Tickets// THE OPENING WHISTLE
After two weekends and four matches at home to open the 2017 campaign, the University of Cincinnati women's soccer team is set to play its first match of the season away from home this weekend when the Bearcats take on Northwestern in Evanston, Ill., Sunday at 2 p.m. CT (1 p.m. ET). The match, which will be air live on BTN Plus (subscription based service), will be played at Martin Stadium on the NU campus.
// 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.
// #HOUSTONSTRONG
Hurricane Harvey has caused widespread flooding throughout the Houston area. The University of Cincinnati Department of Athletics stands with our longtime partners at the University of Houston and the City of Houston during these tough times. Those wishing to help with relief efforts in and around the Houston area are encouraged to donate through the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and Cincinnati-based Matthew 25: Ministries. Please visit any of those organization's web sites to see how you can assist.
// IN THE POLLS
The Bearcats did not receive votes this week in the United Soccer Coaches poll, but did rise three spots in the Southeast Region rankings, moving up to #12 this week. UC is not ranked in the TopDrawerSoccer.com Top 25 this week.
// HOT START
The Bearcats are 3-0-1 on the year so far, a mark that ties for the second-best start in program history (through four matches). The record is 4-0-0 (team started 5-0-0) in 1980, the first year of varsity competition at UC. Previously, three other squads have opened the year with a 3-0-1 record, including the 2012, 2010 and 1996 teams.
// LIFTING THE LID: ROAD
The Bearcats hold an all-time record of 20-14-3 in their first road contest of the season after winning last year's opener, 3-2, at Evansville. UC is 2-2-1 in it's last five road openers with a win at Samford, losses at Miami (Fla.) and Colorado and a draw at Elon. This weekend's match with Northwestern will mark the second time UC's first road match of a season has come in Evanston with the Bearcats securing a 2-1 victory at NU in 2011.
// LIFTING THE LID: ADN
The American Digital Network (ADN) has announced its fall broadcast schedule and have selected the UCF at Cincinnati women's soccer match as one its events. The match, slated to start at 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 21, will be played at Gettler Stadium in Cincinnati and will be the first event ADN will broadcast this fall.
// QUICK RECAP: WEEK #2
• UC posted a 1-0-1 record at home last week, tying Pitt, 2-2, before defeating Miami (Fla.), 1-0
• The Bearcats surrendered the first two goals of the year against Pitt and trailed 2-0 before a Vanessa Gilles brace brought the hosts all the way back for a 2-2 draw
• In Sunday's match, Julie Gavorski converted her third penalty kick in as many attempts over the past two seasons (her first this year) to secure a 1-0 win over the Hurricanes
• In the win over UM, Jane Sensibaugh earned her second collegiate start in goal and stopped all three shots faced to move to 2-0-0 with five saves and two shut outs to open her career
• Through four matches, the Bearcats have allowed just two goals and have scored six of their own with Gilles, the preseason AAC Defensive Player of the Year, leading the way with three
// GILLES HONORED TWICE
Following two goals scored against Pitt and helping with another clean sheet against Miami, Gilles was tabbed for a pair of awards:
• Monday, Gilles was selected as the defensive player of the week by the American Athletic Conference, garnering the award for the second week in a row. The honor also is the eighth in her career after earning four last year and one each the two years prior.
• Tuesday, Gilles as selected to the TopDrawerSoccer.com Team of the Week for her performance against a pair of ACC teams. The team of the week is comprised of athletes from all over the nation based upon their performances in matches played August 21-27.
// #GOALVORSKI EARNS HONOR ROLL PLACEMENT
Gavorski also was selected for a weekly award as she was named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll. She earned a spot on the list this week after scoring the game-winning goal in a 1-0 defeat of Miami (Fla.) Sunday afternoon. The goal, which came from the penalty spot, was Gavorski's third PK in as many attempts in her career (2-for-2 in 2016).
// CLIMBING THE LADDER
When Gavorski tallied the game-winner over the Hurricanes, she recorded her eighth career clincher, moving her into a tie for sixth on the program's all-time list with Tasha Wagner (2000-03). One more game-winner this year would move her into a tie for fifth all-time with Julie Morrissey (2008-10) while two more game-winners would make her just the fifth Bearcat to record 10 or more.
// STAYING ON THE PITCH
For her career, Gilles has appeared in 68 matches and has started all 68. In that time, she has accumulated 6,275 minutes of playing time, which is the fourth-highest total for a non-goalkeeper in program history. Next on the list is Andrea Kaminski (2006-09), who tallied 6,614 minutes in her career with Gilles' former backline teammate Kayla Utley (2013-16) taking the top spot last year with 7,101 minutes played, the only Bearcat to surpass 7,000 minutes in a career (non-GK).
// KNOW THE FOE: NORTHWESTERN
• The Wildcats are 2-1-1 on the year after going 0-1-1 on the road in California last weekend, falling at Long Beach State, 2-0, before playing a 2-2 draw at Loyola Marymount
• The Wildcats are receiving votes in this week's United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll while ranking #21 in the latest TopDrawerSoccer.com Top 25
• NU opened the year with back-to-back shut outs as it blanked DePaul at home (1-0) before traveling to Illinois State and winning, 3-0
• Two Wildcats share the lead in scoring with both Mandi Kennel and Kayla Sharples both having tallied four points so far this year. Kennel leads the way with two goals while Sharples has one goal and a pair of assists
• Lauren Clem has played all four matches in goal for NU and has allowed four goals while stopping 11 shots for a 0.95 goal against average
• NU was picked to finish second in the Big Ten behind Penn State in the preseason poll
// IN THE SERIES: BEARCATS vs. WILDCATS
• UC trails in the all-time series, 2-1-1, but the series is tied, 1-1-0, when held in Evanston
• The Bearcats won the last meeting, 2-1, in Evanston during the 2011 season
• The two teams met in Wisconsin during the 2010 season and played to a scoreless draw
// SECOND OF THREE
The Bearcats will play a match against a member of the Big Ten Conference for the second time this year and the first that will count in the results. Earlier this month, in the preseason, Cincinnati scored a 3-1 exhibition victory at Indiana. Next Sunday (September 10), the Bearcats will again face a foe from the Big Ten as Purdue comes to Gettler Stadium for a 1 p.m. match.
PREVIOUSLY NOTED
// 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 the season 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
So far, five true freshmen and one redshirt saw their names added to the Starting XI this year 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.
// SUNDAY FUN DAY!
Since Stafford took over the program in time for the 2013 season, the Bearcats have played at home on Sunday 21 times and hold an impressive 19-0-2 record in those matches after posting a 3-0-1 mark during the 2016 season and standing 2-0-0 this year following last week's 1-0 defeat of Miami (Fla.). During those 21 matches, the Bearcats have outscored their foes, 47-10, with the UC defense recording 13 clean sheets in that span. The next 'Sunday Fun Day' will be September 10 when Purdue comes to town for the third of five home Sunday matches (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.
// 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 45 victories (through the UM match) during his time in Cincinnati, needing five 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 37 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
Two matches await the Bearcats next week, including one on the road and one at home. First, UC will travel across the river to Highland Heights, Ky., to take on Northern Kentucky in the 2nd Riverboat Rivalry Match on Thursday, September 7, at 7 p.m. Then, the Bearcats will play host to Purdue in a 1 p.m. contest at Gettler Stadium Sunday, September 10.
After two weekends and four matches at home to open the 2017 campaign, the University of Cincinnati women's soccer team is set to play its first match of the season away from home this weekend when the Bearcats take on Northwestern in Evanston, Ill., Sunday at 2 p.m. CT (1 p.m. ET). The match, which will be air live on BTN Plus (subscription based service), will be played at Martin Stadium on the NU campus.
// 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.
// #HOUSTONSTRONG
Hurricane Harvey has caused widespread flooding throughout the Houston area. The University of Cincinnati Department of Athletics stands with our longtime partners at the University of Houston and the City of Houston during these tough times. Those wishing to help with relief efforts in and around the Houston area are encouraged to donate through the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and Cincinnati-based Matthew 25: Ministries. Please visit any of those organization's web sites to see how you can assist.
// IN THE POLLS
The Bearcats did not receive votes this week in the United Soccer Coaches poll, but did rise three spots in the Southeast Region rankings, moving up to #12 this week. UC is not ranked in the TopDrawerSoccer.com Top 25 this week.
// HOT START
The Bearcats are 3-0-1 on the year so far, a mark that ties for the second-best start in program history (through four matches). The record is 4-0-0 (team started 5-0-0) in 1980, the first year of varsity competition at UC. Previously, three other squads have opened the year with a 3-0-1 record, including the 2012, 2010 and 1996 teams.
// LIFTING THE LID: ROAD
The Bearcats hold an all-time record of 20-14-3 in their first road contest of the season after winning last year's opener, 3-2, at Evansville. UC is 2-2-1 in it's last five road openers with a win at Samford, losses at Miami (Fla.) and Colorado and a draw at Elon. This weekend's match with Northwestern will mark the second time UC's first road match of a season has come in Evanston with the Bearcats securing a 2-1 victory at NU in 2011.
// LIFTING THE LID: ADN
The American Digital Network (ADN) has announced its fall broadcast schedule and have selected the UCF at Cincinnati women's soccer match as one its events. The match, slated to start at 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 21, will be played at Gettler Stadium in Cincinnati and will be the first event ADN will broadcast this fall.
// QUICK RECAP: WEEK #2
• UC posted a 1-0-1 record at home last week, tying Pitt, 2-2, before defeating Miami (Fla.), 1-0
• The Bearcats surrendered the first two goals of the year against Pitt and trailed 2-0 before a Vanessa Gilles brace brought the hosts all the way back for a 2-2 draw
• In Sunday's match, Julie Gavorski converted her third penalty kick in as many attempts over the past two seasons (her first this year) to secure a 1-0 win over the Hurricanes
• In the win over UM, Jane Sensibaugh earned her second collegiate start in goal and stopped all three shots faced to move to 2-0-0 with five saves and two shut outs to open her career
• Through four matches, the Bearcats have allowed just two goals and have scored six of their own with Gilles, the preseason AAC Defensive Player of the Year, leading the way with three
// GILLES HONORED TWICE
Following two goals scored against Pitt and helping with another clean sheet against Miami, Gilles was tabbed for a pair of awards:
• Monday, Gilles was selected as the defensive player of the week by the American Athletic Conference, garnering the award for the second week in a row. The honor also is the eighth in her career after earning four last year and one each the two years prior.
• Tuesday, Gilles as selected to the TopDrawerSoccer.com Team of the Week for her performance against a pair of ACC teams. The team of the week is comprised of athletes from all over the nation based upon their performances in matches played August 21-27.
// #GOALVORSKI EARNS HONOR ROLL PLACEMENT
Gavorski also was selected for a weekly award as she was named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll. She earned a spot on the list this week after scoring the game-winning goal in a 1-0 defeat of Miami (Fla.) Sunday afternoon. The goal, which came from the penalty spot, was Gavorski's third PK in as many attempts in her career (2-for-2 in 2016).
// CLIMBING THE LADDER
When Gavorski tallied the game-winner over the Hurricanes, she recorded her eighth career clincher, moving her into a tie for sixth on the program's all-time list with Tasha Wagner (2000-03). One more game-winner this year would move her into a tie for fifth all-time with Julie Morrissey (2008-10) while two more game-winners would make her just the fifth Bearcat to record 10 or more.
// STAYING ON THE PITCH
For her career, Gilles has appeared in 68 matches and has started all 68. In that time, she has accumulated 6,275 minutes of playing time, which is the fourth-highest total for a non-goalkeeper in program history. Next on the list is Andrea Kaminski (2006-09), who tallied 6,614 minutes in her career with Gilles' former backline teammate Kayla Utley (2013-16) taking the top spot last year with 7,101 minutes played, the only Bearcat to surpass 7,000 minutes in a career (non-GK).
// KNOW THE FOE: NORTHWESTERN
• The Wildcats are 2-1-1 on the year after going 0-1-1 on the road in California last weekend, falling at Long Beach State, 2-0, before playing a 2-2 draw at Loyola Marymount
• The Wildcats are receiving votes in this week's United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll while ranking #21 in the latest TopDrawerSoccer.com Top 25
• NU opened the year with back-to-back shut outs as it blanked DePaul at home (1-0) before traveling to Illinois State and winning, 3-0
• Two Wildcats share the lead in scoring with both Mandi Kennel and Kayla Sharples both having tallied four points so far this year. Kennel leads the way with two goals while Sharples has one goal and a pair of assists
• Lauren Clem has played all four matches in goal for NU and has allowed four goals while stopping 11 shots for a 0.95 goal against average
• NU was picked to finish second in the Big Ten behind Penn State in the preseason poll
// IN THE SERIES: BEARCATS vs. WILDCATS
• UC trails in the all-time series, 2-1-1, but the series is tied, 1-1-0, when held in Evanston
• The Bearcats won the last meeting, 2-1, in Evanston during the 2011 season
• The two teams met in Wisconsin during the 2010 season and played to a scoreless draw
// SECOND OF THREE
The Bearcats will play a match against a member of the Big Ten Conference for the second time this year and the first that will count in the results. Earlier this month, in the preseason, Cincinnati scored a 3-1 exhibition victory at Indiana. Next Sunday (September 10), the Bearcats will again face a foe from the Big Ten as Purdue comes to Gettler Stadium for a 1 p.m. match.
PREVIOUSLY NOTED
// 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 the season 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
So far, five true freshmen and one redshirt saw their names added to the Starting XI this year 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.
// SUNDAY FUN DAY!
Since Stafford took over the program in time for the 2013 season, the Bearcats have played at home on Sunday 21 times and hold an impressive 19-0-2 record in those matches after posting a 3-0-1 mark during the 2016 season and standing 2-0-0 this year following last week's 1-0 defeat of Miami (Fla.). During those 21 matches, the Bearcats have outscored their foes, 47-10, with the UC defense recording 13 clean sheets in that span. The next 'Sunday Fun Day' will be September 10 when Purdue comes to town for the third of five home Sunday matches (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.
// 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 45 victories (through the UM match) during his time in Cincinnati, needing five 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 37 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
Two matches await the Bearcats next week, including one on the road and one at home. First, UC will travel across the river to Highland Heights, Ky., to take on Northern Kentucky in the 2nd Riverboat Rivalry Match on Thursday, September 7, at 7 p.m. Then, the Bearcats will play host to Purdue in a 1 p.m. contest at Gettler Stadium Sunday, September 10.