TicketsApril 27, 2009
CINCINNATI - Building off a quarterfinal finish in the 2008 Big East Tournament, the Bearcats have carried that momentum into the spring and it has shown itself more clearly than ever in the final two games of the 2009 spring season.
On Saturday evening, April 18, over 1,000 fans packed Gettler Stadium to see UC shut out their crosstown rival, Xavier University, by a score of 5-0. The crowd was treated to a fantastic performance by the Bearcats who scored five goals in a 24 minute span to take the bragging rights in the crosstown battle. For the evening the Bearcats saw Kristin May notch two goals and Julie Morrissey, Kendall Loggins and Melissa Bigg each chip in a goal a piece. UC freshman netminder April Gibson tallied her second shutout of the spring supported by her backline of Kelli Pawelko, Kay Young, Lauren Lucas and Logan Ballinger.
"We had a tremendous atmosphere here this evening," said head coach Michelle Salmon. "Whenever we play Xavier we know it is going to be a tough game. For us to score five goals in this type of match speaks volumes of the growth of our program."
Following on the heels of the Xavier game, UC hosted a free youth soccer clinic for 275 players from the greater Cincinnati area prior to the match against Marshall University on Friday, April 24. The clinic participants represented a large cross-section of the Cincinnati youth soccer community with players attending from: TUMFC, Richmond Soccer Club, Cincinnati United Soccer Club, Westside Soccer Club, Kings Soccer Club, Cincinnati Hammer Soccer Club and the Independence Soccer Club. The clinic participants were treated to instruction from both the UC players, staff and included a speed ladder workout with UC women's soccer strength & conditioning coach Kelly Howe.
After the clinic, UC stepped onto the field to compete in their final spring collegiate contest of the year, a 3-1 victory over the Thundering Herd. "The atmosphere created by the clinic and the support of our community truly spilled over onto the field tonight," said Salmon. "Our performance was the best to date, we played a full 90 minutes of great soccer and this entire evening exemplified the expectations we have for our program both on the field and in the community."
Over 1,300 fans attending the Marshall contest witnessed Cincinnati's first goal just one minute into the match as Bigg struck the first goal before many found their seats. Bigg followed up her first tally with a second goal before halftime, leading UC to a 2-0 advantage at the half. In the second half the Bearcats continued to dominate when Emily Hebbeler beat two players and played a tremendous cross to Loggins, who powered a volley into the net for the third goal of the evening. Marshall tallied a late goal but the Bearcats closed out the evening with a win and an extended autograph session for the fans in attendance.
The Bearcats will complete their spring dates this Saturday with a 30 minute appearance against their alumni. Following the half the alumni will then take full control of Gettler Stadium as they will play the second half against each other, reliving their glory days at UC.
The spring schedule allowed the Bearcats to make great progress towards the fall. UC's first match of the 2009 season is an exhibition match against the University of Illinois on August 16. "We are excited to complete the spring by welcoming back our alumni and share with them all of the firsts the program enjoyed this year. This will be a great event for our current players to network with those Bearcats that have gone before them and are now successful in the professional world," said Salmon.