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CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati men's soccer team was defeated by the Xavier Musketeers, 4-2, on Friday night at the Northern Kentucky University Soccer Stadium in the 43rd all-time meeting between the crosstown rivals.
The Bearcats (1-3-0) were on the attack in the first period with junior Jack Clark (Mason, Ohio/Mason) adding his first goal of the season just 19 minutes in. UC was able to control the match in the opening 45 minutes, taking a 1-0 advantage into the break. The Bearcats increased their lead early in the second period on a goal by freshman Elliott Williams (London, England) to take a strong, 2-0, advantage. The Musketeers (2-1-2) quickly fired right back with a goal just seconds later to bring the score to 2-1. XU then evened the score soon thereafter on a point-blank shot by Jalen Brown. The Musketeers' game winner came off a rebound late in the second period and they added another goal minutes after to bring the final score to 4-2.
// GOAL SCORING SUMMARY
19' - CIN Jack Clark (Adam Wilson)
Sophomore Adam Wilson (Auchterarder, Scotland/Dollar Academy) fielded the ball in the middle of the field just outside the box. Junior Jack Clark (Mason, Ohio/Mason) broke away and Wilson fed him in the box where Clark fired a shot to the near post to beat the goalkeeper for his first goal of the season.
57' - CIN Elliott Williams
The ball founds its way into the box. Xavier's goalkeeper left his post and the ball was errantly headed backwards by an XU defender. Williams challenged for the ball and was able to head it into an empty net for the freshman's first career goal and UC's second of the night.
57' - XU Matt Nance (Curtis Hansford)
Just seconds after UC's second goal, Matt Nance took a cross from Curtis Hansford in the box and beat Bearcats keeper Pedro Diaz (Mason, Ohio/Mason) with a header to the far post for the score.
65' - XU Jalen Brown (Curtis Hansford & Walker Andriot)
Brown added a point blank finish from the middle of the box off of setups from Curtis Hansford and Walker Andriot to even the score at two.
83' - XU Todd Pratzner (Derrick Otim & Majed Osman)
Off of a quick corner kick, Otim fielded the ball in the box and fired a shot that was saved by Diaz. Pratzner gathered the ball off the rebound and poked it in for the go-ahead goal.
87' - XU Derrick Otim (Matt Vasquenza)
Vasquenza fed Otim to start the break. Otim went one-on-one on the right flank and fired the shot over the defender and past the keeper for the score.
// GAME NOTES
- Jack Clark now has three career goals. He scored two last season.
- Adam Wilson now has 10 career assists. He had a team-best eight helpers last season as a rookie.
- UC now has a six-match winless streak against XU. The Bearcats' last victory was in 2009 with ties in 2010 and 2011.
// COMMENTS FROM COACH DAYES
"I think we lost focus a little bit after we scored our second goal and Xavier took advantage of it," said head coach Hylton Dayes. "On their second goal, we didn't close down well enough on the ball and their game winner was off of a restart that we had worked on. These are tough games but I salute the guys for the effort they gave. We're not going to stay down. We are in a tough stretch but we'll bounce back and learn from this."
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats will return to Gettler Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m. to face Cleveland State. Admission will be complimentary as part of the season-long Experience UC initiative. Fans unable to attend can stream the match for free on Bearcats TV while live stats will be available through .
In addition, fans are encouraged to wear black. The match will also celebrate International Night, feature an OktoberFest beer stein giveaway, and pretzels will be available at the concession stand for only $1.