TicketsNov. 6, 2007
KICKOFF:
The University of Cincinnati men's soccer team opens the 2007 BIG EAST Tournament on Wednesday, Nov. 7, against a familiar foe. The Bearcats will take on Providence, the team that has knocked UC out of the conference tourney each of the last two seasons. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. at PC's Glay Field.
BEARCAT BITES:
UC has won three straight - all by shutout - and finished fifth in the BIG EAST Red Division with a 5-5-1 mark.
Noah Davidson was named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week and Miguel Rosales earned BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week honors after leading UC to a pair of wins last week.
The Bearcats are 7-1-0 at home this season, outscoring opponents 17-3.
Head coach Hylton Dayes is in his seventh season at UC, holding a 64-52-19 record with the Bearcats and a 160-137-38 mark as a head coach.
UC was picked to finish fourth in the Red Division in the BIG EAST preseason coaches poll.
Senior defender Amir Ikner was named to the preseason all-BIG EAST team after earning all-BIG EAST second team and NSCAA/adidas all-Great Lakes honors in 2006.
UC's eight-member recruiting class was ranked No. 26 by CollegeSoccerNews.com.
LAST TIME OUT:
Noah Davidson converted from the penalty spot in the 60th minute, propelling the University of Cincinnati men's soccer team to a 1-0 win at Rutgers on Nov. 3 at Yurcak Field. The Bearcats secured the fifth spot in the upcoming BIG EAST Tournament, while Rutgers was eliminated.
SCOUTING THE FRIARS:
Providence is 9-6-2 overall and finished fourth in the BIG EAST Blue Division with a 5-4-2 mark.
Ryan Maduro and Jonathan Medcalf lead PC with five goals apiece.
Maduro, a preseason all-BIG EAST selection, is the team leader with 16 points (5G, 6A). He has four goals and five assists in conference play.
Goalkeeper Timothy Murray has played every minute in goal for the Friars, holding a 1.19 goals against average with seven shutouts.
Head coach Chaka Daley is 47-81-17 in his eighth season at Providence.
BIG EAST HONORS TWO BEARCATS:
Noah Davidson and Miguel Rosales were honored by the BIG EAST, earning Offensive Player and Goalkeeper of the Week honors, respectively, after leading the Bearcats to a pair of wins last week. Davidson scored the game-winning goals in both UC wins. He converted from the penalty spot against No. 11 Michigan State in the first half and did the same at Rutgers. Rosales posted shutouts in both wins, making seven saves against Michigan State and three against the Scarlet Knights.
CINCINNATI STATE CONNECTION:
Patrick Baxter and Scott Stockum, both former Cincinnati State standouts, have made the transition to Division I soccer look easy. Baxter, a senior, was named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week and earned a spot on the CollegeSoccerNews.com National Team of the Week on Sept. 24 after scoring three goals and adding an assist in UC's weekend sweep of Georgetown and Seton Hall. Stockum, a junior, is third on the team with six points, posting two goals and three assists in 10 matches this season. The pair followed an all-time Bearcat great from Cincinnati State, Omar Cummings, who earned a pair of unanimous all-BIG EAST first-team honors and the first first-team all-America award in UC men's soccer history in 2006.
FRESH FACE IN GOAL:
Freshman goalkeeper Miguel Rosales has started all but the first match of the season in goal for the Bearcats, posting his first career shutout against Xavier on Sept. 13. A two-time Colorado Player of the Year as a prep star at Smoky Hill High School, Rosales has posted 66 saves, a 0.85 goals against average and six shutouts. He was named the BIG EAST Rookie of the Week on Sept. 24 and earned BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week accolades on Nov. 5.
FROM THE RANKS:
UC is 2-3-1 this season against ranked teams. UC defeated No. 25 DePaul, 1-0, on Oct. 6 and No. 11 Michigan State, 2-0, on Oct. 31. The Bearcats played No. 2 Notre Dame to a 1-1 draw in South Bend on Sept. 28. UC dropped a 1-0 decision at No. 24 New Mexico on Sept. 9, fell, 1-0, at No. 25 Louisville on Oct. 17 and lost a 3-2, double overtime battle at USF on Oct. 24.
ANABA AT IT AGAIN:
Senior forward Kenny Anaba scored a pair of goals in UC's season opener on Aug. 31. He added two more against Xavier on Sept. 13. The team's leading goal-scorer each of the last two seasons, Anaba is ascending the career records list at UC. With his nine goals this season, Anaba is tied for seventh in school history with 25 tallies. He is eighth with 62 career points (25 G, 12 A).
A HELPING HAND:
Lionel Jackson has posted a career-best eight assists through the end of the 2007 regular season. The Bearcats' primary weapon on corner kicks and set pieces, the junior left back leads the squad in helpers and ranks third in the BIG EAST.
CENTERS OF ATTENTION:
UC's pair of center backs, senior Amir Ikner and junior Brad Simpson, form one of the top defensive duos in the BIG EAST. Ikner, a preseason all-BIG EAST selection, has scored two goals - including the game winner against Villanova - and added an assist while Simpson is fifth on the team with six points (1G, 4A). Simpson scored the goal in UC's 1-1 draw at No. 2 Notre Dame. The pair have helped the Bearcats to a 0.93 goals against average and four shutouts in conference play.
NEXT UP:
With a win at Providence, the Bearcats would travel to DePaul to take on the Red Division Champion Blue Demons on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 1 p.m. CT.