TicketsSept. 26, 2006
BEARCATS, CARDINALS RENEW RIVALRY:
The of men's soccer team, riding a four-match winning streak, will renew its longstanding rivalry with on Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. in Gettler Stadium. The Bearcats topped the Cardinals, 4-3 in overtime, last season for their first-ever BIG EAST win.
BEARCAT BITES:
The Bearcats are 6-3-1 overall and 3-2-0 in the BIG EAST. UC is riding a four-match winning streak after defeating on Saturday night, 3-0, at Gettler Stadium.
UC has outscored its opponents, 11-3, during its four-match winning streak.
After scoring just five goals in its first six matches, UC has more than doubled that total (11) in its last four.
Kenny Anaba has scored in three straight matches and has recorded a point in four straight.
Noah Davidson has scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner against No. 12 Notre Dame on Sept. 17, and added two assists over the last three matches.
Omar Cummings has recorded a point in four of his last five matches.
Goalkeeper Mike Vessells posted his third shutout of the season against and moved into fourth on UC's all-time list with his 11th career clean sheet.
13 different Bearcats have recorded points for UC this season.
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. 38 nationally by College Soccer News.
Head coach Hylton Dayes is in his sixth season at the helm of the Bearcats, holding a 51-40-17 mark.
SCOUTING THE CARDINALS:
brings a 3-5-1 overall record and a 2-3-0 conference mark into its contest with UC. The Cardinals are coming off a 1-0 loss at home against No. 19 St. John's on Saturday evening. UL has lost three of four, with the only win a big one, a 4-0 thrashing of on Sept. 17 at .
Preseason All-BIG EAST forward David Guzman leads the Cardinals offense with five goals and 12 points. Right behind him is Frank Jonke, who has tallied four goals and added three assists for 11 points. David Simolike has started all nine matches in goal for , making 33 saves and posting a 1.48 goals against average.
Former head coach Ken Lolla is in his first season at the helm of the program. He currently ranks 13th all-time in winning percentage and led his squads to five straight NCAA Tournament appearances. He holds a 209-84-28 overall record.
UC-LOUISVILLE SERIES HISTORY:
The Bearcats and Cardinals have met 31 times on the pitch, with UC holding a commanding 20-9-2 overall lead in the series. made school history last season against UL, beating the Cardinals, 4-3 in overtime, on Sept. 7. The win marked UC's first BIG EAST Conference victory in any sport. The Bearcats have won the last two meetings by a combined 9-3 score. UC and UL first met in 1979 and with an 8-0 victory. The Bearcats were 13-2-1 in their first 16 matches against .
VESSELLS MOVES UP THE CHART:
Senior goalkeeper Mike Vessells continues his ascent up the career shutouts list at UC. With three clean sheets this season, Vessells now has 11 career shutouts, which is good for fourth on the career list.
THE RETURN OF THE MIKE:
Senior midfielder Mike Dwyer returned to the lineup against on Sept. 15 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. He added an assist against on Sept. 23.
WE'RE GOING STREAKING:
UC has won four straight after its 3-0 win against on Saturday night. In each of the last three years, UC has strung together unbeaten streaks of at least six matches, twice (2003, 2005) reaching the school-record seven match unbeaten streak. The Bearcats can match the school record of five consecutive victories with a win against .
GETTLER STADIUM DOMINANCE:
The Bearcats are 5-0-0 when playing in the friendly confines of Gettler Stadium this season. UC has outscored its opponents, 13-3, in those five contests. Conversely, away from Gettler, the Bearcats are just 1-3-1 and have been outscored, 11-3. Since 2004, the Bearcats are 15-6-2 at Gettler Stadium.
UP NEXT:
The Bearcats hit the road for a huge BIG EAST match on Saturday, Sept. 30. UC will take on No. 23 St. John's at 7:30 p.m. at Belsen Stadium.