Tickets// THE OPENING WHISTLE
The University of Cincinnati women's soccer team, coming off a pair of shut out victories to open the 2017 season, will play host to a pair of Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) teams this week at Gettler Stadium as both Pitt and Miami (Fla.) will be in town for matches. The Bearcats and Panthers (2-0-0) will meet Thursday night under the lights at Gettler in a 7 p.m. match before UC plays host to the Hurricanes (2-0-0) Sunday afternoon in a 1 p.m. start.
// GOING LIVE
All home matches in 2017 will once again be streamed live on GoBearcats.com and, this year, will all be free. The link to the stream can be found on the women's soccer schedule page. On the same page, links to live statistics can also be found.
// EXPERIENCE UC
Both matches this week, along with all home matches in 2017, will be part of the Experience UC initiative, which is 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.
// FOLLOW US
GoBearcats.com is your one-stop destination for all things UC Athletics. Socially, the team can also be followed on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with all using the handle GoBearcatsWSOC. Head Coach Neil Stafford (@UCGaffer) also can be followed on Twitter.
// WE HAVE THEIR VOTES
United Soccer Coaches (USC), formerly the NSCAA, released its national rankings Tuesday night with the University of Cincinnati making an appearance in the receiving votes section. The Bearcats, following a 2-0-0 opening weekend, received four votes, which ranks them 40th overall. Fellow AAC foes UConn (#21), SMU (#27) and Memphis (t-#43) also appear in the poll results. Regionally, the Bearcats also are ranked #15 in the Southeast section of the USC polls.
// QUICK RECAP: WEEK #1
• The Bearcats opened the 2017 season with a 2-0-0 record after sweeping Buffalo & Boston U.
• UC won, 1-0, over the Bulls before taking a 2-0 victory against the visiting Terriers
• So far, UC has played two matches and not allowed a goal while also seeing its keepers called upon to make just three saves so far
• Three different Bearcats have scored the three goals this year, including Sophie Gorman, Jaycie Brown and Vanessa Gilles
• Rookie keepers saw action in both matches with Madison Less (redshirt freshman) earning the win over UB and Jane Sensibaugh (true freshman) taking the victory over BU
• Sensibaugh is one of five different true freshmen that earned starts in the opening matches
// NEW YEAR, SAME RESULT
In Sunday's 2-0 win over BU, senior Vanessa Gilles found the back of the net for UC's second goal and her first of the year. Combined with anchoring the defense to a pair of shut outs while playing all 180 minutes, Gilles was named the AAC Defensive Player of the Week, an honor she earned four times last year. This week's honor marks the seventh time she has been recognized with the top defensive weekly honor in her career and gives her at least one honor in all four years at UC.
// IMPRESSIVE HOME START
For just the sixth time in program history, the Bearcats opened a season with two clean sheets in their first two matches and did so for the first time since the 2006 season in which UC downed Kentucky, 1-0, and tied #21 Purdue, 0-0, with both matches played in Cincinnati. The back-to-back shut outs at home to open the season also marked the first time the Bearcats have done so and won both matches in program history.
// ACCOUNT OPENED
In last Friday's opener, the Bearcats picked up a 1-0 victory over Buffalo thanks to the scoring touch of true freshman Sophie Gorman. The local product from McNicholas High School found the back of the net in the 70' after she dribbled into the box, side stepped the keeper and pushed the ball into the goal for what would stand as the game winner. Gorman is no stranger to scoring, however. If you include the two preseason exhibitions UC played (vs. NIU and at Indiana), her strike against UB marked her third collegiate match in a row that she found the back of the net for the Red and Black.
// ROOKIE OPENERS
With Gorman's goal, the Bearcats have now seen a true freshman score the first goal of the season for UC in each of the past two seasons. Last year, Gabrielle LoPresti got things going for the Bearcats as she converted a penalty kick attempt to give UC a 1-0 lead on its way to a 2-1, double overtime victory against visiting Dayton.
// FRESHMEN EARN STARTING XI SPOTS
On the weekend, five true freshmen and one redshirt saw their names added to the Starting XI with Kiki Lowell and Karli Royer both earning starts in each of the first two matches. Also earning their first career starts in their rookie seasons were Sophie Gorman and redshirt Madison Less against Buffalo while Jane Sensibaugh and Lexie Kolano both started against Boston University.
// MORE DEBUTS
Four other newcomers also saw their first minutes of action for the Bearcats, including three more rookies. Junior transfer Jill Vetere joined Abby Brauning and Bailey Korhorn as substitutes in the match with Buffalo while Riley Gruenbaum saw her first collegiate minutes against Boston U.
// STREAKING
After surrendering a goal to Temple in the 70' in last year's regular season finale, the Bearcats defense is currently working on another long streak of keeping their foes off the scoreboard as the current streak is now at 320 minutes. This streak includes the final 30 minutes of play against the Owls, 110 minutes of shut out play in a 0-0 tie with USF in the AAC Tournament and then 180 minutes from opening weekend of play.
// KNOW THE FOE: PITT
• The Panthers are 2-0-0 on the year after a pair of 1-0 victories at home to open the year
• Pitt has scored wins over Hofstra and Duquesne with the latter coming in double overtime
• Vildan Kardesler leads the team in scoring with three points as she scored one goal and assisted on the other that Juelle Love scored
• Defensively, Katelyn McEachern has posted two shut outs and stopped all eight shots faced
// IN THE SERIES: BEARCATS vs. PANTHERS
• The Bearcats hold a 2-0-0 all-time record in the series with Pitt
• UC holds a 1-0-0 advantage in the series when the matches are played in Cincinnati
• Both matches played previously have ended 2-1
• UC won the first meeting, 2-1, in overtime at Pitt during the 2007 season
• The Bearcats also won the first meeting in Cincinnati during the 2010 season
// KNOW THE FOE: MIAMI (FLA.)
• The Hurricanes enter the weekend with a 2-0-0 record
• (The University of ) Miami will play at Miami (University) Friday before meeting the Bearcats Sunday
• UM has outscored its foes 8-0 this year after wins of 6-0 against St. Francis (Pa.) and 2-0 at FIU
• The Hurricanes have played an AAC foe this year after dropping a 3-0 friendly at UCF
• Ronnie Johnson leads UM in scoring with seven points on three goals and one assist while Kristina Fisher has assisted on four goals and added one score of her own for six points
• Six different players have scored at least one goal this year
// IN THE SERIES: BEARCATS vs. HURRICANES
• The Hurricanes lead the all-time series, 1-0-0
• Sunday's match will be the first in the series in Cincinnati
• UM won the only meeting in the series, a 2-0 score in Coral Gables, Fla., to open the 2013 season
// WE MEET AGAIN
The lone meeting between UC and Miami not only marked the first match played in the series, but also was the first match the Bearcats played with Neil Stafford as the team's head coach. Stafford was hired prior to the start of the 2013 season and has averaged more than 10 wins per season in his time with the program.
// SUNDAY FUN DAY!
Since Stafford took over the program in time for the 2013 season, the Bearcats have played at home on Sunday 20 times and hold an impressive 18-0-2 record in those matches after posting a 3-0-1 mark during the 2016 season and standing 1-0-0 this year following last week's 2-0 defeat of Boston University. During those 20 matches, the Bearcats have outscored their foes, 46-10, with the UC defense recording 12 clean sheets in that span. This weekend, Miami will be the second of five Sunday home matches that will also see the Bearcats face Purdue, USF and Memphis later this year.
// LIFTING THE LID - SEASON
The Bearcats now hold a 25-12-1 all-time record in their season-opening matches with a 3-2-0 mark in Stafford's time leading the program following the 1-0 defeat of Buffalo last week. Additionally, when playing their first home match of the season, the Bearcats now hold a 26-10-2 overall record and are 2-1-1 in their last four home openers.
PREVIOUSLY NOTED
// USWNT COMING TO TOWN
Earlier this summer, it was announced that the UC will play host to the U.S. Women's National Team as they will face New Zealand in an international friendly. The match is scheduled for Tuesday, September 19, at 7:30 p.m. and will broadcast on FS1 live from Nippert Stadium.
// GILLES ONCE AGAIN HONORED
For the second year in a row, Vanessa Gilles has been named the American Athletic Conference's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, an honor she first earned last season. The award, which comes through a vote of the league head coaches, is just the second preseason honor earned in program history after Gilles' first honor last year. The awards didn't stop there for Gilles as she was also named to the AAC Preseason All-Conference team and the TopDrawerSoccer.com Women's DI Preseason Best XI Third Team. She joined Memphis' Marie Levasseur on the third team with both being the only players selected from the American.
// GAVORSKI GRABS HONOR
Julie Gavorski also earned a preseason honor as she joined Gilles on the American's Preseason All-Conference squad. The accolade is the first preseason honor earned by Gavorski who finished the 2016 season by being selected to the American Athletic All-Conference Second Team. Gavorski led the team in goals (8), points (17) and game-winning goals (4) one year ago.
// BEARCATS SELECTED THIRD
The Bearcats have been predicted to finish third in the American Athletic Conference this season in a vote of the league coaches as UC collected 60 points and one first-place vote - a first for the Bearcats as members of the American. Memphis was picked to win the title, scoring 74 points and five first-place votes while SMU was second with 65 points and three first-place votes. USF (57 points, 1 first-place vote) and UConn (56) rounded out the Top 5. For the Bearcats, the third-place selection equals its highest predicted finish as a member of the American after they were slotted in a tie for third prior to last season.
// GAFFER BACK FOR YEAR FIVE
Head Coach Neil Stafford is set to start his fifth season at the helm of the Bearcats program. In his previous four seasons in Cincinnati, Stafford and his staff have guided UC to 42 victories, which is tied for the most wins in the first four years of leading the program with Meridy Glenn. He has led the team to an improved winning percentage in each year he has been with UC. Statistically, the team has allowed fewer goals each season, letting in 37 his first year before conceding just 21 last year. Offensively, his side has tallied at least 30 goals in all four of his seasons, a streak that had not happened since an 11-year run came to an end in the 2003 season.
// CHASING WINS - STAFFORD
The 2017 season will not only be the fifth in Cincinnati for Stafford, but also his 15th as a collegiate coach. His players have captured 44 victories during his time in Cincinnati, needing six more this year to give the head coach his 50th win at UC. Prior to that milestone, a fourth victory - which could come this weekend - will be the 150th win in his collegiate coaching career.
// SENIOR SIX
Six seniors are set to compete in their final collegiate seasons this fall. The Class of 2017 includes Jaycie Brown, Katy Couperus, Lizzie Ehrnfelt, Julie Gavorski, Vanessa Gilles and Taylor Pavlika. The seniors will be honored during Senior Night festivities surrounding the Bearcats' match with visiting Morehead State on October 6.
// CHASING WINS - SENIORS
The 2017 seniors have won 36 matches in their time at UC, which currently ranks tied for 23rd on the all-time class wins list. Having won 10, 13 and 11 matches in the last three seasons, should the Bearcats record double-digit wins again this year, the seniors would finish with at least 44 victories, which would rank them 12th all-time. To crack the Top 10, the seniors would need 13 wins this year as 47 victories is a 3-way time for 8th (1996, 1989, 1983).
// HELLO! MY NAME IS...
The program has welcomed 10 new players to the roster this year, including one transfer and nine true freshmen. The transfer comes in the form of Jill Vetere, a native of Mason, Ohio, who is returning home following two years at the University of Louisville. The nine-member freshman class includes Abby Brauning (Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame), Sophie Gorman (Cincinnati McNicholas), Riley Gruenbaum (Plain City, Ohio), Lexie Kolano (Trafford, Pa.), Bailey Korhorn (Grand Rapids, Mich.), Kiki Lowell (Kitchener, Ontario), Delaney Riester (Nobelsville, Ind.), Karli Royer (Westerville, Ohio) and Jane Sensibaugh (Solon, Ohio).
// BIG AWARDS
Looking back at their high school careers, two newcomers on the 2017 roster bring with them USC (formerly NSCAA) All-America accolades earned during their prep careers. Vetere earned All-America honors in 2014 as a senior while also being named the Ohio Division I Player of the Year. Gorman was a two-time All-American, being selected for the honor in both 2014 and 2016.
// MAC IS BACK
Players were not the only new addition to the program this offseason as Gavin MacLeod, a former volunteer assistant with the staff in 2014, has returned to the Bearcats. MacLeod will serve as an assistant coach and director of player performance. Prior to his arrival, MacLeod served as the director of coaching for girls at AFC Lightning in Peachtree City, Ga. His coaching experience also includes time in the Cincinnati area working with Kings Hammer Academy as an assistant coach with its USL PDL side and also was the head coach of the Dayton Dutch Lions (USL W-League), Unite Premier (CUP) and Ohio South ODP.
// STAFFORD RECEIVES HALL CALL
At the end of June, it was announced that Jacquie Stafford, the Bearcats' Director of Operations and wife to head coach Neil Stafford, will be one of six former Central Michigan University student-athletes enshrined in the CMU Marcy Weston Hall of Fame. The former Jacquie Lacek, had standout career for the Chippewas as she still holds program records for single-match goals scored (3) and points in a match (7) while also holding the school record for career assists (19). An NSCAA Scholar-Athlete Second Team honoree and three-time All-MAC selection, Jacquie will be enshrined in a ceremony in Mount Pleasant, Mich., Friday, September 22.
// CLEAN SHEETS
Last year, the Bearcats shut out nine opponents on its way to allowing just 21 goals, which was just over one goal allowed per match. During the season, UC went on a streak of not allowing a goal scored for a span of 311:40, a streak that ranks as the seventh-longest since the start of the 2001 season and spanned three full matches and parts of two others. Once Memphis scored at the 86:35 mark of the match, the Bearcats came out and shut out their next three foes, including a 0-0, double overtime draw with Houston (110:00 minutes). The streak came to an end at the 18:15 mark when USF tallied a goal to tie that match a 1-1. Since Stafford and his staff have taken over the program, UC has recorded stretches of 250 minutes or more of holding a foe scoreless six different times.
// QUICK TO SCORE
Last year, three goals were scored by UC in the opening seven minutes of play with Jaycie Brown finding the back of the net in 1:54 in a match at Memphis. That strike from Brown ranks as the 11th-fastest in program history (dating back to 2001) and the third-fastest goal scored during Stafford's tenure at UC. During the four years Stafford has guided the program, the Bearcats have found the back of the net 17 times in the opening 15 minutes of play with five such goals last year.
// HANGING ON AT THE END
On the opposite end of the time spectrum, the Bearcats also have had a propensity for scoring late in matches. Since the start of the 2001 season, UC has scored 25 goals with 88:03 or later showing on the clock, including 14 in overtime/double-overtime. Three late goals last year made noise, including Gavorski's goal with 14 seconds remaining in double overtime (109:46) to defeat Dayton, 2-1, as goal that ranks as the second latest, surpassed only by Laura Rose's winner at 109:58 (just two seconds from the end of the match) in 2012. An own goal by BU at 89:52 ranks as the 16th latest for UC while Brown's goal at 89:09 at USF pulled the Bearcats level and helped earn a point with a 2-2 draw, a point that was needed to reach the postseason conference tournament.
// ACADEMICALLY SOUND
Last year, the Bearcats collectively sported a 3.51 grade-point average for the year and earned a College Team Academic Award from the NSCAA, an award the program has collected each of the past two years and nine times in total. Individually, 25 of the 30 women on the roster recorded a 3.00 GPA or better during the 2016-17 academic year and were named American Athletic Conference All-Academic. Staying the conference, Vanessa Gilles was one of three UC student-athletes to also be named a 2016-17 Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Award recipient by the AAC, an award that is give annually to one student-athlete that carries a 3.00 GPA, has strong academic and athletic credentials and serves in the community. Gilles, who was chosen by the Faculty Representatives from around the conference, was the winner for women's soccer, joining Adrian Valles (outdoor track & field, men) and Connor Davis (swimming & diving, men) as award winners.
// UP NEXT
UC will have one week before its next match when the Bearcats head to Evanston, Ill., on Sunday, September 3, in a 1 p.m. CT match at #23 Northwestern.
The University of Cincinnati women's soccer team, coming off a pair of shut out victories to open the 2017 season, will play host to a pair of Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) teams this week at Gettler Stadium as both Pitt and Miami (Fla.) will be in town for matches. The Bearcats and Panthers (2-0-0) will meet Thursday night under the lights at Gettler in a 7 p.m. match before UC plays host to the Hurricanes (2-0-0) Sunday afternoon in a 1 p.m. start.
// GOING LIVE
All home matches in 2017 will once again be streamed live on GoBearcats.com and, this year, will all be free. The link to the stream can be found on the women's soccer schedule page. On the same page, links to live statistics can also be found.
// EXPERIENCE UC
Both matches this week, along with all home matches in 2017, will be part of the Experience UC initiative, which is 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.
// FOLLOW US
GoBearcats.com is your one-stop destination for all things UC Athletics. Socially, the team can also be followed on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with all using the handle GoBearcatsWSOC. Head Coach Neil Stafford (@UCGaffer) also can be followed on Twitter.
// WE HAVE THEIR VOTES
United Soccer Coaches (USC), formerly the NSCAA, released its national rankings Tuesday night with the University of Cincinnati making an appearance in the receiving votes section. The Bearcats, following a 2-0-0 opening weekend, received four votes, which ranks them 40th overall. Fellow AAC foes UConn (#21), SMU (#27) and Memphis (t-#43) also appear in the poll results. Regionally, the Bearcats also are ranked #15 in the Southeast section of the USC polls.
// QUICK RECAP: WEEK #1
• The Bearcats opened the 2017 season with a 2-0-0 record after sweeping Buffalo & Boston U.
• UC won, 1-0, over the Bulls before taking a 2-0 victory against the visiting Terriers
• So far, UC has played two matches and not allowed a goal while also seeing its keepers called upon to make just three saves so far
• Three different Bearcats have scored the three goals this year, including Sophie Gorman, Jaycie Brown and Vanessa Gilles
• Rookie keepers saw action in both matches with Madison Less (redshirt freshman) earning the win over UB and Jane Sensibaugh (true freshman) taking the victory over BU
• Sensibaugh is one of five different true freshmen that earned starts in the opening matches
// NEW YEAR, SAME RESULT
In Sunday's 2-0 win over BU, senior Vanessa Gilles found the back of the net for UC's second goal and her first of the year. Combined with anchoring the defense to a pair of shut outs while playing all 180 minutes, Gilles was named the AAC Defensive Player of the Week, an honor she earned four times last year. This week's honor marks the seventh time she has been recognized with the top defensive weekly honor in her career and gives her at least one honor in all four years at UC.
// IMPRESSIVE HOME START
For just the sixth time in program history, the Bearcats opened a season with two clean sheets in their first two matches and did so for the first time since the 2006 season in which UC downed Kentucky, 1-0, and tied #21 Purdue, 0-0, with both matches played in Cincinnati. The back-to-back shut outs at home to open the season also marked the first time the Bearcats have done so and won both matches in program history.
// ACCOUNT OPENED
In last Friday's opener, the Bearcats picked up a 1-0 victory over Buffalo thanks to the scoring touch of true freshman Sophie Gorman. The local product from McNicholas High School found the back of the net in the 70' after she dribbled into the box, side stepped the keeper and pushed the ball into the goal for what would stand as the game winner. Gorman is no stranger to scoring, however. If you include the two preseason exhibitions UC played (vs. NIU and at Indiana), her strike against UB marked her third collegiate match in a row that she found the back of the net for the Red and Black.
// ROOKIE OPENERS
With Gorman's goal, the Bearcats have now seen a true freshman score the first goal of the season for UC in each of the past two seasons. Last year, Gabrielle LoPresti got things going for the Bearcats as she converted a penalty kick attempt to give UC a 1-0 lead on its way to a 2-1, double overtime victory against visiting Dayton.
// FRESHMEN EARN STARTING XI SPOTS
On the weekend, five true freshmen and one redshirt saw their names added to the Starting XI with Kiki Lowell and Karli Royer both earning starts in each of the first two matches. Also earning their first career starts in their rookie seasons were Sophie Gorman and redshirt Madison Less against Buffalo while Jane Sensibaugh and Lexie Kolano both started against Boston University.
// MORE DEBUTS
Four other newcomers also saw their first minutes of action for the Bearcats, including three more rookies. Junior transfer Jill Vetere joined Abby Brauning and Bailey Korhorn as substitutes in the match with Buffalo while Riley Gruenbaum saw her first collegiate minutes against Boston U.
// STREAKING
After surrendering a goal to Temple in the 70' in last year's regular season finale, the Bearcats defense is currently working on another long streak of keeping their foes off the scoreboard as the current streak is now at 320 minutes. This streak includes the final 30 minutes of play against the Owls, 110 minutes of shut out play in a 0-0 tie with USF in the AAC Tournament and then 180 minutes from opening weekend of play.
// KNOW THE FOE: PITT
• The Panthers are 2-0-0 on the year after a pair of 1-0 victories at home to open the year
• Pitt has scored wins over Hofstra and Duquesne with the latter coming in double overtime
• Vildan Kardesler leads the team in scoring with three points as she scored one goal and assisted on the other that Juelle Love scored
• Defensively, Katelyn McEachern has posted two shut outs and stopped all eight shots faced
// IN THE SERIES: BEARCATS vs. PANTHERS
• The Bearcats hold a 2-0-0 all-time record in the series with Pitt
• UC holds a 1-0-0 advantage in the series when the matches are played in Cincinnati
• Both matches played previously have ended 2-1
• UC won the first meeting, 2-1, in overtime at Pitt during the 2007 season
• The Bearcats also won the first meeting in Cincinnati during the 2010 season
// KNOW THE FOE: MIAMI (FLA.)
• The Hurricanes enter the weekend with a 2-0-0 record
• (The University of ) Miami will play at Miami (University) Friday before meeting the Bearcats Sunday
• UM has outscored its foes 8-0 this year after wins of 6-0 against St. Francis (Pa.) and 2-0 at FIU
• The Hurricanes have played an AAC foe this year after dropping a 3-0 friendly at UCF
• Ronnie Johnson leads UM in scoring with seven points on three goals and one assist while Kristina Fisher has assisted on four goals and added one score of her own for six points
• Six different players have scored at least one goal this year
// IN THE SERIES: BEARCATS vs. HURRICANES
• The Hurricanes lead the all-time series, 1-0-0
• Sunday's match will be the first in the series in Cincinnati
• UM won the only meeting in the series, a 2-0 score in Coral Gables, Fla., to open the 2013 season
// WE MEET AGAIN
The lone meeting between UC and Miami not only marked the first match played in the series, but also was the first match the Bearcats played with Neil Stafford as the team's head coach. Stafford was hired prior to the start of the 2013 season and has averaged more than 10 wins per season in his time with the program.
// SUNDAY FUN DAY!
Since Stafford took over the program in time for the 2013 season, the Bearcats have played at home on Sunday 20 times and hold an impressive 18-0-2 record in those matches after posting a 3-0-1 mark during the 2016 season and standing 1-0-0 this year following last week's 2-0 defeat of Boston University. During those 20 matches, the Bearcats have outscored their foes, 46-10, with the UC defense recording 12 clean sheets in that span. This weekend, Miami will be the second of five Sunday home matches that will also see the Bearcats face Purdue, USF and Memphis later this year.
// LIFTING THE LID - SEASON
The Bearcats now hold a 25-12-1 all-time record in their season-opening matches with a 3-2-0 mark in Stafford's time leading the program following the 1-0 defeat of Buffalo last week. Additionally, when playing their first home match of the season, the Bearcats now hold a 26-10-2 overall record and are 2-1-1 in their last four home openers.
PREVIOUSLY NOTED
// USWNT COMING TO TOWN
Earlier this summer, it was announced that the UC will play host to the U.S. Women's National Team as they will face New Zealand in an international friendly. The match is scheduled for Tuesday, September 19, at 7:30 p.m. and will broadcast on FS1 live from Nippert Stadium.
// GILLES ONCE AGAIN HONORED
For the second year in a row, Vanessa Gilles has been named the American Athletic Conference's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, an honor she first earned last season. The award, which comes through a vote of the league head coaches, is just the second preseason honor earned in program history after Gilles' first honor last year. The awards didn't stop there for Gilles as she was also named to the AAC Preseason All-Conference team and the TopDrawerSoccer.com Women's DI Preseason Best XI Third Team. She joined Memphis' Marie Levasseur on the third team with both being the only players selected from the American.
// GAVORSKI GRABS HONOR
Julie Gavorski also earned a preseason honor as she joined Gilles on the American's Preseason All-Conference squad. The accolade is the first preseason honor earned by Gavorski who finished the 2016 season by being selected to the American Athletic All-Conference Second Team. Gavorski led the team in goals (8), points (17) and game-winning goals (4) one year ago.
// BEARCATS SELECTED THIRD
The Bearcats have been predicted to finish third in the American Athletic Conference this season in a vote of the league coaches as UC collected 60 points and one first-place vote - a first for the Bearcats as members of the American. Memphis was picked to win the title, scoring 74 points and five first-place votes while SMU was second with 65 points and three first-place votes. USF (57 points, 1 first-place vote) and UConn (56) rounded out the Top 5. For the Bearcats, the third-place selection equals its highest predicted finish as a member of the American after they were slotted in a tie for third prior to last season.
// GAFFER BACK FOR YEAR FIVE
Head Coach Neil Stafford is set to start his fifth season at the helm of the Bearcats program. In his previous four seasons in Cincinnati, Stafford and his staff have guided UC to 42 victories, which is tied for the most wins in the first four years of leading the program with Meridy Glenn. He has led the team to an improved winning percentage in each year he has been with UC. Statistically, the team has allowed fewer goals each season, letting in 37 his first year before conceding just 21 last year. Offensively, his side has tallied at least 30 goals in all four of his seasons, a streak that had not happened since an 11-year run came to an end in the 2003 season.
// CHASING WINS - STAFFORD
The 2017 season will not only be the fifth in Cincinnati for Stafford, but also his 15th as a collegiate coach. His players have captured 44 victories during his time in Cincinnati, needing six more this year to give the head coach his 50th win at UC. Prior to that milestone, a fourth victory - which could come this weekend - will be the 150th win in his collegiate coaching career.
// SENIOR SIX
Six seniors are set to compete in their final collegiate seasons this fall. The Class of 2017 includes Jaycie Brown, Katy Couperus, Lizzie Ehrnfelt, Julie Gavorski, Vanessa Gilles and Taylor Pavlika. The seniors will be honored during Senior Night festivities surrounding the Bearcats' match with visiting Morehead State on October 6.
// CHASING WINS - SENIORS
The 2017 seniors have won 36 matches in their time at UC, which currently ranks tied for 23rd on the all-time class wins list. Having won 10, 13 and 11 matches in the last three seasons, should the Bearcats record double-digit wins again this year, the seniors would finish with at least 44 victories, which would rank them 12th all-time. To crack the Top 10, the seniors would need 13 wins this year as 47 victories is a 3-way time for 8th (1996, 1989, 1983).
// HELLO! MY NAME IS...
The program has welcomed 10 new players to the roster this year, including one transfer and nine true freshmen. The transfer comes in the form of Jill Vetere, a native of Mason, Ohio, who is returning home following two years at the University of Louisville. The nine-member freshman class includes Abby Brauning (Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame), Sophie Gorman (Cincinnati McNicholas), Riley Gruenbaum (Plain City, Ohio), Lexie Kolano (Trafford, Pa.), Bailey Korhorn (Grand Rapids, Mich.), Kiki Lowell (Kitchener, Ontario), Delaney Riester (Nobelsville, Ind.), Karli Royer (Westerville, Ohio) and Jane Sensibaugh (Solon, Ohio).
// BIG AWARDS
Looking back at their high school careers, two newcomers on the 2017 roster bring with them USC (formerly NSCAA) All-America accolades earned during their prep careers. Vetere earned All-America honors in 2014 as a senior while also being named the Ohio Division I Player of the Year. Gorman was a two-time All-American, being selected for the honor in both 2014 and 2016.
// MAC IS BACK
Players were not the only new addition to the program this offseason as Gavin MacLeod, a former volunteer assistant with the staff in 2014, has returned to the Bearcats. MacLeod will serve as an assistant coach and director of player performance. Prior to his arrival, MacLeod served as the director of coaching for girls at AFC Lightning in Peachtree City, Ga. His coaching experience also includes time in the Cincinnati area working with Kings Hammer Academy as an assistant coach with its USL PDL side and also was the head coach of the Dayton Dutch Lions (USL W-League), Unite Premier (CUP) and Ohio South ODP.
// STAFFORD RECEIVES HALL CALL
At the end of June, it was announced that Jacquie Stafford, the Bearcats' Director of Operations and wife to head coach Neil Stafford, will be one of six former Central Michigan University student-athletes enshrined in the CMU Marcy Weston Hall of Fame. The former Jacquie Lacek, had standout career for the Chippewas as she still holds program records for single-match goals scored (3) and points in a match (7) while also holding the school record for career assists (19). An NSCAA Scholar-Athlete Second Team honoree and three-time All-MAC selection, Jacquie will be enshrined in a ceremony in Mount Pleasant, Mich., Friday, September 22.
// CLEAN SHEETS
Last year, the Bearcats shut out nine opponents on its way to allowing just 21 goals, which was just over one goal allowed per match. During the season, UC went on a streak of not allowing a goal scored for a span of 311:40, a streak that ranks as the seventh-longest since the start of the 2001 season and spanned three full matches and parts of two others. Once Memphis scored at the 86:35 mark of the match, the Bearcats came out and shut out their next three foes, including a 0-0, double overtime draw with Houston (110:00 minutes). The streak came to an end at the 18:15 mark when USF tallied a goal to tie that match a 1-1. Since Stafford and his staff have taken over the program, UC has recorded stretches of 250 minutes or more of holding a foe scoreless six different times.
// QUICK TO SCORE
Last year, three goals were scored by UC in the opening seven minutes of play with Jaycie Brown finding the back of the net in 1:54 in a match at Memphis. That strike from Brown ranks as the 11th-fastest in program history (dating back to 2001) and the third-fastest goal scored during Stafford's tenure at UC. During the four years Stafford has guided the program, the Bearcats have found the back of the net 17 times in the opening 15 minutes of play with five such goals last year.
// HANGING ON AT THE END
On the opposite end of the time spectrum, the Bearcats also have had a propensity for scoring late in matches. Since the start of the 2001 season, UC has scored 25 goals with 88:03 or later showing on the clock, including 14 in overtime/double-overtime. Three late goals last year made noise, including Gavorski's goal with 14 seconds remaining in double overtime (109:46) to defeat Dayton, 2-1, as goal that ranks as the second latest, surpassed only by Laura Rose's winner at 109:58 (just two seconds from the end of the match) in 2012. An own goal by BU at 89:52 ranks as the 16th latest for UC while Brown's goal at 89:09 at USF pulled the Bearcats level and helped earn a point with a 2-2 draw, a point that was needed to reach the postseason conference tournament.
// ACADEMICALLY SOUND
Last year, the Bearcats collectively sported a 3.51 grade-point average for the year and earned a College Team Academic Award from the NSCAA, an award the program has collected each of the past two years and nine times in total. Individually, 25 of the 30 women on the roster recorded a 3.00 GPA or better during the 2016-17 academic year and were named American Athletic Conference All-Academic. Staying the conference, Vanessa Gilles was one of three UC student-athletes to also be named a 2016-17 Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Award recipient by the AAC, an award that is give annually to one student-athlete that carries a 3.00 GPA, has strong academic and athletic credentials and serves in the community. Gilles, who was chosen by the Faculty Representatives from around the conference, was the winner for women's soccer, joining Adrian Valles (outdoor track & field, men) and Connor Davis (swimming & diving, men) as award winners.
// UP NEXT
UC will have one week before its next match when the Bearcats head to Evanston, Ill., on Sunday, September 3, in a 1 p.m. CT match at #23 Northwestern.