TicketsAug. 14, 2011
CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati men's soccer team will open its 2011 exhibition slate on Monday at 7 p.m. when it welcomes Bowling Green to Gettler Stadium.
The Bearcats, coming off a 7-5-7 season in 2010 and the program's first trip to the BIG EAST Championship semifinals, will have a look at 14 newcomers in the first of two exhibition contests against the visiting Falcons.
Second-team all-BIG EAST honoree Matt Bahner returns, along with 2010 regulars Roger Thompson, Sam Klosterman, D.J. Albert, Zach Patterson, Alex Hadley, Michael Millay, Andre Sharpe, and Shamar Shelton.
A position battle to watch will come between the pipes, where redshirt junior goalkeeper Joey Barnard will be pushed by transfer Taylor Hafling and freshmen Robert Hasselfeld and Cody Huntley.
A trio of transfers in defender Jon Buschur, forward Leon Powell, and defender Wyatt Stephens will look to make an immediate impact.
Also look for an immediate impact from freshmen Cole DeNormandie, an NSCAA High School All-American and Gatorade Player of the Year in Massachusetts, Emmanuel Appiah and Ashani Walker.
A player to watch will be sophomore forward Matt Asensio, who had a strong spring season. After losing four of the top five goalscorers and the top three forwards on last year's roster due to graduation, the Bearcats will be looking for a scoring option up top.
Tickets to the exhibition contest are free.
Following UC's opener against Bowling Green, the Bearcats will head to Cleveland to take on Cleveland State on Saturday, Aug. 20, at 4 p.m.