TicketsSept. 3, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format
STORY LINES
The University of Cincinnati women's soccer team wraps up its season-opening, five-game road trip by traveling to Louisville to participate in the Courtyard by Marriott Airport Cardinal Classic at Cardinal Park over Labor Day weekend. UC will play Saint Louis on Friday, Sept. 4 at 5 p.m. and take on South Carolina on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 11 a.m.
The last time Cincinnati played five or more road games to start the season came in 1986 when the Bearcats played their first seven games away from campus. Ironically, UC was 1-2-0 overall after its first three games. Cincinnati finished the 1986 season 13-3-1 overall and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
Head coach Michelle Salmon, now in her second season at UC, guided the Bearcats to their best season since 2002, finishing the 2008 slate with a 10-7-3 overall record and advancing to the quarterfinal round of the BIG EAST Conference Championship.
Melissa Bigg (Limehouse, Ont./Acton) took five shots for Cincinnati, which out shot Northeastern 15-13 for the game, but UC was unable to overcome two first-half goals by the Huskies on Sunday, Aug. 30.
The Bearcats earned a 2-0 victory at Ohio University on Sunday (Aug. 23). Emily Hebbeler took a pass from Logan Ballinger (Cincinnati, Ohio/Seton) in the 22nd minute and scored UC's first goal while Melissa Bigg followed up with a penalty kick in the 27th minute to give the Bearcats the 2-0 shutout win. Junior transfer Rachel Barnette (Peachtree City, Ga./McIntosh) earned her first win in goal and had two saves for UC.
UC scored in the 14th minute and maintained a 1-0 lead into halftime in its season opener vs. Kentucky on Aug. 21. The Wildcats bounced back in the second half, scoring two goals and winning, 2-1. Emily Hebbeler (Park Hills, Ky./Notre Dame Academy), assisted by Melissa Bigg (Limehouse, Ont./Acton), scored UC's only goal.
Junior Sydney Barker (Roswell, Ga./Roswell), seniors Melissa Bigg, Andrea Kaminski (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville) and Erin MacDonald (St. Catharine's, Ont./West Park Secondary) will serve as the 2009 team captains.
UC returns seven starters and 14 letterwinners from the 2008 team that finished the season with a 10-7-3 overall record, its best record since the 2002 season. The Bearcats added eight talented newcomers to the 2009 roster and look to build on last year's success, which included qualifying for the BIG EAST Tournament for the first time in program history.
Emily Hebbeler was named to the Honor Roll in the first BIG EAST women's soccer weekly awards of 2009. Hebbeler became the first player since 2005 to contribute on UC's first two goals of a season (last, Kim Sykes, 2005, assist and goal) and the first UC player to score two goals in two games since Jenn Johannigman scored back-to-back goals against Wright State and Michigan in 2008.
Cincinnati will play its 2009 home opener next, taking on crosstown rival Xavier on Thursday, Sept. 10 in a 7 p.m. match at Gettler Stadium. The Bearcats have a 20-8-1 overall record in home openers.
QUICK LOOK AT THE BILLIKENS
The Billikens are coached by Tim Champion, who is in his 14th season as head coach at Saint Louis, and owns a 220-94-29 overall record. The Billikens return senior forward Julia Bradenberg, who led the team with 14 points (6G, 2A) last season. Senior Susan Frederickson is the 2009 point leader in the young season with five points (2G, 1A). Saint Louis is a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference and is currently 1-1-0 overall.
UC's assistant coach, Amanda Martin, is a 2006 graduate of Saint Louis. Martin, a former goalkeeper for the Billikens, is the career leader in goals-against average (0.65) and is ranked in the Top 5 in wins, saves, minutes played and shutouts for Saint Louis.
CINCINNATI-SAINT LOUIS SERIES
The Bearcats are 8-3-0 against Saint Louis with the most recent meeting coming in 2003 ending in a 1-0 loss for UC. The last victory for the Bearcats came in 2001, by a score of 2-0. The two teams met on a regular basis from 1996-2003 as both teams were members of Conference USA.
QUICK LOOK AT THE GAMECOCKS
The Gamecocks are coached by Shelley Smith, who is in her ninth season as a head coach at South Carolina, with an 83-62-22 record, and a 124-97-24 overall record in 13 seasons. Last season the Gamecocks made the NCAA Tournament and were defeated in the first round by William & Mary in a 3-2 overtime thriller. The Gamecocks return sophomore forward Kayla Grimsley who totaled 22 points (8G, 6A) last season and is tied with teammate Kim Miller with a team-high total of four points this season. The Gamecocks are ranked No. 2 in the NSCAA South region and are 2-0-0 this season.
CINCINNATI-SOUTH CAROLINA SERIES
This is the first meeting between the schools.