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CINCINNATI - Not only was Friday night's match with visiting Dayton the first of the 2016 season for the University of Cincinnati women's soccer team, but it also was the return of the `Cardiac Cats' as Julie Gavorski's dart from 25-yards out with 11 seconds remaining in double-overtime gave the Bearcats a hard-fought 2-1 victory in front a program-record 1,467 fans at Gettler Stadium. The Bearcats, who had to wait out a 30-minute lightning delay at the start of the second half, moved to 1-0-0 on the season while the visiting Flyers dropped to 0-1-0.
// 12' - LoPRESTI OPENS HER ACCOUNT WITH PK CONVERSION
The Bearcats controlled the tempo early on and looked to put the pressure on the Flyers, eventually finding a gap through the seam of the defense and drawing a penalty. In the 12', freshman Gabrielle LoPresti stepped to the spot and calmly slotted a shot into the back of the net, putting the hosts ahead early on. Despite controlling much of the half and limiting UD attempts on goal, the Bearcats took a 1-0 lead into halftime.
// 72' - DAYTON PULLS ONE BACK
When the second half got underway, the teams played for two minutes before lightning was spotted in the vicinity. Following a 30-minute delay, the teams returned to the pitch, this time with the Flyers surging on the offensive side of the action. Despite repeatedly turning away the guests, UD found an opening as Libby Leedum played a ball into Alexis Kiehl, who headed home the equalizer in the 72'.
// 110' - `CARDIAC CATS' GET THE WIN
With the match squared at one, both teams tried to break the deadlock in regulation and the first overtime with UC having the better chances, but just missing on their attempts to end the match with a victory. It was much of the same in the second overtime period before the `Cardiac Cats' reappeared, this time from the foot of Gavorski. With the clock winding down, the junior collected a loose ball in space and then ripped a shot that went screaming past the keeper with just 11 ticks remaining.
// DEFENSE HOLDS ON
Natalie Smith got the start in goal and posted six saves to get the victory. One of those six was timely in the first overtime period as she tipped a shot over the cross bar to preserve the 1-1 scoreline and set up the Bearcats for the stunning win.
// NOTES
Dating back to last year, the goal from Gavorski is the ninth time UC has netted a score in the 79' or later and the third in the final minute of play after bagging a pair of goals in the 89' last year.
Overall, the win snapped UD's two-match win streak in the rivalry and pushed UC's all-time advantage to 13-6-1 in the series (7-3-0 at home).
The Bearcats are now 79-23-6 all-time against foes from Ohio
UC now holds records of 24-12-1 in season openers and 25-10-2 in home openers.
The 1,497 fans marked a program-record attendance figure, bettering the 1,400 fans that came out to watch UC take on Notre Dame on September 18, 2011. The attendance marks the sixth time in program history that more than 1,000 fans packed into Gettler and marked the second year in row to open the season as 1,054 came out last year to see UC face DePaul (8/21/15) in the home opener.
// RIVERBOAT RIVALRY AWAITS
Next up for the Bearcats will be the inaugural Riverboat Rivalry, which is set for 7 p.m. Monday night at Nippert Stadium against the Norse of Northern Kentucky, who dropped a 3-1 decision at Appalachian State to open their season Friday night. Admission to the Riverboat Rivalry is complimentary.