TicketsOct. 7, 2009
CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati men's soccer team dropped a 2-1 overtime contest to BIG EAST foe DePaul on Wednesday night (Oct. 7) at Gettler Stadium.
The Bearcats (7-5-0, 2-4-0 BIG EAST) got on the board first just before halftime as Matt Bahner (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West) headed home his second goal of the season off a beautiful service from Sam Klosterman (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West), giving UC a 1-0 lead heading into the break. Bahner scored the game-winner in similar fashion seven days earlier against rival Xavier in overtime.
"We executed well on the restart to get the first goal, which is very important against a team like DePaul because they don't give up a lot of goals," said head coach Hylton Dayes.
UC's lead was short-lived, however, as DePaul (6-5-0, 3-3-0) leveled the match just 10 minutes into the second half. A failed clearance by the Bearcats defense allowed DPU's Alex Mangan, who had just entered the match as a sub, sneak into the goal box and place a shot to the far post past UC keeper Matt Williams (Portland, Maine/Cheverus), knotting the score at 1-1 in the 56th minute.
"The way we played in the beginning of the second half was disappointing. DePaul took control, got the goal, and got back in the game," Dayes continued. "From there, the game kind of settled down and we were able to get some chances. We just weren't able to get the go-head goal."
Mark Konitsch (Clarence, N.Y./Clarence Senior) came close in the 80th minute. The Bearcats were attacking the DePaul zone and Alex Fernandes (Orlando, Fla./Dr. Phillips) held the ball on the left flank where he settled a pass to the foot of Konitsch. The juniors powerful strike from 20 yards out beat DePaul keeper Joe Ferrari, but sailed just wide right.
Just 1:31 into overtime, DePaul got the game-winner. Steffen Vroom intercepted a pass at midfield, dribbled down the right flank, evading defenders, and struck a left-footed shot near post past Williams for his fifth goal of the season.
The Bearcats have lost three straight to the Blue Demons and snapped a five-match unbeaten streak against DePaul in Gettler Stadium.
UC will take on Villanova on Saturday, Oct. 10, in Gettler Stadium. The Bearcats and Wildcats will kick off at 7 p.m.