TicketsOct. 23, 2009
CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati (7-10-1, 2-7-1 BIG EAST) women's soccer team lost, 1-0, in overtime to No. 9/15 Rutgers University (13-2-3, 7-1-2 BIG EAST) on Friday night at Gettler Stadium.
"Rutgers is a good team and Glenn (Crooks) continues to do an amazing job coaching there," said head coach Michelle Salmon. "I have to say though; we played our tails off tonight. I'm really proud of this group. They battled, they came to play and they created a lot of scoring chances today."
The game was intense from the start and the Bearcats were playing a solid defensive game, as Brooke Eberly (Cincinnati, Ohio/Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy) stopped a shot on goal by Karla Schacher just 1:35 into the game. Kaylee Dakers (Brampton, Ontario/Heart Lake Secondary) prevented a Rutgers goal after April Price crossed a perfect ball minutes later. Julie Morrissey (Abington, Mass./Tabor Academy) provided UC's first threat, barely missing her fifth goal of the season by hitting to top of the goal after a scramble in the box in the 26th minute. Rutgers took a free kick that Erin MacDonald (St. Catharine's, Ontario/West Park Secondary) countered on, streaking down the field and hitting a moving Emily Hebbeler (Park Hills, Ky./Notre Dame Academy), but the Bearcats were called offsides. Cincinnati kept the offensive pressure on as Hebbeler found an open Kendall Loggins (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North) in the center of the field in the 32nd minute and she struck a line drive that Rutgers' Erin Guthrie was able to save. A free kick by Melissa Bigg (Limehouse, Ont./Acton) with four minutes remaining in the period nearly connected, giving UC a 6-5 advantage on shots in the first half.
The second half Rutgers poured on the pressure, taking 11 shots to UC's five. Andrea Kaminski (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville) finished the game with six saves, including a diving save in traffic on a shot by Jenifer Anzivino in the 80th minute. The Bearcats held off the Scarlet Knights the remainder of the period, pushing the match into overtime for the second straight time. In overtime Rutgers' Stefanee Pace took a shot in front of the goal that hit the crossbar and deflected to Kelsey Dumont who headed in her second goal of the season in the first minute of overtime.
Rutgers held a 6-0 advantage on corner kicks and outshot the Bearcats 18-11 for the game.
"Our record doesn't reflect how good this team is this year," said Salmon. "What I love about this team is they understand the journey is not over yet and that we are going to continue to battle. We have Seton Hall on Sunday. This team is all heart and soul and they played with it today."
Cincinnati will play its last 2009 regular season match on Sunday, Oct. 25 at 1 p.m. when they welcome Seton Hall to Gettler Stadium.