TicketsSept. 13, 2009
CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati men's soccer team saw its four-match season-opening winning streak snapped against No. 1/1 Akron on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 13) in the final match of the inaugural adidas Bearcat Classic at Gettler Stadium.
The Zips (4-0-0) got on the board in the 18th minute when a failed clearance by the Bearcats caromed off a defender and past goalkeeper Matt Williams (Portland, Maine/Cheverus) for an own goal and a 1-0 lead for Akron.
UC had an opportunity in the opening minutes of action when Mark Konitsch (Clarence, N.Y./Clarence Senior) sent a cross into open space on the far post but just a little too tall for Matt Bahner (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West), who was unable to get a head on it.
Akron was dangerous the entire first half, controlling the ball and getting off 14 shots. Williams kept the Bearcats in the game with several brilliant saves. He made eight stops in the first half and finished with 10 in the match.
In the 78th minute, with Akron clinging to a 1-0 lead, the Bearcats had their best scoring opportunity when Sam Klosterman (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) hurled a throw-in into the box. The ball was knocked around the face of the goal for several seconds before finally being cleared by the Akron defense.
Just minutes later, Akron put the match away with two goals just 1:15 apart. In the 81st minute, Michael Nanchoff took a feed from Ben Speas in the box and gave the Zips a 2-0 lead. A minute later, Speas set up Yoram Mwila for a 3-0 lead and a perfect start to the season for the nation's No. 1 team.
"We were disappointed with the result today," said head coach Hylton Dayes. "Akron is a very good team and we struggled to get anything going offensively. However, I am certainly pleased to have started the season with a 4-1 record heading into BIG EAST play next week."
The Zips outshot the Bearcats, 21-5, but Williams' 10 saves kept UC in the match throughout.
Akron finished the adidas Bearcat Classic as the tournament champions, while the Bearcats were second, followed by Western Illinois, and High Point.
The Bearcats boasted tournament Most Valuable Defender Luke Henke (Wauwatosa, Wis./Milwaukee Lutheran). Henke was joined on the all-tournament team by fellow defender Kit North (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) and midfielder Judson McKinney (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy).
The Bearcats will open BIG EAST play on Sept. 18 against Pittsburgh at 5 p.m. in Gettler Stadium.