TicketsCINCINNATI - The American Athletic Conference has released its women's soccer honors today and, for the second week in a row, University of Cincinnati senior Vanessa Gilles has been named the AAC Defensive Player of the Week following a 1-0-1 record against a pair of ACC foes. Joining Gilles in receiving recognition this week is fellow senior Julie Gavorski, who was selected to the weekly Honor Roll.
This week's awards are the second and third honors received by Bearcats players following Gilles' defensive honor last week. The awards come following a 1-0 victory against visiting Miami (Fla.) Sunday afternoon. Prior to that, UC faced a 2-0 deficit to visiting Pittsburgh on Thursday night and battled back for a 2-2 draw.
In the match with Pitt, despite surrendering the first two goals of the season, the Bearcats continued to battle with Gilles scoring the first on a diving header in the box before tipping in a shot from Gabrielle LoPresti to knot the match at two. The goals mark the third time Gilles has scored a brace in her collegiate career and her first since the 2015 season.
Then, on Sunday, the Bearcats dominated much of the run of play, but didn't break the deadlock until the 70' when Gavorski was pulled down in the box and awarded a penalty kick. From the spot, Gavorski calmly sent the ball into the back of the net to give UC a 1-0 lead and, eventually, a 1-0 victory.
// 8 FOR 11
The weekly honor earned by Gilles is now the eighth of her career. After earning the honor once each as a freshman (2014) and sophomore (2015), she was a mainstay in the award ledger last year as she was tabbed for the honor four times while also earning a place on the weekly Honor Roll in 2016. Gilles, considered one of the top defenders in the league after being named the 2016 and 2017 AAC Preseason Defender of the Year, now has 18 career goals to her credit and ranks second in the league with three goals so far this season.
// GAVORSKI NO STRANGER
In the past two seasons (2016 and this year), Gavorski has been named to the weekly Honor Roll three times now. Her first appearance came last year on October 3 after scoring the game-winner in a 2-0 defeat of ECU on the road. Then, two weeks later (October 17), she found her name on the honor roll once again, this time on the heels of a two-goal, school record 12-shot performance in a 2-0 victory over visiting SMU. The senior now has eight career game-winners, moving her into a tie for the sixth-most in program history.
// UPCOMING ACTION
The Bearcats will play host to a pair of matches this week as two AAC foes come to Gettler Stadium. First, UC will take on Pittsburgh at 7 p.m. Thursday night before facing Miami (Fla.) in a 1 p.m. match Sunday.
// FOLLOWING THE BEARCATS
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.
This week's awards are the second and third honors received by Bearcats players following Gilles' defensive honor last week. The awards come following a 1-0 victory against visiting Miami (Fla.) Sunday afternoon. Prior to that, UC faced a 2-0 deficit to visiting Pittsburgh on Thursday night and battled back for a 2-2 draw.
In the match with Pitt, despite surrendering the first two goals of the season, the Bearcats continued to battle with Gilles scoring the first on a diving header in the box before tipping in a shot from Gabrielle LoPresti to knot the match at two. The goals mark the third time Gilles has scored a brace in her collegiate career and her first since the 2015 season.
Then, on Sunday, the Bearcats dominated much of the run of play, but didn't break the deadlock until the 70' when Gavorski was pulled down in the box and awarded a penalty kick. From the spot, Gavorski calmly sent the ball into the back of the net to give UC a 1-0 lead and, eventually, a 1-0 victory.
// 8 FOR 11
The weekly honor earned by Gilles is now the eighth of her career. After earning the honor once each as a freshman (2014) and sophomore (2015), she was a mainstay in the award ledger last year as she was tabbed for the honor four times while also earning a place on the weekly Honor Roll in 2016. Gilles, considered one of the top defenders in the league after being named the 2016 and 2017 AAC Preseason Defender of the Year, now has 18 career goals to her credit and ranks second in the league with three goals so far this season.
// GAVORSKI NO STRANGER
In the past two seasons (2016 and this year), Gavorski has been named to the weekly Honor Roll three times now. Her first appearance came last year on October 3 after scoring the game-winner in a 2-0 defeat of ECU on the road. Then, two weeks later (October 17), she found her name on the honor roll once again, this time on the heels of a two-goal, school record 12-shot performance in a 2-0 victory over visiting SMU. The senior now has eight career game-winners, moving her into a tie for the sixth-most in program history.
// UPCOMING ACTION
The Bearcats will play host to a pair of matches this week as two AAC foes come to Gettler Stadium. First, UC will take on Pittsburgh at 7 p.m. Thursday night before facing Miami (Fla.) in a 1 p.m. match Sunday.
// FOLLOWING THE BEARCATS
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.