TicketsOct. 18, 2009
CINCINNATI - Emily Hebbeler (Park Hills, Ky./Notre Dame Academy) scored the game-tying goal to push Sunday afternoon's match against the University of South Florida (8-5-3, 5-2-2 BIG EAST) into overtime, but the University of Cincinnati (7-9-1, 2-6-1 BIG EAST) women's soccer team lost, 2-1 at Gettler Stadium in a BIG EAST Conference game.
"I thought we played well enough to win," said head coach Michelle Salmon. "We came out a little flat and it wasn't really until about 25 minutes into the first half that we started to get the tempo of the game. I really felt like we were the most dangerous team today. We had the most dangerous opportunities and we presented a good chance to win this game."
The first half was scoreless, but not without numerous opportunities for each team. USF's Gina Pacheco tested UC goalkeeper Andrea Kaminski (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville) early, firing a shot at the 5:12 mark that Kaminski pushed over the top of the goal. Just 30 seconds later the Bulls' Noelle Pineiro took a shot that skidded over the top of the goal. UC retaliated with a shot by Melissa Bigg (Limehouse, Ont./Acton) that was inches above the crossbar just 8:38 into the match.
With 33:46 remaining in the period Sydney Barker (Roswell, Ga./Roswell) stole a ball from a USF player and passed to Hebbeler who crossed a pass to Bigg in the center of the box. Bigg drilled a shot towards goal but had it blocked, ending a near perfect play. The Bearcats continued to attack as Hebbeler took another shot and Brooke Eberly (Cincinnati, Ohio/Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy) followed a deflection of her own throw-in, nearly sneaking one in the top of the goal with two minutes remaining in the period.
The Bearcats were outshot, 10-8, in the first period but was more offensive in the second period, owning a 12-7 shot advantage. USF got on the board in the 62nd minute when Pachecho found Chelsea Klotz on the move inside the box where she was able to sneak a low shot into the left corner and give the Bulls a 1-0 lead.
UC took 11 minutes to even the score when Erin MacDonald (St. Catharine's, Ontario/West Park Secondary) streaked down the right side and passed to Julie Morrissey (Abington, Mass./Tabor Academy) in the box. Morrissey stopped and fired a shot that was blocked and bounced in front of Hebbeler who poked the ball into the opposite side of the goal, tying the game.
Neither team was able to score in the final 17 minutes, forcing a 10 minute overtime.
"I'm proud of the way we responded after the first goal but at the end of the day we have to find a way to win these games," stated Salmon. "With a very talented team like Rutgers coming in, this is a time for us to step up and see what we are made of. One thing I am excited about is that this team rebounds very well. They will get after it, focus, and do their part."
The Bulls scored the game-winning goal at the 96:03 point in overtime when Rehana Murani passed to Klotz who lofted a shot outside the penalty box over Kaminski's head and into the back of the net.
The Bearcats play their final two regular season matches at Gettler Stadium starting next Friday, Oct. 23, with a 7 p.m. match against No. 10/19 Rutgers.