TicketsAug. 14, 2010
CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati women's soccer team opened the 2010 season with a 2-2 tie in exhibition against Ball State at Gettler Stadium Saturday night.
"It was a great chance to see the team play," said third year head coach Michelle Salmon. "About 90 percent of our roster played tonight. Our bench came off and really responded to get the second goal. I'm pleased with where we are. We are just integrating so many new faces. Was our result perfect? No. But it was an exhibition. In the last 25 minutes of each half we had our bench in there and that's because we were training through the exhibition game."
The Bearcats started slow and fell behind early after Brigit Reder scored on a header from an Alyssa Ables corner kick in the second minute. Cincinnati's Julie Morrissey flicked a header in the right corner of the goal off a Logan Ballinger free kick from the left side in the 11th minute.
In the 23rd minute Ball State took the lead again when Paige Stroinski placed a free kick over UC's wall and into the top corner. UC scored the final goal of the game when freshman Katie Buczek picked up a free ball, turned and shot a rocket right-to-left past BSU's Aubrey Buehler.
"I thought Emily Hebbeler had a tremendous performance," noted Salmon. "She played both sides of the ball and was the best player on the field tonight because of that."
The Cardinals outshot the Bearcats, 15-13, and UC took three corner kicks to BSU's one. Rachel Barnette had six saves in goal for Cincinnati and the Bearcats were composed on the field, committing eight fouls to BSU's 14.
"We gave up two goals on set pieces and we haven't spent a great deal of time on set pieces," continued Salmon. "So on Monday, we know we will be working on defensive set pieces in practice. Going forward, the areas we need to work on we can clean up in a week."
The Bearcats will begin the 2010 regular season with a 7 p.m. match against Morehead State on Friday, Aug. 20, at Gettler Stadium.