TicketsOct. 6, 2007
CINCINNATI, OH - Kenny Anaba (Westerville, OH/Worthington Christian) scored his sixth goal of the season in the 77th minute to lead the University of Cincinnati men's soccer team to a 1-0 win against No. 25 DePaul on Saturday night (Oct. 6) in Gettler Stadium. The Bearcats improved to 4-5-1 overall and 3-1-1 in conference play, while the Blue Demons dropped to 6-3-0 and 2-3-0 in BIG EAST action.
"This was a hard-fought match between two teams that know each other well," head coach Hylton Dayes said after the Bearcats improved to 4-0-0 at home this season. "We came out with a sense of urgency in the second half and once we got the goal, we were able to manage the rest of the game and finish off the win."
DePaul, which was ranked No. 17, the highest in program history, two weeks ago has lost three of its last five.
The first 30 minutes were played at DePaul's pace, a slow, methodical build-up attack on both sides and a lot of defense. The Bearcats began to put pressure on as the first half wound down and finished the stanza with seven shots to DePaul's three.
Anaba was inches away from giving the Bearcats a lead in the 36th minute when he caught up to a long ball played down the center and lofted a shot over the head of onrushing DePaul keeper Brian Visser. The Blue Demons' Patrick Hopkins raced down the left flank and was able to clear the ball off the line just before it crossed into the goal.
Lionel Jackson (Southfield, MI/Birmingham Groves) narrowly missed an opportunity in the 66th minute as he came up from his left back position and fired a dipping shot past Visser but just wide.
Ten minutes later, Anaba would break through. Brad Simpson (Novi, MI/Novi) intercepted a DePaul pass in the Bearcats' end and was allowed to dribble freely through the midfield. He slotted a perfect through ball to the feet of Anaba, who beat Visser for his second game winner of the season.
Miguel Rosales (Aurora, CO/Smoky Hill) made three saves in posting his second clean sheet of the season.
The Bearcats have outscored opponents 11-1 at home thus far in 2007.
UC will wrap up a two-match homestand with a midweek clash against regional foe Bowling Green on Oct. 10 at 7 p.m.