TicketsCINCINNATI - With the time winding down in a scoreless regulation, the University of Cincinnati women's soccer team again found a way for late heroics, this time off the boot of freshman Karli Royer as the rookie's corner kick curled into the goal in the 88' to give the Bearcats a huge 1-0 victory over visiting USF Sunday afternoon at Gettler Stadium. The win, UC's seventh of the year, pushed the Bearcats to 7-1-2 overall and 1-0-1 in the American Athletic Conference while handing the Bulls their first league defeat of 2017 as the visitors fell to 1-1-0 in conference and 5-3-0 overall.
Following a scoreless draw with #14 UCF Thursday night and unseasonably warm weather in Cincinnati Sunday, the Bearcats battled all day with the Bulls in an up and down match. While both teams carried large chunks of momentum during the match, the hosts found a way to cash in late in the match. UC continued to press and got several shots before a run on goal earned a corner kick. Then, Royer stepped up to the corner flag and played an in-swinger that caught the Bulls off-gaurd and slipped into the goal at the front post for a 1-0 lead with just under 1:30 remaining in the contest. The Bearcats held strong from there and walked away with the win.
// QUICK NOTES
• The Bearcats moved to 7-1-2 overall and 1-0-1 in league play on the year while USF moved to 5-3-0 overall and 1-1-0 in the AAC
• After finishing tied in each of the last three matches in the series, the win pushed the Bearcats into the all-time lead at 11-10-4
• UC is now 7-3-1 all-time in the series with USF when the teams meet in Cincinnati with the Bearcats having won three in a row
• The Bearcats improved to 21-0-2 on 'Sunday Fun Day', having not lost a home Sunday match in the Neil Stafford era (2013+)
• UC is now 6-1-0 in one-goal matches this year
• Karli Royer scored the first goal of her collegiate career as her in-swinging corner kick beat the USF keeper with 2:22 remaining
• Royer's goal is the 14th-latest scored by UC since 2003 and the second the Bearcats have scored in the 86' or later this year (Jaycie Brown, 86', 2-1 win over Purdue on September 10 at home)
• Royer's game-winner also is the fourth for the Bearcats that has been scored in the 70' or later in 2017
• Madison Less has recorded 11 saves in the past two matches to help UC to a 1-0-1 start in the American
• The UC defense has not allowed a goal in 246:23 of play with the last goal coming at 43:37 at LSU ahead of the double overtime 0-0 draw with UCF Thursday night and today's 90-minute clean sheet
• UC has allowed only five goals this year, the second-lowest total through the first 10 matches of the season (2001 allowed just four)
• Freshman Kiki Lowell played 84 minutes in the win and combined with Vanessa Gilles to limit one of the league's top scorers - Evelyne Viens - to just six shots
// MATCH RECAP
In the first half, both sides had several solid opportunities to score with UC seeing a pair in the later stages. In the 36', Jill Vetere collected the ball and moved toward goal where she ripped a shot that was moving toward the upper 90 only to see USF' Kat Elliott reach out and knock the ball away for the save. Five minutes later, it was Vetere once again as Julie Gavorski posted up in the box, settled the ball and played it back to Vetere, who, in turn fired high and wide.
Following the intermission, the Bearcats looked to have the advantage in momentum. First, Bri Costigan found an opening and carried the ball down the flank before cutting back inside and firing on goal, just sending her offering high of the frame. In the 55', Royer played a quick restart pass off a foul over to Katy Couperus who hammered a shot on goal only to see Elliott turn it away.
The 60', however, saw the tide turn with the Bulls having the upper hand and nearly taking a lead. Sabrina Wagner played the ball in off a corner kick and saw her pass come down to the head of a USF player who headed it past an on-rushing Madison Less. But the shot was saved by Costigan on the far post and headed away. That clearance, however, was headed back on frame by Viens only to see Sophie Gorman block the ball and try to clear it. Her offering, however, was not cleared away and Viens fired another shot, this time saved by Less. UC countered from there and had a strong effort from Jaycie Brown, but her shot through traffic was snared by Elliott.
Prior to the game-winner, a flurry of shots came from the Bearcats with Gabrielle LoPresti and Katy Couperus each seeing their attempts blocked. Gilles had a swing at the ball and her shot was blocked, but it rolled toward LoPresti, who played it back to Couperus where the senior lofted a pass back into the box where Gilles headed the ball on frame, only to see Elliott tip the shot away. That save led drew the corner kick that Royer scored the team's lone goal.
// NEXT MATCH
The first road matches in conference play await the Bearcats next week as UC will travel to face both UConn and Temple. First, the Bearcats and Huskies will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday night in Storrs, Conn., before UC faces the Owls in Philadelphia at 1 p.m. Sunday.
// FOLLOW 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.
// 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.
Following a scoreless draw with #14 UCF Thursday night and unseasonably warm weather in Cincinnati Sunday, the Bearcats battled all day with the Bulls in an up and down match. While both teams carried large chunks of momentum during the match, the hosts found a way to cash in late in the match. UC continued to press and got several shots before a run on goal earned a corner kick. Then, Royer stepped up to the corner flag and played an in-swinger that caught the Bulls off-gaurd and slipped into the goal at the front post for a 1-0 lead with just under 1:30 remaining in the contest. The Bearcats held strong from there and walked away with the win.
// QUICK NOTES
• The Bearcats moved to 7-1-2 overall and 1-0-1 in league play on the year while USF moved to 5-3-0 overall and 1-1-0 in the AAC
• After finishing tied in each of the last three matches in the series, the win pushed the Bearcats into the all-time lead at 11-10-4
• UC is now 7-3-1 all-time in the series with USF when the teams meet in Cincinnati with the Bearcats having won three in a row
• The Bearcats improved to 21-0-2 on 'Sunday Fun Day', having not lost a home Sunday match in the Neil Stafford era (2013+)
• UC is now 6-1-0 in one-goal matches this year
• Karli Royer scored the first goal of her collegiate career as her in-swinging corner kick beat the USF keeper with 2:22 remaining
• Royer's goal is the 14th-latest scored by UC since 2003 and the second the Bearcats have scored in the 86' or later this year (Jaycie Brown, 86', 2-1 win over Purdue on September 10 at home)
• Royer's game-winner also is the fourth for the Bearcats that has been scored in the 70' or later in 2017
• Madison Less has recorded 11 saves in the past two matches to help UC to a 1-0-1 start in the American
• The UC defense has not allowed a goal in 246:23 of play with the last goal coming at 43:37 at LSU ahead of the double overtime 0-0 draw with UCF Thursday night and today's 90-minute clean sheet
• UC has allowed only five goals this year, the second-lowest total through the first 10 matches of the season (2001 allowed just four)
• Freshman Kiki Lowell played 84 minutes in the win and combined with Vanessa Gilles to limit one of the league's top scorers - Evelyne Viens - to just six shots
// MATCH RECAP
In the first half, both sides had several solid opportunities to score with UC seeing a pair in the later stages. In the 36', Jill Vetere collected the ball and moved toward goal where she ripped a shot that was moving toward the upper 90 only to see USF' Kat Elliott reach out and knock the ball away for the save. Five minutes later, it was Vetere once again as Julie Gavorski posted up in the box, settled the ball and played it back to Vetere, who, in turn fired high and wide.
Following the intermission, the Bearcats looked to have the advantage in momentum. First, Bri Costigan found an opening and carried the ball down the flank before cutting back inside and firing on goal, just sending her offering high of the frame. In the 55', Royer played a quick restart pass off a foul over to Katy Couperus who hammered a shot on goal only to see Elliott turn it away.
The 60', however, saw the tide turn with the Bulls having the upper hand and nearly taking a lead. Sabrina Wagner played the ball in off a corner kick and saw her pass come down to the head of a USF player who headed it past an on-rushing Madison Less. But the shot was saved by Costigan on the far post and headed away. That clearance, however, was headed back on frame by Viens only to see Sophie Gorman block the ball and try to clear it. Her offering, however, was not cleared away and Viens fired another shot, this time saved by Less. UC countered from there and had a strong effort from Jaycie Brown, but her shot through traffic was snared by Elliott.
Prior to the game-winner, a flurry of shots came from the Bearcats with Gabrielle LoPresti and Katy Couperus each seeing their attempts blocked. Gilles had a swing at the ball and her shot was blocked, but it rolled toward LoPresti, who played it back to Couperus where the senior lofted a pass back into the box where Gilles headed the ball on frame, only to see Elliott tip the shot away. That save led drew the corner kick that Royer scored the team's lone goal.
// NEXT MATCH
The first road matches in conference play await the Bearcats next week as UC will travel to face both UConn and Temple. First, the Bearcats and Huskies will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday night in Storrs, Conn., before UC faces the Owls in Philadelphia at 1 p.m. Sunday.
// FOLLOW 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.
// 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.