TicketsSept. 5, 2010
Postgame Interview with head coach Hylton Dayes
CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati men's soccer team played Detroit to a 1-1 draw on Sunday (Sept. 5) afternoon at Gettler Stadium.
The Bearcats (1-0-1) controlled play throughout the match and, for the second match in a row, got an early goal to take the lead. UC scored in the fifth minute when Matt Bahner (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West) put home a header off a perfect cross from Mark Konitsch (Clarence, N.Y./Clarence Senior). Branden Stelmak (Broadview Heights, Ohio/Brecksville-Broadview Heights) carried the ball deep into the Detroit (0-1-1) box before laying a pass back to Konitsch. His left-footed cross found the head of a streaking Bahner on the back post and Bahner put it in for his second goal of the season. Konitsch picked up his second assist of the campaign.
UC held the run of play, but could not build on its lead, taking a 1-0 lead into the half.
The second half was much of the same, as UC out-shot the Titans 12-4 in the frame. But a defensive miscommunication in the 75th minute cost the Bearcats. Nate Robinson, who played at UC in 2008 before transferring to Detroit, sent a cross into the UC penalty area that was nodded in by UDM's Ya Ya Toure for his first of the season.
Then play got physical. A total of 46 fouls were called and eight yellow cards were issued.
UC had chances to win in regulation as the final 15 minutes of regulation seemed to be spent in the Detroit defensive third. Bahner saw a left-footed crack go just high in the 88th minute and his header in the 89th was saved by Detroit keeper Martin Robertson.
The first overtime period saw UC hold a 4-2 advantage in shots, but the action heated up in the second OT.
Stelmak appeared to win it with an incredible individual effort from a tight angle along the right side of the box in the 104th minute. His shot beat UDM's Robertson and hit the underside of the crossbar. The ball came straight down, but was ruled no goal and the ball was cleared out of danger by the defense. Stelmak saw another right-footed strike sneak just wide of the near post moments later.
In the 109th minute, a defensive miscue gave Detroit's Ken Simon a wide open look at goal, but Matt Williams (Portland, Maine/Cheverus) made a diving save to his left to maintain the draw.
The Bearcats held a massive 28-13 advantage in shots, including managing 11 on goal. UC took 10 corners to UDM's four.
Williams made four saves, while his counterpart, Robertson, stopped eight Bearcats attempts and was twice saved when his defenders cleared shots off the line.
Cincinnati is next in action on Friday, Sept. 10, when it welcomes Appalachian State to Gettler Stadium in the opener of the BIG EAST adidas Classic. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.