TicketsNov. 10, 2006
EVANSTON, Ill. -- The University of Cincinnati men's soccer team saw their season come to an end on Friday afternoon (Nov. 10) with a 3-0 loss at Northwestern in the first round of the 2006 NCAA Tournament. On a cold, windy and rainy day on , the Bearcats were unable to get much going offensively after falling behind early.
Northwestern went ahead on a seventh-minute goal by Gerardo Alverez, his first of the season. David North sent a cross into the box from the near side that found an unmarked Alverez, who headed the ball past UC keeper Mike Vessells.
In the 33rd minute, NU struck again as Pat Coleman sent a long pass up the center of the field. Brad North was able to get an outstretched foot on it and direct it past Vessells to give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead going into the half.
Northwestern outshot the Bearcats, 4-2, in the stanza, while UC was whistled for 15 fouls to NU's six.
The second half saw a more spirited effort for the Bearcats, as they pressured the Northwestern defense, firing 11 shots in the half. UC was unable to crack the scoreboard, however, and the Wildcats put the match away on a Gerardo Alverez penalty kick with just under eight minutes to play.
"You've got to give Northwestern credit," head coach Hylton Dayes. "The first goal was critical because then we had to chase the game a little bit and Northwestern took advantage of that."
UC, playing on the road despite a better record than its hosts and a BIG EAST Regular Season Championship to its credit, outshot the Wildcats, 13-8, losing for the fourth time this season when outshooting its opponent.
The Bearcats finish the season with an 11-6-2 record.