TicketsSept. 22, 2006
UC RETURNS TO BIG EAST PLAY AGAINST :
The of men's soccer team, riding a three-match winning streak, returns to BIG EAST action against on Saturday, Sept. 23, at 7 p.m. in Gettler Stadium.
BEARCAT BITES:
The Bearcats are 5-3-1 overall and 2-2-0 in the BIG EAST. UC is riding a three-match winning streak after defeating on Wednesday night, 3-1, at Gettler Stadium.
Kenny Anaba, who earned BIG EAST and national honors after scoring a goal and notching three assists over the weekend, notched the game-winner against CSU early in the second half. Anaba, a third team All-BIG EAST selection in 2005, knocked in the game-tying goal against No. 12 Notre Dame on Sunday and assisted on Noah Davidson's game winner. On Friday, he posted a pair of assists, including setting up Omar Cummings for his game-winner against .
Junior Patrick Baxter scored his first career goal on a header in the 30th minute against CSU.
Cummings had a hand in every goal against , tallying a pair of scores, including the game-winner, and adding an assist on the final goal.
After scoring just five goals through the first six matches of the season, UC has scored eight in the last three contests.
UC was picked to finish third in the Red Division in the BIG EAST preseason coaches poll.
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 UC 2006 recruiting class was ranked No. 38nationally by College Soccer News.
Head coach Hylton Dayes is in his sixth season at the helm of the Bearcats holding a 50-40-17 mark.
SCOUTING THE :
Syracuse is 4-4-0 overall this season, but has yet to win a BIG EAST match, coming into the weekend with an 0-4-0 ledger in conference play. The topped , 1-0, on Wednesday night at the SU Soccer Complex, despite being outshot, 11-7. Richard Asante scored the game-winner for in the 76th minute.
Kyle Hall is the top offensive option for the . Hall leads the team with five goals and 11 points. Hansen Woodruff and have each tallied a pair of goals for SU. Robert Cavicchia has started seven of eight matches goal. He owns a 1.53 goals against average and has made 24 saves.
Head coach Dean Foti is in his 16th season at the helm of his alma mater. The four-time letterwinner is the winningest coach in soccer history. He is 121-138-25 overall and is 1-0-0 against the Bearcats.
UC-SYRACUSE SERIES HISTORY:
The Bearcats and have met just once before, that meeting coming on Oc.t 15 of last season in . The knocked off the 18th-ranked Bearcats, 2-1, after scoring a pair of goals in the first 6:32 of the match. Ezra Prendergast tallied the first of the match on a corner kick just 57 seconds in. A Sam Miller penalty kick brought the Bearcats to within a goal in the 67th minute, but that was as close as they could get.
VESSELLS MOVES UP THE CHART:
Senior goalkeeper Mike Vessells continues his ascent up the career shutouts list at UC. With a pair of clean sheets this season, Vessells now has 10 career shutouts, which is good for fifth on the career list.
THE RETURN OF THE MIKE:
Senior midfielder Mike Dwyer returned to the lineup on Friday against and instantly made an impact. Dwyer, who missed the previous four matches recovering from off-season hernia surgery, started at the wide midfield position and recorded his first assist of the season on the first goal of the match.
FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME:
Freshman midfielder Marcus Hairston scored his first career goal against on Friday, helping UC to a 3-1 win. Hairston has been a productive rookie for the Bearcats this season, improving with each match played. As one of the first subs off the UC bench, he affords the coaching staff the luxury of a speedy, crafty wing player that can put pressure on opposing defenses.
Junior Patrick Baxter scored the first goal of his career against on Wednesday. His header in the 30th minute gave UC a 1-0 lead. The transfer from has started every match of the season and has accounted for a pair of assists to go with his initial tally.
Redshirt sophomore defender Brad Simpson earned his first assist on Baxter's goal, playing a header into the box, which was eventually headed in.
UP NEXT:
The Bearcats wrap up a five-match homestand with a BIG EAST matchup against rival on Wednesday, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m.