TicketsAug. 22, 2008
CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati women's soccer team opened the 2008 season with a 3-1 win over Bowling Green on Friday night at Gettler Stadium. The Bearcats out-shot the Falcons 26-4 en route to head coach Michelle Salmon's first victory with UC.
"I think it was a good team effort today," said Salmon. "We did some great things in the first half. Our movement on and off the ball was outstanding but I thought we got a little complacent in the second half in the final third. But, we came out and played a team that went to the MAC finals last year and basically returned everybody. I'm really pleased that we came out and had such a dominating performance."
UC got on the board first when Heather Neiser (Batavia, Ohio/St. Ursula) slipped a cross past Bowling Green goalkeeper Alexa Arsenault in the 18th minute. Bowling Green responded almost immediately, as Gina Rossi also sent a cross from the left side that squeezed between the near post and UC goalkeeper Andrea Kaminski (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville) at the 18:42 mark.
The Bearcats got the game-winning-goal from freshman Julie Morrissey (Abington, Mass./Tabor Academy) with 28:52 on the clock. Jenn Johannigman (Cincinnati, Ohio/Seton) controlled a loose ball 25-yards out and played it to Erin MacDonald (St. Catharine's, Ont./West Park Secondary) at the top of the box who turned and slid the ball into the oncoming Morrissey. Morrissey drilled a low shot into the back of the net 10 yards out.
Cincinnati tacked on another goal in the first half when MacDonald took an assist from Melissa Bigg (Limehouse, Ont./Acton) and
Morrissey in the 31st minute. Bigg headed the ball to Morrissey who settled the ball into the box for MacDonald to place the ball in the bottom left corner of the net.
The Bearcats return to action at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 24, when they play Wright State at Gettler Stadium.