Bearcats Host Key BIG EAST Match Against Rutgers

Oct. 18, 2008

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STORY LINES
The University of Cincinnati men's soccer team welcomes BIG EAST foe Rutgers to Gettler Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

UC snapped a two-match losing streak with a 1-0 win against Alabama A&M on Oct. 15 in Gettler Stadium. Branden Stelmak (Broadview Heights, Ohio/Brecksville-Broadview Heights) scored the game-winner in the 85th minute for the Bearcats.

UC is 1-4-1 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 is in his eighth season as the head coach at Cincinnati, holding a 68-60-22 record. He is 164-145-41 overall in his 19th season as a head coach. Dayes needs four 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 57-of-58 career matches at central defender. He leads the Bearcats with three 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 Alabama A&M and the tallied the winner earlier this season at Xavier, his first career goal. He leads the squad with seven points (3 G, 1 A).

Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Matt Williams (Portland, Maine/Cheverus) has posted six shutouts this season and holds a 1.18 goals against average with 50 saves. He ranks fifth in the BIG EAST in saves and is tied for 10th 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.

The Bearcats head back on the road, traveling to Michigan State for a mid-week non-conference match against the Spartans on Oct. 22 at 3 p.m. in East Lansing.

A QUICK LOOK AT THE SCARLET KNIGHTS

Rutgers is coming off a tough non-conference loss at in-state rival Princeton on Wednesday Oct. 15. The Tigers took a one-goal lead in the first half and tacked on two more scores in the second period to claim the 3-0 victory. Sophomore Dilly Duka paces the squad with eight goals, a mark which ranks third in the BIG EAST. Freshman Sam Archer follows with two goals, while five other Scarlet Knights - freshman Gaetano Panuccio, Ibrahim Kamara, and Jimmy Simon, and sophomores Josh Carroll and Aly Mazhar - all have one tally apiece on the year. Senior Kevin McFadden leads Rutgers with six assists (tied for first in the BIG EAST). Amir Haghshenas has started all 13 matches in goal, posting a 1.15 goals against average and four shutouts. Head coach Bob Reasso is in his 30th season at Rutgers, holding a 355-180-75 mark.

THE SERIES
UC and Rutgers have squared off on four occasions, with the Scarlet Knights holding a 2-1-1 edge. The Bearcats got their first win of the series in the regular-season finale last season, knocking off Rutgers, 1-0, to earn a spot in the BIG EAST Tournament. The Scarlet Knights topped the No. 15-ranked Bearcats, 1-0, in Gettler Stadium in 2006. The two clubs played to a scoreless draw in 2005 in their first meeting as BIG EAST foes.

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.