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CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati men's soccer team won its third straight decision, getting two more goals from John Manga and a third consecutive clean sheet to down Cleveland State, 2-0, on Wednesday night at Gettler Stadium.
The victory gets the Bearcats back to the .500 mark (3-3-2) entering American Athletic Conference play this weekend.
// Scoring Summary
Cincinnati 1, Cleveland State 0 - Manga 25'
Manga (Lexington, Ky./Henry Clay) continued his hot streak by giving the Bearcats the early lead. Ashani Walker (Kingston, Jamaica/Jamaica College) won a ball in the midfield and fed it to Manga on a counter. Played perfectly on both sides, Manga broke free down the middle of the field with the ball and then beat the keeper from the top of the box.
Cincinnati 2, Cleveland State 0 - Manga 73'
The second goal for Manga was a carbon copy of the first, except this time with Matt Remaley (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Mountain Vista) playing the ball forward to the striker. The score sealed the victory for the Bearcats.
// Three Straight Clean Sheets
The shutout gives goalkeeper Alex Gill (Beavercreek, Ohio/Beavercreek) and the UC defensive corps its third straight clean sheet. Cincinnati has not recorded three straight shutouts since 2012, when the Bearcats beat Towson, Gardner-Webb and Pittsburgh by consecutive 1-0 scores.
// Manga Matters
Manga has continued to be the catalyst for the Bearcats offense. After scoring three goals in a pair of victories last week to earn American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors, Manga followed it up with a pair of goals tonight. Having scored in each of UC's three straight victories, as well as in the draw with Wright State, the Bearcats are 3-0-1 in games in which the junior finds the back of the net.
// Up Next
The Bearcats open American Athletic Conference play with a trip to Temple on Saturday, Sept. 27. Kickoff in Ambler, Pennsylvania, is set for 3 p.m.