TicketsOct. 14, 2009
CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati men's soccer team dropped its 2009 non-conference finale, 2-0, against Michigan on Wednesday night (Oct. 14) in Gettler Stadium.
UC falls to 8-6-0 overall with the loss, while the Wolverines move to 9-3-1.
Michigan jumped on top early, finding the net in the ninth minute when a throw-in was knocked around in the Bearcats box before being headed in by Hamoody Saad.
Saad was involved in Michigan's second goal as well, making an attacking run up the right flank and finding Jeff Quijano inside the penalty area. Quijano finished into the upper right corner past UC goalkeeper Matt Williams (Portland, Maine/Cheverus) for the final tally.
"We knew Michigan was an explosive team and we had a poor start to the match," said head coach Hylton Dayes. "They got two quick goals and forced us to chase the game."
The Bearcats outshot the Wolverines, 25-10, but were unable to dent the scoreboard.
In the 41st minute, 34th-minute sub Alex Fernandes (Orlando, Fla./Dr. Phillips) beat the UM defense and sent a shot past keeper Chris Blais that clanged off the crossbar. About 10 minutes earlier, Kit North (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) sent a header over the outstreched hands of Blaise, but Michigan defender Julian Robles raced back and cleared the ball off the line to preserve the 2-0 lead.
"The ball didn't bounce our way tonight," Dayes said. "We certainly had some quality chances throughout the game. You have to give Michigan credit for getting the early lead and making us chase."
The second half was more of the same, as the Bearcats continued to pour on the offensive pressure, but could not find the scoring column. In the 68th minute, Branden Stelmak (Broadview Heights, Ohio/Brecksville-Broadview Heights) found himself one-on-one with Blaise, but his shot from point blank range was pushed aside.
This marked the first all-time meeting between the Bearcats and Wolverines.
UC steps back in to conference play on Saturday, Oct. 17, with a trip to Piscataway, N.J., to take on Rutgers. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. from Yurcak Field.