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Bearcats Welcome Rutgers on Saturday Night

Bearcats Welcome Rutgers on Saturday NightBearcats Welcome Rutgers on Saturday Night

Oct. 1, 2010

Game Notes | |

The Game:

  • The University of Cincinnati men's soccer team will look to move to 2-0 in BIG EAST play when it welcomes Rutgers to Gettler Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m.
  • UC last started conference play 2-0 in 2007, when the Bearcats defeated Georgetown and Seton Hall, eventually opening up 2-0-1 before suffering the first BIG EAST loss of the season at Marquette.

Series History:

  • The Bearcats are 2-3-1 all-time against Rutgers and 2-2-1 against the Scarlet Knights since joining the BIG EAST in 2005.
  • UC is 1-1-0 against RU at Gettler Stadium.
  • Last season, the Bearcats dropped a 3-0 decision at Yurcak Field in Piscataway, N.J.

Story Lines:

  • Head coach Hylton Dayes is in his 10th season at Cincinnati and 20th as a head coach. Dayes holds a 82-75-25 mark at UC and a 178-160-44 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.
  • Entering the week, UC ranked seventh in the nation in goals-against average, allowing just three goals through the first eight games of the season and posting a 0.35 GAA.
  • Senior goalkeeper Matt Williams entered the week ninth in the nation in goals-against average (0.35) and 14th in save percentage (.886).
  • Williams posted his 16th career shutout against Xavier on Sept. 29, moving into sole possession of second place on UC's all-time shutout list.
  • 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 mention 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 played crosstown rival Xavier to a 0-0 draw in double overtime on Sept. 29 at the XU Soccer Complex.
  • In a game matching the No. 5 and No. 7 defenses in the nation, the Bearcats (3-2-3) posted their fifth shutout of the season through eight matches. UC is unbeaten in its last six matches against the Musketeers (1-2-3).
  • Matt Williams made three saves to record his 16th career shutout, moving into second on UC's all-time shutouts list. He lowered his goals-against average to 0.35, allowing just three goals in eight matches this season.

Up Next:

  • UC wraps up non-conference play with a date in Ann Arbor, Mich., to take on Michigan. The Bearcats and Wolverines will kick off at 7 p.m. at the UM Soccer Stadium.