at Xavier after spending five seasons at the helm of the Dayton Flyers. He led XU to a 4-10-5 mark last season and lost, 1-0, to the Bearcats.
UC-XU SERIES HISTORY:
The Cincinnati-Xavier rivalry dates back to 1974. UC holds a 21-8-5 mark in the crosstown contest. At UC, the Bearcats have put together a 12-4-2 record, including a dramatic 1-0 victory against the Musketeers on Sept. 28, 2005. Kenny Anaba scored the game-winner with 16 seconds showing on the clock. UC has lost just once in its last nine matches against XU. The last time the two teams met at XU Soccer Complex, Xavier came away with a 1-0 win despite a 21-11 UC advantage in shots. UC holds a 9-4-3 mark at XU.
UC TABBED TO FINISH THIRD IN BIG EAST RED DIVISION:
The Bearcats were picked to finish third in the BIG EAST's Red Division by the conference's coaches. UC finished third in the Red Division last season behind former Conference rival USF and perennial power . The same two programs were chosen to finish above the Bearcats again this season, UC's second in the BIG EAST.
CUMMINGS AND GOINGS:
Senior Omar Cummings is no stranger to postseason awards, having been unanimously named to the first team All-BIG EAST team as well as the NSCAA All- Region team a season ago. But this year, he has been awarded before the season even started. The native was named the Preseason BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year, as well as a Preseason All-American by Collge Soccer News.
UP NEXT:
opens its 2006 home schedule against Bradley on Tuesday, Aug. 29, at Gettler Stadium. The Braves, coming off an NCAA Tournament berth in 2005, will take on UC at 5 p.m. in the first match of a Bearcats doubleheader. The women's team will take on Purdue, another 2005 NCAA tournament team, at 7:30 p.m.