TicketsSept. 15, 2006
, - The University of Cincinnati snapped out of a four-match winless streak in a big way, dominating BIG EAST foe , 3-1, on Friday night at Gettler Stadium. The Bearcats improve to 3-3-1 overall and 1-2-0 in BIG EAST play with the win, while falls to 1-6-1, 0-3-0 in conference action.
Preseason All-American Omar Cummings scored twice and freshman Marcus Hairston added his first career goal in UC's best offensive effort of the season.
In a first half played almost entirely in the Bearcats' offensive third, Cummings put UC on top in the 15th minute. He played a ball to Mike Dwyer, who fired a shot on goal that was pushed away by Matt Pyzdrowski. Cummings gathered in the rebound and pounded it home for his third goal of the season.
The Bearcats had another great chance in the 35th minute when Cummings served a cross to the far post where Hairston's diving header was just wide of its mark.
UC kept the pressure on in the second half and Cummings added his second of the match in the 54th minute. After playing the ball into Kenny Anaba inside the 18, Cummings took a pass back from Anaba and fired a left-footed rocket that deflected off a Marquette defender and past Pyzdrowski to give Cincinnati a two-goal advantage.
Hairston would add to the lead in the 66th minute. A build up along the near side allowed freshman Kieron Gradwell to angle a pass into Anaba, who touched the ball on to Hairstonalong the far side. Pyzdrowski came off his line and was left stranded as Haiston beat him low for his first career goal. Anaba was credited with his second assist on the play.
Head coach Hylton Dayes made wholesale changes to his lineup, including inserting reserve keeper John-Michael Boggs into the match for Mike Vessells, his first rest of the season. Boggs was victimized in the 83rd minute when Mike Carlson lobbed a long throw-in into the box where it was headed in by Matt Blouin, cutting UC's lead to two.
The Bearcats would not let up, however, as Anaba and reserves Dominic Oppong and Kidus Tadele each had shots to make it a four-goal match for UC.
The Bearcats host No. 12 Notre Dame on Sunday, Sept. 17 at 3 p.m. as part of a doubleheader with the UC women's team. The women take on at 12:30 p.m.