Tickets
CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati women's soccer team took things down to the wire once again and, just as they have done in the past, found a way to rescue one point as the `Cardiac Cats' saw Jaycie Brown net the equalizer 51 seconds from time to force overtime and help the Bearcats to a 2-2 draw Sunday afternoon against the host USF Bulls at Corbett Stadium in Tampa, Fla. The Bearcats improved to 10-4-3 on the year and 3-2-2 in the American Athletic Conference with 11 points while the Bulls saw their record move to 11-2-2 overall with a matching 3-2-2 league mark.
The Bearcats controlled a fair amount of possession throughout the match with Vanessa Gilles scoring in the 18' to stake the visitors to an early 1-0 lead. But, USF's Evelyne Viens netted a brace, scoring in the 19' and again in the 76' to both tie and then take the lead for the hosts. Despite the two goals scored, the Bearcats did not back down.
// FIRST HALF
The hosts took possession of the ball first and worked into the Bearcat's defensive third, drawing one corner kick and a pair of shots early on. In the 10', the Bulls had a strong chance to take the early lead as Leticia Skeete sent a low lining shot in on goal, only to see it deflect off the post and back into play. After a UC corner kick and a pair of USF shots, the scoring opened up for both sides.
First, Gilles found herself in the right spot at the right time in the 17' as she bagged her fifth goal of the year, setting a single-season scoring best for one of the top defenders in the league after she scored four each in the past two seasons. The scoring play started with Tiffany Huber carrying the ball toward the USF goal and playing a long ball into the area where it deflected off a pair of players and ended up near the back post where Gilles stepped forward and lashed the ball into the net for a 1-0 lead.
The Bulls, however, responded as Evelyne Viens scored her first of two goals in the match one minute later. On the restart, the Bulls moved down the pitch and Viens came up with the ball. From 30 yards out, the freshman stepped into a shot and sent into the upper 90 at the far post, just past the hands of the diving UC goalkeeper, Natalie Smith.
Following the two goals scored, UC had a couple more chances to net another goal, just missing on several plays. Once close play saw Kayla Utley, who started her 80th career match for the Bearcats, play a long ball into the box that was just over the head of an oncoming Taylor Jackson at the back post. USF nearly took the lead in the 41' as a bouncing ball was flicked on goal only to see Smith calmly catch the ball and make the save.
// SECOND HALF
As the second half got underway, the Bearcats again went on the attack with a pair of nice attempts, one of which nearly saw Brown give UC the lead. In the 49', Brown collected the ball and made a quick turn to the goal, pushing to the right side of the area, where she fired a shot toward the back post only to see Kat Elliott go high to pull in the save. Four minutes later, it was USF's turn as Andrea Hauksdottir redirected a pass into the area, sending it on goal, with Smith diving to make the stop. From there, both teams went back and forth looking for an opening until one came in the 76' for the Bulls.
Viens scored her second of the match in the 76' as she received a pass, turned and drove into the box past a pair of UC defenders. When she got close enough, she ripped a shot far post as the ball found the back of the net past a diving Smith. With UC now trailing for the first time in the match and just 14 minutes to work with, it looked bleak for the visitors as USF tried to control the action and kill the clock.
UC looked for an answer and had a pair of nice attempts, but the best was saved for last. With the clock reaching the final one minute of play, the Bearcats worked a strong series of runs together to set up the equalizer. Katy Couperus set up for a free kick and played the ball to the top of the box where Cassie Wheldon met the ball, sending a through ball toward the right side of the box as Brown ran in. Brown quickly one-timed her shot, sending it past Elliott and into the netting to stun the home crowd as the score was tied with just 51 seconds remaining in regulation.
The goal by Brown, since the 2003 season, stands as the third-latest goal tallied for the Bearcats in regulation time and marks the second time it has happened this year after Boston University was credited with an own goal eight seconds from time to give UC a 2-1 win on the road. Brown is no stranger to late goals and equalizers: last year, at SMU (9/24/15), UC trailed, 2-1, before Brown, with 88:38 on the clock (1:22 remaining) scored to even the match and force overtime, a match that ended in a 2-2 draw.
// OVERTIME
Neither side was able to score the winning goal in overtime, but UC had perhaps the two best chances. In the first overtime period, Gavorski made a strong effort on trying to secure her ninth of the year as she slid to take a shot on goal just inside the box in the 95', only to see Elliott pull the ball in for a save. Then, with under three minutes remaining in the match, Couperus rushed in as part of the build up in the run of play and took a shot from the top of the area, sending a low liner toward the post where Elliott stopped the shot.
// CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT IMPLICATIONS
Four matches were played Sunday with Memphis defeating Houston, 2-0, SMU downing Tulsa, 4-1, and UCF scoring a 3-2 double-overtime win against East Carolina. With those results, coupled with UC's draw and UConn's 1-0 win at Temple on Saturday afternoon, the Bearcats remain tied for fifth place on the table with the Bulls as both team are on 11 points, just ahead of UCF, who is seventh with 10 points. UConn (19), UM (18), SMU (16) and UT (12) are all ahead of the Bearcats heading into the final week of play. All teams will have a pair of matches to play with the exception of the Texas schools, who have one final match with one another close the regular season. Only the Top 6 in the standings will advance to the conference tournament.
// NOTES
• The Bearcats moved to 10-4-3 overall on the season and 3-2-2 in the American Athletic Conference to remain in a tie for fifth place with USF on 11 points.
• With the tie, the all-time series remained even with the current record moving to 10-10-3 overall.
• Vanessa Gilles' goal in the 17' was her fifth of the season, giving her a new single-season best scoring total. Entering the match, the junior defender had scored four goals in each of her first three seasons.
• Jaycie Brown's goal with 51 seconds remaining was the latest in regulation the junior has scored, surpassing her tying strike at SMU last year. The goal she scored against the Mustangs came with 88:38 showing on the clock (1:22 remaining) and also forced an eventual 2-2 draw on the road with a conference opponent.
• Speaking of late goals, Brown's tally was UC's third goal scored in the 90' or later this year. The first came in the season opener when Julie Gavorski scored the 2-1 game-winner against Dayton with 11 seconds remaining in double overtime (109:49). The second was an own goal by Boston University with eight seconds remaining (89:52) that gave UC the 2-1 victory.
• Kayla Utley played 102 of the possible 110 minutes Sunday in her 80th career start for the program. Only the eighth player to start 80 or more matches in UC history, Utley also has now logged 6,875 minutes in her career, the most among field players in program history and second all-time behind Christy Hoffman, who logged 7,900 minutes in goal in her four years at UC.
// UPCOMING
One week and two matches remain on the regular season slate for the Bearcats as they are set to play host to a pair of American Athletic Conference matches this week at Gettler Stadium. First up, UC will welcome #21 UConn to campus for a 7 p.m. showdown Thursday night before the Bearcats and Temple Owls meet on Senior Day on Sunday afternoon in a 1 p.m. contest. Both matches will be streamed live on BearcatsTV.com for free. Following Sunday's match with the Owls, the Top 6 teams in the conference standings will advance to the conference tournament that will be played at the top seeds home facility.
// 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.