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CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati women's soccer team certainly labored for the victory on Monday night as an own goal on Boston University with eight seconds remaining gave the 'Cardiac Cats' yet another late victory as the Bearcats fought to the end at Nickerson Field in Boston. Despite heavy rain and strong winds being kicked up from Tropical Depression Hermine and a determined home side, the Bearcats were able to snap a two-match losing streak and move to 4-2-0 on the season while the host Terriers slipped to 0-6-0.
"We played in some very difficult conditions tonight," head coach Neil Stafford said. "It was extremely windy and, in soccer, windy is the worst condition to play. But, overall, I think we saw some growth tonight in not letting a result from Friday impact us against a physical BU team. They were physical and you could tell they were up for this game, especially playing at home with nearly 2,000 people on hand. I thought, at times tonight, it was very physical and I am proud of our players in the way we were relentless in grinding out the win."
One of the players that was relentless in trying to see her team to good result was freshman Kyleigh Dominguez, who scored her second of the year and set up the winning score, too.
"I am very proud of how Kyleigh Dominguez played coming off the bench tonight," Stafford said. "She played well and scored on a great shot. And, how about that ball into Vanessa (Gilles) for the winner? It was a great ball in that set up the win and I couldn't be happier with her overall play in the attacking third."
The team will now come off the road after four-straight away from Cincinnati.
"I thought it was a great team effort tonight," Stafford said. "I think we did a great job competing and showing our Cincinnati grit. We always want to fight to the finish and I can't think of a better example of that than how we finished the match tonight. We got the win and we are 4-2 this year, but I am not overjoyed with 4-2. I am little disappointed with 4-2 because I think we are better than that. We need to execute better heading into this home stand and build off 4-2."
// FIRST HALF
With the wet turf, it was hard on both sides to retain possession as the ball continued to slip past intended targets. After the hosts took the first surge of attacks on offense, the Bearcats had their turn after the 10' mark as they had several good scoring chances early on. In the 13', the Bearcats drew a corner kick with Taylor Pavlika sending the ball into the box where Vanessa Gilles was waiting, but couldn't get a strong shot off to challenge the keeper.
In the 21', Katy Couperus looked to do damage from distance once again, this time sending a low, skipping shot that was saved. Two minutes later, Gabrielle LoPresti presented UC with another scoring chance, this time stealing the ball, turning and letting a shot go from 20 yards out, only to see the ball skip just wide of the goal. BU countered in the 25' with a shot from distance of their own, but Claudia Eustaquio was up to the task and easily saved the shot.
It took nearly 15 minutes of play before another solid scoring chance came about, this time starting with another corner kick. Pavlika played the ball in at the 40' mark and it bounced around a pair of players before landing at the feet of Gilles, who ripped a shot that went just high of the cross bar and out of play. BU nearly pounced on the counter attack as they drove the length of the pitch and tried to get a shot off before Eustaquio left her line to disrupt the play. While she was unable to clear the ball, BU let a shot go and saw it sail high of the goal, leaving the match scoreless at the half.
// SECOND HALF
Things picked up in the second half with several more chances for the visitors. In the 49', Cassie Wheldon offered up a bouncing, long-range shot that was saved before Jordan Cotleur used her speed two minutes later to drive past the defense and slip a shot on goal that just missed to the left of the post. Wheldon was back at it from distance again in the 55', but her shot slipped wide.
The Bearcats finally found the back of the net in the 59' as Kyleigh Dominguez netted her second goal of the year and her first from the run of play. With the ball bouncing around loose near midfield, Kayla Utley stepped in and played the ball forward where a BU defender miss hit the ball, allowing Dominguez to gather the ball, turn and, from 20 yards out, fire a shot that went into the upper portion of the back of the net to break the deadlock and put the visitors ahead, 1-0.
In the 75', however, the Terriers went on the attack and nearly answered as a shot came on goal, but nicked the cross bar, forcing UC to clear the ball, only to concede a corner kick. On the ensuing corner, the ball was played in and bounced around off several players from both sides before Dorr Varley-Barrett hit a shot off a rebound that slipped past Eustaquio to tie the match at 1-1 and set up more drama.
After several breakaway attempts and set pieces from long throw-ins, the Bearcats continued to apply pressure in the hopes of grabbing the late winner. And that is precisely what happened. With under 30 seconds remaining, the ball was thrown in and played deep. After collecting the ball, Gilles moved to the right post and, with eight second remaining, flicked the ball across the mouth of the goal where it was deflected by a Terrier defender and into the netting for an own goal and a 2-1 victory for UC.
// NOTES
• Tonight's win is the second of the season in which UC has been credited with a goal with under 11 seconds to play. The first instance came in the season-opener at home with Dayton when Julie Gavorski netted the game winner with 11 seconds remaining in the second overtime session for the 2-1 win.
• For the second time in four seasons with Neil Stafford leading the program, the Bearcats have opened a season with four victories, joining the 2014 side that started 4-1-1.
• The match opened under wet and windy conditions that continually worsened through the match, eventually seeing the final 20 minutes played in a nearly-diagonal rain fall and winds that nearly pushed corner flags to the ground.
// UPCOMING
After four-consecutive matches on the road, the Bearcats now return home for a pair of non-conference contest this weekend. First up, UC will play host to Colorado College at 7 p.m. Friday night before closing out the weekend with a 1 p.m. clash with Duquesne on Sunday. Both matches will be held at Gettler Stadium with complimentary admission for all in attendance.
// 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.
Own Goal Lifts @GoBearcatsWSOC to 2-1 Road Win at Boston U.