Loading

Bearcats Welcome Cleveland State to Gettler Stadium

Bearcats Welcome Cleveland State to Gettler StadiumBearcats Welcome Cleveland State to Gettler Stadium

Sept. 25, 2012

Game Notes | | Watch Live

The Game:

  • The University of Cincinnati men's soccer team will return home for a non-conference match. The Bearcats will face Cleveland State at Gettler Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.

Series History:

  • The Bearcats have a 4-6-0 series record against the Vikings. This is their first meeting since UC's 3-1 victory in Gettler Stadium in 2006. UC has won four of the last five meetings.

Story Lines:

  • Head coach Hylton Dayes is in his 12th season at Cincinnati and 23rd as a head coach. Dayes holds an 96-93-31 mark at UC and a 193-177-50 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.
  • The Bearcats have won three straight contests, all by shutout. The last time UC posted three consecutive shutouts was Sept. 25-Oct. 2, 2010 (2-0 vs. Georgetown, 0-0 vs. Xavier, 2-0 vs. Rutgers).
  • UC won its BIG EAST opener against Pittsburgh on Sept. 22, the third time in the last four seasos that the Bearcats have won the conference owner.
  • The win was the first for the Bearcats in Pittsburgh, having lost, 2-1, to the Panthers in 2006 at Founder's Field.
  • Taylor Hafling made has posted three consecutive shutouts and has four on the season. His goals against average is under 1.00 at 0.97.
  • For the second consecutive season, the Bearcats are dealing with a bevy of injuries to key players. Starters Leon Powell, Matt Bahner, Peter Jannelli, Emmanuel Appiah, Michael Millay, Ashani Walker, and Will Diebold have missed time due to injury in 2012.
  • In 2011, UC posted a 6-11-1 overall mark, including a 2-7-0 ledger in BIG EAST play. The Bearcats failed to advance to the BIG EAST Tournament for just the second time since joining the league in 2005.
  • Returning this season are 2011 BIG EAST All-Rookie honoree Cole DeNormandie and 2010 second-team All-BIG EAST midfielder Matt Bahner.
  • The Bearcats look to rebuild a defensive unit which needs to replace both center backs and graduated captain and four-year starter Sam Klosterman.
  • A revamped back line and new starting goalkeeper, sophomore Taylor Hafling, will look to improve upon the 1.6 goals per game allowed in 2011.
  • A bevy of young but experienced players will take the pitch in 2012, including sophomores forward DeNormandie (18 starts in 2011), defender Will Diebold (14 starts), midfielders Matt Remaley (12 starts), Emmanuel Appiah (12 starts), and Ashani Walker (seven starts).

The Glorious Return of...:

  • Matt Bahner, a 2010 second-team All-BIG EAST midfielder, returns to the squad for his fifth season after missing the entire 2011 campaign with a knee injury.
  • Bahner led the Bearcats with seven goals and six assists in 2010 and has 12 career goals to his name.
  • Bahner scored his first goal of the season on Sept. 2 at No. 22 Xavier.
  • Peter Jannelli, who last played with the Bearcats during the 2009 season, started in the midfield in the first two contests, assisting on the game-winning goal in the 1-0 victory against Drake on Aug. 24.

New Kids on the Block:

  • Five true freshmen and a first-year transfer saw time for the Bearcats in the opening weekend.
  • Three true freshmen have made starts this season: Richardo Israel (9 starts), Gabriel Robinson (8) and John Manga (5) while first year transfer David Murrow has started one match.
  • Freshmen forward Evan Talkers and defender Ben Keane have alse seen time for the Bearcats.
  • Freshman Jacob Martinez scored his first career goal in the 1-0 overtime victory against Gardner-Webb on Sept. 16. Martinez's 98th-minute goal came in his second appearance in the Bearcat uniform.
  • Manga tallied his first career goal in the 1-0 winn at Pitt on Sept. 22. He was named BIG EAST Rookie of the Week on Sept. 24.

BIG EAST/National Honors:

  • John Manga was named the BIG EAST Rookie of the Week on Sept. 24 after scoring his first career goal and game winner in the Bearcats 1-0 win at Pittsburgh on Sept. 22 in the BIG EAST opener for both teams.
  • Taylor Hafling was named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll on Sept. 17 after making 12 saves and posting shutouts against Gardner-Webb and Towson.
  • Cole DeNormandie was named to the BIG EAST All-Rookie team following the 2011 campaign. He led the Bearcats with seven goals and 15 points.
  • Four UC freshmen were named to the TopDrawerSoccer.com Top 100 Freshmen list last season. Cole DeNormandie was No. 14 on the list, while Will Diebold (No. 69), Matt Remaley (No. 85), and Emmanuel Appiah (No. 95) were also recognized.

Preseason Polling:

  • The Bearcats were picked to finish sixth in the BIG EAST Red Division by the league's coaches.
  • UC has topped its preseason expectations in all but two seasons since joining the BIG EAST in 2005.

Ranking the Foes:

  • The Bearcats have 13 wins over ranked opponents under Hylton Dayes (since 2001).
  • UC is 13-31-6 against Top 25 foes since 2001, including a win against No. 1 Connecticut on Sept. 16, 2005, in Gettler Stadium.
  • The Bearcats are 0-2-0 against ranked teams this season, falling 3-0 to No. 12/9 Indiana on Aug. 26 and 2-1 at No. 22 Xavier on Sept. 2.

Last Time Out:

  • UC (4-4-1, 1-0-0 BIG EAST) topped Pittsburgh (6-1-2, 0-1-0 BIG EAST) in their BIG EAST opener at Ambrose Urbanic Field on Saturday, Sept. 22.
  • True freshman John Manga scored his first career goal against Pittsburgh. The goal came in the 44th minute. Manga collected the rebound after the Pitt goalkeeper pushed aside a shot from Matt Remaley.
  • Goalkeeper Taylor Hafling made seven saves and his season goals against average dropped to 0.97.
  • This win marked the first time the Bearcats have posted three consecutive shutouts since Sept. 25-Oct. 2, 2010.
  • The win was the first for the Bearcats in Pittsburgh, having lost 2-1, to the Panthers in 2006 at Founder's Field.