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CINCINNATI - Despite firing 44 shots in the match, the University of Cincinnati women's soccer team was unable to find the back of the net as the Bearcats played the visiting Houston Cougars to a 0-0 draw Thursday night at Gettler Stadium in Cincinnati. With the tie, the Bearcats moved to 8-4-2 on the year and 1-2-1 in the American Athletic Conference while the visiting Cougars moved to 6-4-2 overall and 1-3-1 in the league.
The Bearcats, who remained undefeated at home in 2016 at 4-0-2, recorded their first scoreless draw of the year, just the third in the Neil Stafford era (2013-present) and just the 18th scoreless draw in the program's 681-match history. Individually, Julie Gavorski and Jaycie Brown led the charge with double-digit shot totals as the juniors recorded 12 and 10 shots, respectively. For Gavorski, that total bettered her previous high of nine shots while Brown surpassed her career-best six taken at Memphis this past Sunday.
Overall, the Bearcats had several solid chances, hitting the cross bar and post once each during the match. UH goalkeeper Rachel Estopare recorded 10 saves for the visitors while Natalie Smith recorded her sixth shutout of the year by saving both shots she faced.
// FIRST HALF
The Bearcats put the pressure on immediately as they won a loose ball off the opening kick and proceeded to set-up shop in the offensive third of the pitch. Through 20 minutes of play, UC held an 8-1 shot advantage although none of those shots tested either keeper. In the 27', the Bearcats earned a pair of corner kicks with the second set piece seeing Cassie Wheldon rip a low shot into traffic that Estopare dove and saved to keep the match scoreless.
In the 32', Dee Picou, playing in her first match in nearly one month, took a crack at the goal and sent a dart toward the upper 90 from about 25-yards away only to see the UH net minder dive to make another save. Five minutes, UH had one of their best chances as they reeled off a pair of shots that were blocked down by the UC defenders. Overall, UC led, 14-3, in first half shots.
// SECOND HALF
UC opened the second stanza with the ball and immediately went back to work with Brown taking center stage. The quick midfielder's energy and footwork set herself and her teammates up for several more attempts on goal. In the 52', Brown collected the ball just outside the box, turned and ripped a shot that went just wide left. As the UC build up continued, the hosts earned a throw in and, in the 54', nearly cashed in as Taylor Pavlika put a long throw into the box that saw Vanessa Gilles use her head to flick the ball to the back post where Gavorski's header went just over the cross bar.
Similarly, in the 61', another long throw from Pavlika found the center of the box and, after deflecting off several people, came to Jordan Cotleur, who's flick went just over the cross bar. In the 73', Brown was back at it again as she broke in behind the defense and tried a little flick the keeper, but Estopare got a hand on the ball and saved the shot by punching it away.
In the 81', Brown's aggressiveness nearly paid off once again as she collected a loose ball and immediately ripped a shot from distance only to see the UH keeper punch the ball over the goal at the last second. Two minutes later, UC had another corner kick, this time seeing the ball come in low to Cotleur, who tried to redirect the pass, only to see it slide just wide of the goal, leaving the match scoreless and heading into overtime.
// OVERTIME
While UC was able to fire off another eight shots in the first overtime, it was an attempt by UH that nearly stole the match. With just under 20 seconds remaining the first overtime period, Kelsey Thein charged in on goal and fired a shot from 30 yards out, forcing Smith into action. The senior keeper jumped to her right and punched the ball over the goal to end the threat and send the match into a second overtime. In that final period of action, Brown was in on two great chances. First, in the 102', she again got in behind the defense and tried to flick the ball over the keeper as she slid out off her line, but Estopare was able to get a hand on the ball at the last second and deflect the ball away. With just under two minutes remaining, Brown was again near the goal and redirected a pass in only to see it chime off the left post and away from the goal to end the scoring threat.
// NOTES
The Bearcats slipped to 8-4-2 on the season, 1-2-1 in conference play and remained undefeated at home at 4-0-2.
UC played just its third scoreless draw in the Neil Stafford era with the previous two coming one season ago
Including tonight's match, the Bearcats have played 691 matches as a varsity program (starting in 1980). In that time, tonight's match marks just the 18th time in program history that neither team was able to score.
As a team, UC launched 44 shots on the night (compared to Houston's five) which, since electronic stats were kept starting in 2001, stand as the most in a single match for the program. The previous high was 35 shots taken against St. Francis last year on the road.
A pair of Bearcats fired double-digit shots on the night which stand as the most in a single match since electronic stats were kept starting in 2001. Julie Gavorski let loose 12 shots, surpassing her career-best nine from last year vs. UConn at the American Championships while Jaycie Brown fired off 10 shots, bettering the six she tallied at Memphis on Sunday.
// UPCOMING
The Bearcats will look to get back into the win column on Sunday afternoon as the Mustangs of SMU visit Gettler Stadium at 1 p.m. Fans are encouraged to wear red as part of the Athletics Department's #armouRED series that runs all week. The team will also be on hand following the match for Signature Sunday.
// 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.