CINCINNATI --The University of Cincinnati men's soccer team controlled the run of play in the second half, but could not find the equalizer and fell to crosstown rival Xavier, 2-1, on Friday night at Gettler Stadium.
Xavier controlled the run of play early, scoring in the 17th minute and out-shooting UC, 6-2, in the opening 45 minutes. The Musketeers added to the lead in the 69th minute despite the Bearcats holding a 7-3 second-half shot advantage, before Alejandro Garcia (Coral Springs, Fla./Darton State) made it 2-1 in the 75th minute. Cincinnati had a few chances for the equalizer, but couldn't find the back of the net and fell, 2-1.
// GOAL SCORING SUMMARY
17' - XU Alex Ridsdale (Cory Brown)
Ridsdale put the visitors ahead early, taking a pass from Brown at the top corner of the box and sliding behind his defender. Ridsdale sent it just inside the left post for the 1-0 lead.
69' - XU Ian Vicars (Jalen Brown)
Vicars scored what proved to be a vital insurance goal for XU after Brown had an initial shot saved by UC keeper Pedro Diaz (Mason, Ohio/Mason). Vicars found himself in the middle of the box with the rebound and only defenders between him and the goal and sent it into the right side for a 2-0 lead.
75' - CIN Alejandro Garcia (Adam Wilson)
Garcia cut the deficit in half in the 75th minute, taking a diagonal pass from Adam Wilson (Auchterarder, Scotland/Dollar Academy) on the near side and heading it from just outside the six into the upper-right corner.
// OTHER SCORING CHANCES
2' - Xavier
A Musketeer cross came perilously to the UC goal early on, but Diaz punched the pass over the cross bar in his first test of the match.
6' - Cincinnati
UC's best scoring chance of the first half came just minutes later when Wilson sent a corner that was headed by Ben Keane (Mount Laurel, N.J./Bishop Eustace Prep) just wide of the goal.
37' - Xavier
The Musketeers took advantage of a midfield turnover by the Bearcats to create a three-on-one opportunity. Peyton Mowery (Troy, Ohio/Troy) was the lone UC defender on the case and he first stopped the ball, then intercepted a pass and cleared the ball as he spun to the ground.
47' - Cincinnati
The Bearcats almost tied the match at 1-1 early in the second half when Stefan Bangsund (Kent, Wash./Highline College) played a cross from the corner into Garcia, who's header went just over the crossbar.
61' - Cincinnati
Cincinnati again had a chance to equalize it at 1-1. Following an XU foul, Emmanuel Appiah (Westerville, Ohio/Westerville Central) took a free kick from roughly 40 yards out. The kick drew the Xavier keeper off his line, but a Musketeer defender beat the Bearcats to the ball and cleared.
83' - Cincinnati
Garcia, who stayed in good position all night while playing all 90 minutes, had another chance to tie the match, this time at 2-2, but sent another header just over the crossbar.
90' - Cincinnati
UC's final gasp came with 33 second remaining when Garcia took a rip from just outside the box, but sent it about a yard high of the crossbar.
// GAME NOTES
- Diaz made his first career start in goal. The Mason, Ohio, native made five saves in the effort.
- Garcia now has three goals on the season.
- Appiah recorded his third assist of the year.
- Cincinnati recorded seven shots in the second 45 minutes, but put just one two on goal.
- The win is Xavier's fourth-straight over Cincinnati and just its sixth victory in Clifton. The Bearcats hold the longest winning streak in the series at five games.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats return to the pitch at Gettler Stadium on Monday, Sept. 14, when IUPUI visits for a 7 p.m. showdown. Fans are invited to experience UC men's soccer all season long with complimentary admission.