TicketsAug. 24, 2008
CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati women's soccer team lost, 3-2, to Wright State University on Sunday afternoon at Gettler Stadium. The Bearcats came out with full-force in the first half and outshot the Raiders 19-8 for the game, but could not earn the win.
"I'm encouraged by our performance, but I'm disappointed with our result," said first-year head coach Michelle Salmon. "We played some great soccer today. We had a letdown at the end of the first half where we psychologically took some time off. But we will get better."
Cincinnati got on the board in the 19th minute when senior Jenn Johannigman (Cincinnati, Ohio/Seton) booted a shot into the left top corner of the goal over Wright States' goalkeeper Meghan Hackerson from 16 yards out. The goal was Johannigman's first since her freshman campaign, when she netted six goals as a rookie.
The Bearcats continued their offensive attack and took a 2-0 lead in the 29th minute when sophomore Kendall Loggins (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North) took a feed from junior Erin MacDonald (St. Catharine's, Ont./West Park Secondary) on the right side of the goal and tapped it into the back of the net.
Wright State responded with a goal when Jess Rooma scored off a corner kick by Amy Miller in the 36th minute. Just five minutes later, Rooma played a free kick into the box, pulling UC keeper Andrea Kaminski (Noblesville, Ill./Noblesville) away from her line and giving Miller the opportunity to corral the ball in the air and flick it into the open net.
UC outshot the Raiders 13-5 in the first half but the momentum appeared to switch in the second half. The Raiders scored the game-winning-goal at the 76:51 mark of the game when Rooma took a 30-yard free kick that rocketed into the left side of the goal. The Bearcats continued its aggressive attack offensively, but was unable to find the back of the net.
"The three goals we gave up today are three things we can fix," said Salmon. "We did some great things in the attacking end. At the end of the day this game is perfect for us to learn from the mistakes we made and go forward. If we simply focus on the result, then this game is a loss. But if we focus on the things we can fix, then this game is a win."
Cincinnati finished the game with a 19-8 shot advantage and had 12 corner kicks to the Raider's four.
The Bearcats return to Gettler Stadium next Friday, Aug. 29, when they take on Michigan in a 5 p.m. match.