TicketsSept. 22, 2011
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The University of Cincinnati women's soccer team traveled to Rhode Island on Thursday in preparation of playing a pair of BIG EAST Conference road matches against Providence College and University of Connecticut.
Cincinnati faces Providence at 4 p.m. Friday at Glay Field, followed by a 1 p.m. Sunday contest against UConn at Morrone Stadium in Storrs, Conn.
"Any time you go on the road in the BIG EAST, it always poses a tough challenge for us, but this season we've done a very good job of being consistent on the road," said UC head coach Michelle Salmon. "We know we're playing two very good opponents in Providence and UConn and this is going to be a good test and a good challenge for us. Our focus has been on us this season to continue to improve and to get results."
Cincinnati (5-3-2, 1-1-0 BIG EAST) opened conference action last weekend with a 1-1 split. The Bearcats traveled to Chicago, Ill. and defeated DePaul University 1-0 in double-overtime on Friday. They returned home Sunday to a sold-out Gettler Stadium crowed and fell to University of Notre Dame 4-1.
The Bearcats defeated DePaul after sophomore forward Jazmine Rhodes (Long Beach, Calif./Long Beach Polytechnic) scored a goal in the 108th minute to give UC the win. It was Rhodes' second double-overtime goal of the season after initially accomplishing the feat on Sept. 9 at College of Charleston.
Freshman goalkeeper Kristina Utley (Castro Valley, Calif./Castro Valley) will look to continue her hot play this weekend. She was named the BIG EAST Rookie of the Week on Monday after totaling 17 saves in UC's previous two matches, including her third shutout of the year at DePaul.
"In order for us to win both matches, we have to be consistent," said Salmon. "I really like how we attacked all week in practice; I felt like we did a fantastic job with that. It's about consistency. Despite the previous game (against Notre Dame), I feel like we've done a good job defensively. The keys for us this weekend are, A, to keep a clean sheet, and, B, to continue to attack with the same intensity that we've had all year. We're living on that attack with the three (forwards) up top and Logan (Ballinger) coming out the midfield; it's obviously proved to be a very potent attack for us."