TicketsSept. 11, 2006
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SETTING THE SCENE: The University of Cincinnati women's soccer team opens its second season in the BIG EAST with a nationally televised contest at rival Louisville on Wednesday, Sept. 13. The match, the Fox Soccer Channel NSCAA Match of the Week, kicks off at 8 p.m. The Bearcats are 3-2-1 after snapping a two-match losing streak with a 1-0 win over Oakland on Sunday. The Cardinals are undefeated at 4-0-1.
STORYLINES:
Fox Soccer Channel is digital channel 116 on Time Warner Cable in Cincinnati and 422 on Insight Cable in Kentucky.
The Bearcats equaled last year's win total with a 1-0 win over Oakland to move to 3-2-1.
FreshmanAndrea Kaminski has posted three shutouts in net and has allowed only four goals (one a penalty kick) in 563 minutes.
UC is 3-0 when scoring a goal this season.
Forty-three of the Bearcats' 66 starts have come from players in their first or second year at UC.
The Bearcats have won 17 of 22 matches against Louisville, but the Cardinals have won the last three, all by 1-0 scores. UC is 5-2-1 at U of L.
Head coach Meridy Glenn is in her 24th season at the helm of the Bearcats and owns a 245-166-33 career record.
UC was picked to finish eighth in the National Division in the BIG EAST preseason coaches poll after finishing their first season in the BIG EAST at 3-14-4 overall and 1-8-2 in conference play.
Louisville is 4-0-1 on the season after a 5-0 win over Xavier on Sunday. The Cards have outscored their opponents, 12-2, and played three overtime contests. Junior Monique Gjini leads U of L with three goals and two assists.
KAMINSKI HONORED:
Freshman keeper Andrea Kaminski started her career off right by making five saves in UC's season-opening 1-0 win over Kentucky. For her efforts she was named BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week on Aug. 28. She opened her career with 227:52 of scoreless netminding. She has allowed just four goals (one a penalty kick) and made 42 saves while playing every minute in net for the Bearcats.
APPROACHING MILESTONE:
In 2001 Head Coach Meridy Glenn became the first female in NCAA Division I history to earn 200 career women's soccer victories. Now in her 24th season, she is just five short of reaching 250 career wins. She is the second-winningest female coach in NCAA history and among the top 15 all-time in career wins.
POWER OF YOUTH:
While the Bearcats return nine starters, they are indeed a young team. Eighteen players are in their first or second years at UC. Of the 66 starts made this year, 43 have been made by these players.
IT'S JUST THAT SIMPLE:
So far this season, the success of the Bearcats has been easy to predict. When they score, they win. All four UC goals have come in their three wins and all three wins have been by shutout. Conversely, Cincinnati has not scored in its two losses or the tie.
INEXPERIENCE IN THE NET:
The Bearcats boast four goalkeepers on the roster. Three are freshmen and one is a sophomore. Entering this season, none of the four had played even a minute in net for UC. Sophomore Andrea Bouldin, who made four starts for Eastern Michigan in 2005 before transferring, has the most prior experience, but freshman Andrea Kaminski has grabbed the starting job, playing every minute this year.
UC TABBED TO FINISH EIGHTH IN BIG EAST NATIONAL DIVISION:
The Bearcats were picked to finish eighth in the BIG EAST's National Division by the conference's coaches. UC finished third in the Red Division last season. The Bearcats were picked just behind Seton Hall and DePaul.
RETURNING FIREPOWER:
The Bearcats scored just 16 goals in 18 matches last year, but most of those who found the net are back. Led by Jenn Johannigman's six, UC returnees accounted for 12 of those 16 goals. Current Bearcats also accounted for 14 of last year's 16 assists, with Becky Imhoff's six leading the way.
ROUSH RETURNS (AGAIN):
To call Ashley Roush a senior is an understatement. The midfielder is in her sixth season on the Bearcats after missing all of the 2003 and 2004 seasons due to injury. Last year she started 11 of 18 matches and recorded her first career point with an assist against No. 14 Marquette.
UP NEXT:
The Bearcats return home to host Cleveland State on Sunday, Sept. 17 at 12:30 p.m. in the first match of a double-header with the men.