TicketsSept. 5, 2010
Video of coach Salmon's post-game interview
CINCINNATI - Julie Morrissey (Abington, Mass./Tabor Academy) scored the game-winning goal in the 81st minute giving the No. 19 University of Cincinnati (5-0-1) women's soccer team a 1-0 victory over visiting Western Michigan (2-3-0) in non-conference action on Sunday afternoon at Gettler Stadium. With the win UC has the best start in school history, unbeaten in its first six games of the season.
It was only a matter of time before the Bearcats got on the scoreboard in the second half, taking 10 shots to the Broncos' one. Kelli Pawelko (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) dribbled down the right sideline, found a streaking Morrissey in the middle and the two made a perfect connection. Morrissey volleyed Pawelko's pass into the left corner for the game-winner.
Western Michigan's biggest threat in the second half came with less than two minutes to play when the offense broke free and was ready to fire a shot in the penalty box before Logan Ballinger (Cincinnati, Ohio/Seton) sprinted over and cleared the ball.
The Bearcats were dominant during the first 20 minutes of the game after Katie Buczek (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota East) nearly floated a shot over WMU goalkeeper, Julia Francy, in the sixth minute. Emily Hebbeler (Park Hills, Ky./Notre Dame Academy) passed a ball ahead and the Bronco keeper came out of the penalty box to clear the ball. The Bearcats got it back and Buczek was inches from a perfect shot.
Six minutes later Hebbeler took a corner kick that Morrissey headed into the corner and Francy punched away. Hebbeler followed the rebound and tested the WMU keeper again. However, as the half wore on, the Broncos turned up the offensive pressure and took all but one of their shots in the final 20 minutes of the period.
A rough game that ended with each team having 11 fouls, WMU had two players with yellow cards. A straight red card saw a Bronco ejected after a foul on Buczek in the 57th minute. The Bearcats outshot the Broncos, 15-6, for the game and took seven corner kicks to WMU's one. Rachel Barnette (Peachtree City, Ga./McIntosh) earned her fourth straight shutout in goal and finished with five saves.
Cincinnati will stay at Gettler Stadium to take on Illinois on Saturday, Sept. 11 in a 7 p.m. match.