TicketsSept. 1, 2009
DAYTON, Ohio - Branden Stelmak (Broadview Heights, Ohio/Brecksville-Broadview Heights) scored a pair of goals and Nick Weightman (Lanark, Scotland/Webber International) scored a goal and added three assists to lead the University of Cincinnati men's soccer team to a 5-2 win over No. 18 Dayton on Tuesday (Sept. 1) night at Baujan Field.
The Bearcats (1-0-0) snapped Dayton's 20-match home winning streak and scored five goals in a match for the first time since a 5-0 win against Louisville on Oct. 31, 2004, in Gettler Stadium.
"This was a great way to start the season," said head coach Hylton Dayes, who moved into second place on the UC wins list with his 73rd career victory. "We battled extremely hard against a good Dayton team that had not lost at home in over two years."
Redshirt freshman defender Kit North (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Watterson), earning the start in his first career match, got the scoring started early for UC, heading home his first career goal off a corner kick by Weightman in the eighth minute.
Weightman added on just over three minutes later, running down a long clearance by goalkeeper Matt Williams (Portland, Maine/Cheverus) and scoring his second career goal. Williams was credited with his second career assist on the play.
Dayton (0-1-0) dented the scoreboard with just 26 seconds remaining in the first half, as Jeff Popella poked home a free kick to cut the Bearcats' lead to 2-1 at intermission.
UC took a 3-1 lead at the 59:00 mark when Stelmak scored his first of the match - the eventual game-winner. UC earned a throw in on the near side and sophomore Sam Klosterman (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) fired the throw into the Dayton box, where Stelmak flicked a header over the outstretched hands of Dayton keeper Tyler Picard.
UD came right back with a goal just 22 seconds later. Tommy Watkins put home a rebound after Popella beat the UC defense and saw his shot skip off the far post.
UC was not to be outdone on this night, however, as goals by D.J. Albert (Park City, Ill.) in the 64th minute and Stelmak in the 86th minute gave the Bearcats a win in the season opener for the second straight year.
Williams made six saves in goal for the Bearcats.
"This was a tremendous team effort," Dayes added. "To score five goals against a team of Dayton's caliber; we couldn't have asked for a better way to start the season."
UC opens a six-match homestand on Friday, Sept. 4, when it welcomes Canisius for the 2009 home opener at 7 p.m. in Gettler Stadium.