TicketsSept. 29, 2010
The Game:
- Following a 2-0 win against Georgetown in its BIG EAST opener on Sept. 25, the University of Cincinnati men's soccer team will travel across town to take on rival Xavier on Sept. 29.
- The 39th meeting between the crosstown rivals is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff at the XU Soccer Complex.
- Don't expect too many goals, as the two defenses are ranked in the Top 10 nationally in goals-against average. Xavier is fifth, allowing two goals in five matches for a 0.37 GAA. UC is seventh, having conceded three goals in seven matches for a 0.40 GAA.
Series History:
- The Bearcats are 25-8-5 all-time against Xavier and have won five straight in the series.
- UC is 11-4-3 at Xavier and has won five of the last six at XU.
- Last season, the Bearcats topped the Musketeers, 2-1 in overtime, in Gettler Stadium. Judson McKinney scored with under four minutes to play in regulation to knot the match at 1-1 and Matt Bahner scored in the 93rd minute to win it for UC.
- The last time UC and XU squared off at the XU Soccer Complex (2008), the Bearcats came away with a 1-0 win thanks to a Branden Stelmak goal.
Story Lines:
- Head coach Hylton Dayes is in his 10th season at Cincinnati and 20th as a head coach. Dayes holds a 82-75-24 mark at UC and a 178-160-43 overall record.
- Dayes is the second winningest coach in UC history, behind only Bob Muro, who posted a 114-111-13 mark in 12 seasons on the Bearcats sideline.
- Cincinnati is seventh in the nation in goals-against average, allowing just three goals through the first seven games of the season and posting a 0.40 GAA.
- Senior goalkeeper Matt Williams is ninth in the nation in goals-against average (0.40) and 14th in save percentage (.880).
- Williams posted his 15th career shutout against Georgetown on Sept. 25, moving into a tie for second on UC's all-time shutout list with Mike Vessells and Mike Mobley.
- Junior midfielder Matt Bahner was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Sept. 6 after scoring both of UC's goals that week, including the game winner against Dayton on Sept. 1.
- Bahner has scored four of the Bearcats' five goals this season, doubling his career goal output (four entering 2010).
- Senior forward Nick Weightman scored the first goal of the season by someone not named Matt Bahner when he tallied the game winner against Georgetown on Sept. 25.
- Senior midfielder Mark Konitsch has been a constant threat on the flanks for the Bearcats and leads the team with three assists, including the helper on Weightman's game winner against Georgetown.
- The Bearcats roster features players from near and far. Ohio products hold 12 roster spots with eight hailing from the Greater Cincinnati/Dayton area. Seven Bearcats hail from outside the United States, including four from Canada, two from Jamaica, and one from Scotland.
BIG EAST Honors:
- Matt Bahner was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor roll on Sept. 6 after scoring a pair of goals in a 1-0-1 week for the Bearcats.
- Bahner earned a second BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll metion on Sept. 27 after tallying a goal and an assist in UC's 2-0 win against Georgetown in its BIG EAST opener.
Rough Road:
- The 2010 schedule features matches against three Top 25 teams, including No. 1/1 Akron.
- UC will welcome No. 6/11 Louisville to Gettler Stadium on Oct. 13.
- The Bearcats fell, 1-0, at Akron on Sept. 19 and will travel to No. 18/22 St. John's on Oct. 9.
Last Time Out:
- UC opened BIG EAST Conference play with a 2-0 win against Georgetown on Sept. 25 in Gettler Stadium.
- Nick Weightman scored his first goal of the season for the game winner, with assists coming from Mark Konitsch and Matt Bahner.
- Bahner iced the match in the 84th minute with his fourth goal of 2010, matching his career goal total entering the season.
- Goalkeeper Matt Williams made three saves to post his fourth shutout of the season and pull into a tie for second on UC's all-time shutouts list with 15.
Up Next:
- UC returns home to welcome conference foe Rutgers to Gettler Stadium for a 7 p.m. kick on Saturday, Oct. 2.