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CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati women's soccer team suffered its first loss of the 2016 campaign Sunday afternoon as the host Purdue Boilermakers used two late scores to defeat the Bearcats, 2-1, in overtime at Folk Field in West Lafayette, Ind. The Bearcats (3-1-0) received a goal from Vanessa Gilles late in the first half of play, but the Boilermakers (2-2-0) used scores in the 80' and 97' to steal the victory on a hot, humid day.
"Purdue deserve a tip of the hat and respect for what they endured this weekend," Head Coach Neil Stafford said. "But, of course, we're disappointed with the result as I thought we controlled stretches of the match, but we weren't good enough in the final third with the final pass. It's a tough one to swallow, but, we will move on and have two fantastic opportunities for our RPI this coming weekend in Boston."
"We've completed three years of a 5-year plan," Stafford continued. "I am proud of what we have accomplished this weekend and this season on and off the field as a team. The young players got some great experience in these two away matches. We planted some fantastic seeds and I won't allow this loss interfere with the long term project. We're just trying to learn and get better each week. I have great belief in this program".
"I thought the team did well grinding it out and fighting to the finish. We never gave in; just a little bit unlucky." Rachel Holloway said after the match. "I wanted to do my part and make my minutes count and I am glad I could have an impact and help the team. It was great to assist on Vanessa's goal, but, in the end, it wasn't the result we wanted. We'll continue to be committed to the process that Neil and the coaches have laid out for us. There are great opportunities next weekend in Boston for us to take advantage of."
// FIRST HALF
Both teams fought to control the pace of action with the hosts finding the better opportunities early on. Through the first 26 minutes of play, PU held a 5-0 advantage in shots, but all were turned away by the UC defense and keeper Claudia Eustaquio, who posted a trio of saves in the first half. It wasn't until Julie Gavorski let one fly in the 27' before UC registered a shot; a category in which the Bearcats would eventually lead at halftime, 8-5.
In the 39', Katy Couperus set a free kick into the box that was headed on goal by Alex Stubblebine, a shot that was turned away by the defense on the goal line. Gilles had a go at the loose ball, but it went wide left. Despite the misses, it did open a stretch of play in which the Bearcats took control and continued to press the offensive action.
In the 42', the deadlock was broken as Gilles landed her first goal of the season, heading home a cross into the box. Taylor Pavlika took the corner kick and played it short to Rachel Holloway, who quickly settled the ball and then sent a cross into the heart of the penalty area where Gilles rose to meet the ball in the air and redirected it into the netting for score just before intermission. The assist for Holloway is the second of her career after recording her first helper last season.
// SECOND HALF
The second half saw more pressure from the Bearcats, but no more goals scored despite several chances. In the 52', Jordan Cotleur broke down the left side of the Boilermaker defense and tried to get a shot off, but dispossessed at the 6-yard box as she tried to shoot.
The Boilermakers countered two minutes later when Hannah Leinert broke through the defense to collect a pass and send a shot past Eustaquio, but the goal was waved off as the PU forward was off-sides. UC came back the opposite way almost immediately with Taylor Jackson finding and opening up the middle, only to see her shot saved.
Both teams then exchanged chances off set pieces, first with the Bearcats seeing a corner kick nearly get sent home as Gabrielle LoPresti collected a loose ball and ripped a shot that was deflected away by the defense. Five minutes later, it was PU's turn as it was awarded a free kick from 22-yards out, only to see the shot snared out of the air by Eustaquio before a Boilermaker could play it.
In the 80', however, the Boilermakers were challenging once again and a shot was sent into the box that appeared to hit the arm of a UC defender, yielding a penalty kick for the hosts. From the spot Andrea Petrina fired a shot toward goal that Eustaquio got a touch on, but it was not enough as the ball hit the back netting to tie the match at 1-1.
The Bearcats continued to press over the final 10 minutes of play and had several strong opportunities. In the 83', Katy Couperus collected a loose ball and sent another shot screaming at the goal, only to see it rise just above the cross bar. Two minutes later, Couperus played a pass into the 6-yard box, but UC was unable to get a strong shot away. Finally, in the 88', Jackson once again was on the break and took aim at the left post with her shot just missing to the left of the post, leaving the match tied.
// OVERTIME
The Bearcats looked to push the pace, but were unable to advance the ball before PU eventually took control. In the 97', Gilles was whistled for a yellow card outside the area with the Boilermakers' free kick yielding a clearance from UC. But, shortly after, PU regained control with Bitner playing a ball into the area where Hannah Leinert headed the ball into the middle. Mikayla Lasky settled the ball and then shot it past Eustaquio into the left side netting for the golden goal.
// NOTES
The loss snapped the second-longest winning streak to open a season in program history, joing the 1999 and 2002 squads that also opened 3-0-0 before falling in the fourth match of the year.
The loss also marks the third time the streak was snapped on the road with the 1999 team dropping a 5-0 decision at San Diego State and the 2002 side falling to another Big Ten foe, Illinois, in a 3-0 road decision.
UC played in overtime for the second time in four matches this season. That amount of matches ranks as the sixth-quickest to get to a second overtime match, suprassed by the 2007 team that played OT in its first two matches of the season and the 2014, 2012, 2010 and 2003 teams that played overtime twice in its first three matches.
// UPCOMING
The Bearcats remain on the road next week with a pair of matches in Boston. First up, UC will meet the Eagles of Boston College in a 7 p.m. contest in Chestnut Hill before heading to Boston University to meet the Terriers in a 6 p.m. contest on Monday.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
GoBearcats.com is your one-stop destination for all things UC Athletics. Socially, the team can be followed on Facebook (GoBearcatsWSOC), Twitter (@GoBearcatsWSOC) and Instagram (GoBearcatsWSOC). Head Coach Neil Stafford (@UCGaffer) also can be followed on Twitter.
// EXPERIENCE UC
The University of Cincinnati department of athletics announced an initiative entitled Experience UC, geared toward inviting the community to campus to see firsthand the great things about and surrounding the university. Experience UC includes complimentary admission for patrons attending women's basketball, lacrosse, volleyball, women's tennis, men's and women's soccer, swimming and diving and track and field home events.