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2008 Statistics | 2008 Roster | 2008 News/Results | 2008 Team Photo
The 2008 University of Cincinnati men's soccer team finished with a 7-10-2 overall mark and made its fourth consecutive BIG EAST Tournament. Head coach Hylton Dayes won his 72nd match as UC head coach, tying for second in school history.
SHUTOUT THE LIGHT
UC won seven matches in 2008 and drew twice, with all nine matches finishing in shutouts of the Bearcats' opponent. Each win came by an identical 1-0 count and the draws against No. 24/nr Loyola and No. 20/17 Providence were both scoreless. Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Matt Williams posted all nine shutouts and a 1.18 goals against average with 63 saves. He was named the BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week after posting shutouts against Alabama A&M and Rutgers, while assisting on the game-winner against AAMU. His nine shutouts are already good enough for eighth in the school's career record book. He finished the regular season fifth in the BIG EAST in shutouts and sixth in saves.
LONE WOLF
Captain Brad Simpson was the lone senior on this 2008 squad. A four-year starter, Simpson started 63-of-64 career matches at central defender. He tied for the team lead with four goals, including game-winners against Villanova on Oct. 4 and Syracuse on Senior Night on Oct. 25. Simpson, who earned all-BIG EAST third-team honors following the season, was named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts against Villanova. He also earned all-Ohio honors and UC's Defensive MVP award.
BIG EAST HONORS
Brad Simpson continued a string of all-conference players for the Bearcats, earning third-team honors in 2008. UC has had an all-conference performer in each of its first four seasons in the BIG EAST. Simpson also earned BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week plaudits 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. Matt Williams was named the BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week on Oct. 20 after posting a pair of shutouts, six saves, and assisting on a gamewinning goal in two Bearcats wins. Branden Stelmak earned a spot on the league's honor roll on Oct. 20 after scoring game-winners in UC wins against Alabama A&M and Rutgers. Stelmak was also named to the CollegeSoccerNews.com National Team of the Week for his accomplishments.
DAYES CLOSES IN ON MILESTONE WIN
Head coach Hylton Dayes wrapped up his eighth season as the head coach at Cincinnati, holding a 72-63-21 record. He is 168-147-40 overall after 19 seasons as a head coach. Dayes is tied with Jim McDowell for second in UC history for coaching victories and will move into sole possession of second place with with his next victory.
LEADING THE CHARGE
Sophomore Branden Stelmak scored the game-winner against Alabama A&M and followed that with the game-winner against Rutgers. He also tallied the winner earlier this season at Xavier, his first career goal. He led the squad with nine points (4 G, 1 A). Stelmak was named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll for his efforts against AAMU and Rutgers and earned a spot on the CollegeSoccerNews.com National Team of the Week. Following the campaign, he earned UC's Offensive MVP honor and a spot on the Academic all-Ohio squad.
RANK AND ROLL
The Bearcats have squared off against nine nationally-ranked opponents in 2008. The young team that featured 15 freshman and 17 newcomers posted a 1-6-2 mark against ranked foes. UC played No. 24/rv Loyola Chicago and No. 20/17 Providence to scoreless draws and defeated No. 11/12 USF, 1-0. 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), No. 8/7 Louisville at home (2-1, ot), No. 24/rv Michigan State (2-0) on the road, and No. 4/6 St. John's (2-0) on the road.
BIG EAST QUALIFIERS
With four wins in the last six matches, the Bearcats qualified for the BIG EAST Championship for the fourth straight season. UC has qualified for the postseason tournament each year since joining the powerful league in 2005. The Bearcats are 1-4-0 in tournament matches, winning their first at Providence in the first round in 2007.
FINISHING STRONG AT GETTLER
UC finished 4-4-1 at home this season, winning its final four home contests, after posting a combined 18-5-2 mark at Gettler Stadium over the prior three seasons. In 2007, UC was 7-1-0 at home and outscored opponents, 17-3.
THE YOUNG CROWD
The 2008 version of the Bearcats boasted just 10 letterwinners from the 2007 team and welcomed 17 newcomers (15 true freshmen, two transfers) to the roster. The Bearcats newcomers accounted for 165 games played and 99 starts in 2008. Transfer Nick Weightman and true freshman Francesco Furio started all 19 matches, while transfer Chris Mitchell got the starting nod in 18-of-19 and freshman Matt Bahner started in 16-of-19 matches. The newcomers combined for three goals and three assists. Bahner earned UC Newcomer of the Year honors, while Mitchell earned the team's Most Improved Award.