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CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati men's soccer team polished off a perfect three-match homestand Tuesday evening when it defeated the Thomas More Saints, 2-0, inside Gettler Stadium.
The Bearcats (4-3-0) outscored their opponents 5-0 during the homestand. Redshirt freshman Ryan Melink (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland) provided UC's scoring punch against Thomas More (4-3-0) with a pair of goals on the night. Tuesday marks the first time UC has won three-consecutive matches since 2014.
In a makeup match for the season opener against Appalachain State on Aug. 26 that was cancelled due to weather, the Bearcats welcomed local foe Thomas More. UC had a few scoring chances in the first half, but were unable to convert and went into halftime deadlocked at nil with the Saints. UC was able to cash in on a scoring opportunity early in the second half when Melink found the back of the net in the 57th minute. The Bearcats added an insurance goal very late when Melink, again, beat the goalkeeper for another score with under a minute to play.
// GOAL SCORING SUMMARY
57' - CIN Ryan Melink (David Sanz)
Off of a pass from senior Nick Melville (Portland, Maine/Cheverus/Iowa Western), freshman David Sanz (Santander, Spain/IE La Marina) corralled the ball and fed Melink who was just outside the 18, spun around, repositioned and fired a shot into the left corner of the net for UC's first goal of the night.
90' - CIN Ryan Melink (Adam Wilson)
Sophomore Adam Wilson (Auchterarder, Scotland/Dollar Academy) fielded the ball just past midfield, sent a volley over the top of the defense as Melink got even with TMC's back line, settled the ball in the box and sent it past the charging keeper for the score.
// SCORING OPPORTUNITIES
- Wilson fired a free kick from about 28 yards out that ricocheted off the cross bar during the 17th
- The Bearcats were called offside on a would-be goal inside the box in the 22nd minute.
- During the 32nd minute, J.J. Iroh (Mason, Ohio/Mason) blasted a shot from inside the box that was saved by Thomas More goalkeeper Jeff Paulin.
- Melville shot from just inside the box with Paulin making the save in the 49th
- Freshman Aerin West (Sylvania, Ohio/Northview) narrowly misses putting a header into the back of the net off of a Wilson free kick from just outside the box at the 70th
- The Bearcats were really seeking an insurance goal late as Sanz (72') Daniel Oginni (76') Wilson (78') and Iroh (82') each challenged the keeper.
// MATCH NOTES
- Melink added to his first-career goal on Saturday with a pair of goals on Tuesday. It marks the first time a Bearcat has had two goals in a match since Alejandro Garcia on Sept. 26, 2015.
- Wilson now has 13-career assists including helpers in four-consecutive matches. He leads the team with five already this season after recording eight as a freshman.
- Redshirt junior goalkeeper Pedro Diaz (Mason, Ohio/Mason) recorded his fourth clean sheet of the season - and third consecutive -- with three saves on the night. He had one shutout last season.
- Sanz picked up his second assist of the season in helping UC go up 1-0 early in the second half.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats will hit the road for their first American Athletic Conference match of the season on Saturday, Sept. 24, when they travel to Memphis to take on the Tigers at 8 p.m. ET. Watch live here and follow along with live stats here.