TicketsOct. 4, 2008
VILLANOVA, Pa. - Brad Simpson (Novi, Mich./Novi) poked home a loose ball in the 47th minute and the University of Cincinnati men's soccer team earned a 1-0 win at Villanova on Saturday (Oct. 4) at the VU Soccer Complex.
The win snapped a six-match winless streak for the Bearcats (3-5-2, 1-3-1 BIG EAST) and handed UC its first BIG EAST win of the season. Villanova dropped to 4-5-2 overall and 1-2-2 in league play and lost for the fourth straight season against UC.
Villanova was the aggressor in the first 45 minutes of play, managing 10 shots to just four for the Bearcats. But the match remained scoreless heading into intermission.
Just after halftime, Cincinnati earned a corner kick that was sent into the box by Nick Weightmann (Lenark, Scotland/St. Aiden's). The service was headed on goal by Simpson, but saved by VU's Chris Bresnahan. The ball fell fortuitously at Simpson's feet and he tapped in his second goal of the season for the game-winner.
Matt Williams (Portland, Maine/Cheverus) made five saves in posting his fifth shutout of the season.
Simpson's goal was the third of his career and his first game-winner. The central defender, UC's lone senior, scored from the penalty spot earlier this season against Kentucky and put home a header on a corner kick at Notre Dame in 2007.
The Bearcats were outshot, 16-11, but escaped Villanova with a win for the second time in three years. In 2006, UC topped VU, 2-1, in double overtime to clinch the BIG EAST regular season title.
UC returns to Gettler Stadium for a 7 p.m. kick against rival Louisville on Tuesday, Oct. 7.