TicketsSept. 13, 2007
CINCINNATI -- Kenny Anaba (Westerville, OH/Worthington Christian) and Scott Stockum (Fairfield, OH/Cincinnati State) scored a pair of goals each as the University of Cincinnati men's soccer team blanked crosstown rival Xavier, 4-0, in front of 951 rowdy spectators on Thursday night (Sept. 13) at UC's Gettler Stadium. The Bearcats earned their first win of the season in their home opener, improving to 1-3-0, while Xavier fell to 2-3-0 on the season.
"We really played well tonight," said head coach Hylton Dayes. "We were looking forward to coming home after a three-match road trip."
The Bearcats opened the scoring in the 25th minute when Anaba took a perfect cross from freshman wing Matt Telting (Loveland, OH/Milford) and blasted a shot past XU keeper Adam Sokolowski to put UC in front.
Less than four minutes later a Xavier foul allowed UC a free kick from 25 yards out on the right side of the box. Stockum delivered a shot that deflected off the wall and slipped off the post past Sokolowski for his first goal as a Bearcat.
UC's 2-0 halftime lead looked a lot safer when Xavier's Aaron Denney was sent off after a second yellow card in the 63rd minute, leaving XU to play a man down for the final 27 minutes.
The Bearcats took advantage of the short-handed Musketeers, adding insurance goals by Anaba and Stockum less than a minute apart late in the match.
"Xavier is a tough opponent; anytime you have a local rivalry, it's going to be intense," Dayes continued. "The two early goals were important. The forwards were key, scoring all four goals, but credit needs to go to the center backs: Amir Ikner (Olathe, KS/Blue Valley West) and Brad Simpson (Novi, MI/Novi). They played a great game tonight."
UC freshman goalkeeper Miguel Rosales (Aurora, CO/Smoky Hill) posted his first collegiate shutout, making two saves, including a diving push-away midway through the first half.
The 4-0 win was the most lopsided UC win in the crosstown rivalry since a 4-0 drubbing of the Musketeers in 1997. UC scored four goals in a match for the first time since a 4-3 double-overtime win at Louisville in the first-ever BIG EAST match on Sept. 7, 2005.
Anaba moved up a rung in the UC record books, moving into ninth place on his own with 20 career goals and jumping up to a tie for eighth with 50 career points.
The Bearcats had scored three goals in their first three matches. It was the third straight loss against a BIG EAST team for the Musketeers, all on the road. XU dropped road contests at Marquette and DePaul last weekend.
The Bearcats return to the road to take on the defending Missouri Valley Conference champions, Bradley, on Sept. 16. Kickoff from Shea Stadium is set for 2 p.m. ET.