TicketsOct. 10, 2008
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The University of Cincinnati men's soccer team takes on its second straight former Conference USA rival when the Bearcats travel to Chicago to take on DePaul on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 2 p.m. ET at Wish Field.
UC has played six nationally-ranked opponents and four ranked in the Top 10 this season. The Bearcats are 0-4-2 against ranked teams in 2008.
UC is 0-4-1 at home this season after posting a combined 18-5-2 mark at Gettler Stadium over the last three seasons. In 2007, UC was 7-1-0 at home and outscored opponents, 17-3.
Head coach Hylton Dayes enters his eighth season as the head coach at Cincinnati, holding a 68-59-22 record. He is 164-144-41 overall in his 19th season as a head coach. Dayes needs five wins to pass Jim McDowell for second in UC history for coaching victories.
Captain Brad Simpson (Novi, Mich./Novi) is the lone senior on this year's squad. A three-year starter, Simpson has started 55-of-56 career matches at central defender. He is tied for the team lead with two goals, including the game winner against Villanova on Oct. 4. He was named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts against Villanova.
Sophomore Branden Stelmak (Broadview Heights, Ohio/Brecksville-Broadview Heights) scored the game winner against Xavier, his first career goal. He leads the Bearcats with five points (2 G, 1 A).
Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Matt Williams (Portland, Maine/Cheverus) has posted five shutouts this season and holds a 1.21 goals against average with 45 saves. He ranks second in the BIG EAST in saves and is tied for sixth in shutouts.
The Bearcats return only 10 letterwinners from the 2007 team and welcome 17 newcomers (15 true freshmen, two transfers) to the roster. Returnees accounted for just four of UC's 27 goals scored in 2007 and 11 of the team's 35 assists.
UC returns home for a two-match homestand, starting with a non-conference tilt against Alabama A&M on Wednesday, Oct. 15. Kickoff between the Bearcats and Bulldogs is set for 7 p.m. in Gettler Stadium.
A QUICK LOOK AT THE BLUE DEMONS
DePaul knocked off No. 10/11 South Florida on Oct. 7, handing the Bulls their first BIG EAST loss of the season, and improving to 4-4-3 overall. DPU holds a 3-2-1 BIG EAST mark, good for 10 points and fourth place in the Red Division. The defending Red Division champions, the Blue Demons are unbeaten in their last three matches, topping Pitt, 1-0, drawing with Rutgers, 0-0, and defeating USF, 1-0. Steffen Vroom leads DePaul with three goals and seven points. DPU has scored just four goals all season, but has allowed just six as BIG EAST preseason Goalkeeper of the Year Brian Visser holds a 0.52 goals against average with seven shutouts. Head coach Craig Blazer, the BIG EAST Coach of the Year in 2007, is in his eighth season at DePaul.
THE SERIES
Former conference rivals, Cincinnati and DePaul have met 24 times, with UC holding a 14-7-3 edge in the series. UC knocked off No. 25 DePaul, 1-0, at Gettler Stadium last season, but the Blue Demons exacted a measure of revenge with a 1-0 win in the BIG EAST Quarterfinals at Wish Field. The loss snapped a five-match unbeaten streak in the series for the Bearcats (4-0-1) and marked the first loss against DePaul as members of the BIG EAST. The teams spent time together in Conference USA and the Great Midwest Conference prior to joining the BIG EAST in 2005.
RANK AND ROLL
The Bearcats have squared off against six nationally-ranked opponents thus far in 2008. The young team that features 15 freshman and 17 newcomers has posted a 0-4-2 mark against ranked foes. UC played No. 24/rv Loyola Chicago and No. 20/17 Providence to scoreless draws. The losses came against No. 7/5 Akron on the road (2-1), No. 7/4 Connecticut on the road (2-1), No. 3/3 Notre Dame at home (3-0), and No. 8/7 Louisville at home (2-1, ot).
BIG EAST HONORS
Brad Simpson was named the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 6. In UC's 1-0 win at Villanova on Oct. 4, Simpson netted the game-winning goal and helped preserve the Bearcats' fifth shutout of the season from his central defensive position.