Tickets// THE OPENING WHISTLE
The University of Cincinnati women's soccer team, coming off a 1-0-1 opening to conference play last weekend at home, hits the road this week for its first road matches inside the American Athletic Conference as the Bearcats are set to meet UConn at 7 p.m. Thursday night in Storrs, Conn., before facing Temple at 1 p.m. Sunday in Philadelphia. The Bearcats, who sport a 7-1-2 overall record, are currently tied atop the AAC table on four points with Memphis and UCF.
// 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.
// GOING LIVE
Both matches will be streamed online this week through each school's respective web sites. Visit the schedule page of UConnHuskies.com and OwlSports.com for the links.
// QUICK SHOTS
• UC is 7-1-2 overall on the year and 1-0-1 in the American Athletic Conference
• Last week, UC drew, 0-0, with #14 UCF before defeating USF, 1-0
• Madison Less recorded a career-high seven saves in the tie with UCF
• Karli Royer scored her first career goal, bending a corner kick into the net in the 88' to give the Bearcats their winning goal against USF
• The national rankings were released Monday & Tuesday with UC receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 (#29) and standing #21 in the TopDrawerSoccer.com ranking
• In the latest RPI, the Bearcats are #12 this week, the highest ranking the program has received and the second-best in the AAC as UCF remained at #4
• UC has posted six shutouts in 10 matches this year with Madison Less holding four of those clean sheets, which ties her 40th nationally and 1st in the AAC
• Less also carries a 0.47 GAA which is the best in single-season history at UC for keepers having played 500 or more minutes in a season
• In Stafford's five years at UC, his side has recorded 37 shutouts, the same amount the Bearcats record in the 10 seasons prior to his arrival (2003-12)
• Vanessa Gilles continues to climb higher in a pair of career Top 10 ledgers at UC, including being tied for 10th in career starts (74) and second in minutes played (6,835)
• The American Athletic Conference named three Bearcats to weekly honors, including Kiki Lowell being named the Defensive Player of the Week and both Madison Less and Karli Royer earning spots on the Honor Roll
• Royer also was named to the TopDrawerSoccer.com Team of the Week (honorable mention)
• HeroSports.com has Kiki Lowell listed as a candidate for this week's Hero of the Week
// IN THE RANKINGS
The Bearcats remained in the TopDrawerSoccer.com Top 25 rankings this week, moving up to #21 from #25 last week. UC also is receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll as they garnered 31 votes this week, good enough to rank them 29th overall. The Bearcats also moved up in the USC Southeast Region rankings, climbing four places to #5 this week. UCF is the only other team in the AAC named in any of the polls, standing #13 in the USC and #23 in the TDS ranks while moving up to #2 in the Southeast Region.
// RPI RELEASED
The second release of RPI rankings took place Monday with the Bearcats climbing to new heights once again, this time moving to #12 nationally after sitting at #20 in last week's initial release. The ranking is believed to be the highest the program has ever achieved and comes about with a 7-1-2 overall record that includes a 3-1-1 record against five foes ranked in the current Top 50: #4 UCF (T), #11 LSU (L), #22 Purdue (W), #37 Northwestern (W) and #49 USF (W). With the ranking of #12, the program has now improved an astronomical 215 positions from the final 2012 ranking of 227 UC held before bringing Neil Stafford on to guide the program.
// QUICK RECAP: 1-0-1 OPENING WEEKEND
• Cincinnati posted a 1-0-1 record on the opening week of AAC action, playing #14 UCF to a scoreless draw before downing USF, 1-0
• Madison Less had a career-high 7 saves in the draw with the Knights, bettering her previous best of 4 (at Northern Kentucky)
• Against the Bulls, Less had four more saves and the team recorded two saves as well to keep USF off the board in a 1-0 win
• Freshman Karli Royer scored the first goal of her career as she hit a corner kick toward the box that curled inside the front post with just under three minutes remaining in regulation
• The win over USF pushed UC to 21-0-2 in Sunday home matches under Stafford
// KNOW THE FOE: UCONN
• The Huskies enter the weekend with a 2-4-3 overall record following a 1-1 draw with Colorado College in their most recent match (Sunday, September 17)
• UConn's match with Cincinnati Thursday night will be their conference opener for 2017
• The Huskies' last two matches have gone to overtime, including the 1-1 draw with CC and a 3-2 loss in double overtime to visiting Long Beach State
• Kess Elmore leads the Huskies in scoring with 11 points on a team-high five goals and one assist
• Mollie Kerrigan has played every minute in goal for UConn, saving 36 shots and allowing 12 goals for a 1.21 goals against average through nine matches
// IN THE SERIES: BEARCATS vs. HUSKIES
• The Huskies lead the overall series, 5-3-2
• UConn also leads the series when the matches are played in Storrs, holding a 3-0-1 record
• The then-ranked #18 Huskies won the last meeting in Storrs, 1-0, October 11, 2015
• The last time the two teams met was last year in Cincinnati, a 2-0 win for the #18 Huskies on October 27, 2016
// KNOW THE FOE: TEMPLE
• The Owls are 4-4-1 overall on the year and are set to face ECU Thursday night in the conference opener for the 2017 season
• Temple played at Central Connecticut in its most recent match, falling, 1-0, on the road in a loss that snapped the team's four-match undefeated streak (3-0-1) at the time
• The Owls are 3-2-0 at home with their most recent match being an 8-0 victory over Delaware State
• Kerri McGinley leads the team in scoring with eight points on a team-high-tying three goals
• Two keepers have split time in goal with Morgan Basileo (3-1-1) holding a 0.42 goals against average and Jordan Nash (1-3-0) carrying a 1.70 GAA
// IN THE SERIES: BEARCATS vs. OWLS
• The all-time series between Cincinnati and Temple is tied, 2-2-0, with all four matches ending with a 2-1 score
• The series also is tied when the teams meet in Philadelphia, 1-1-0
• The Owls won the last meeting in Philly, 2-1, on October 8, 2015, a win that gave the hosts a two-match winning streak in the series
• The Bearcats won the last overall meeting in Cincinnati (Oct. 30, 2016) to secure a spot in the Top 6 of the AAC standings a berth into the conference tournament
// HONORS
The American Athletic Conference selected a trio of Bearcats for weekly awards, including Kiki Lowell, who was named the Defensive Player of the Week. Along with Lowell's honor, fellow rookie classmates Madison Less and Karli Royer were selected to the Honor Roll. The award for Less was her second of the season while Lowell and Royer collected the first accolades of their careers. Royer also was tabbed to the honorable mention group for Top Drawer Soccer's National Team of the Week selections.
// ROYER'S RIP
Karli Royer recorded the first goal of her collegiate career and did so in dramatic fashion as she took the corner kick and played the ball into the box before it curled toward and then inside the near post to give UC a 1-0 lead and, three minutes later, the win. Her first collegiate game-winner, which game with 87:38 showing on the clock, ranks as the 14th-latest scored in regulation since 2003 and the 9th-latest scored in regulation of a match in the Stafford Era.
// ACCOUNT OPENED
Royer is the second true freshman to record at least one point this year following her goal against USF. 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.
// LESS GETTING MORE
Madison Less has been on a hot streak of late, recording back-to-back shutouts in goal to help UC to a 1-0-1 start in league action. The last time Less allowed a goal came in a 1-0 loss at LSU. Since that goal, which came at 43:37 in the first half, the Bearcats have not been scored upon, a streak currently counting at 246:23.
// SHUTTING THEM DOWN
So far this year, the Bearcats have kept a clean sheet in six of their 10 matches with Less recording four of those shutouts in goal. That now brings the program's total to 37 shutouts since the start of the 2013 season when Stafford took over, the same among the program recorded in the 10 seasons prior to his arrival. All told, the Bearcats, as a program, have recorded six or more shutouts in a season 25 times and have tallied 239 total clean sheets in program history.
// GILLES GETTING UP THERE
In the match with USF Sunday, Vanessa Gilles earned her 74th career start, tying her with Kim Sykes (2005-08) for the 10th-most in program history. She also logged the full 90 minutes, bringing her career total to 6,835 minutes, the second-most in UC history, just ahead of Sykes' 6,820 minutes. Gilles trails just one woman in all-time minutes played and that is her former back line teammate, Kayla Utley, who closed our her career last year after 7,101 minutes played. If Gilles plays the full 90 in the next three matches, she will surpass Utley for the top spot.
// PLAYING IT CLOSE
The Bearcats have played 10 matches do far in 2017 with seven being decided by one goal. On those matches, UC has posted a 6-1 record with the lone loss coming in a 1-0 setback on the road to LSU. The lone match not ending tied or decided by one goal this year was a 2-0 victory over visiting Boston University the opening weekend.
// BREAKING THE TIE
With the clock winding down in regulation Sunday, it appeared the match was destined for overtime, which, in the series with USF, would be nothing new. Overall, the series was tied 10-10-4 entering Sunday and the previous three matches all had ended tied as well. But, Royer's goal late in the match gave the Bearcats the victory and ended the tie streak.
// LOTS OF WINS
Playing in their 38th varsity season, the 2017 Bearcats have won seven of their first 10 matches. Looking back through the previous years, this has happened just nine other times. The 1980 squad won nine of their first 10 while the 1981, 1982, 1986, 1989, 1997 and 2002 sides each won eight. The 7-in-10 is not new to a Stafford-led team as the Bearcats did the same last year.
// PROTECT THIS HOUSE
Not only has Sunday been a fun day at home for the Bearcats under Stafford (21-0-2), but most days at Gettler Stadium fit the bill as well. Since the start of the 2013 season, the Bearcats have played 43 home matches, posting a 29-6-8 record in that time (.767 win percentage). Including 2017, UC has won at least four home contests each season with seven wins in 2014 and 2015, six in 2016, five so far this year and four in 2013. Also, in that time, UC has out-scored its guests, 81-31 (+50).
// CHASING WINS - SENIORS
The 2017 seniors have won 41 matches in their time at UC, which currently ranks tied for 17th 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 (they are at 7 so far), 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). The senior class also is now just three wins away from double-digit victories for the fourth year in a row, a feat that only has been accomplished four times in program history: 1983 (13-10-10-14), 1989 (13-10-10-14), 1997 (15-10-15-16) and 1998 (10-15-16-10).
// CHASING WINS - JUNIORS
So far, the junior class has recorded 31 victories in their time at UC, a total that ranks them tied for the 28th-most wins in program history. Three more wins would move them into the Top 25.
PREVIOUSLY NOTED
// LONG STREAK
Prior to the loss at LSU, the team's streak of seven in a row without a defeat stood in a tie for the ninth-best in program history. The 1994 team posted a 14-match streak (12-0-2) from match #8 through #21 while both the 1983 (10-0-3) and 1986 (12-0-1) sides put together 13-match runs, both between match #4 and #16 of their respective seasons. This is the second seven-match or better streak a Stafford-led Bearcats squad has amassed after the team went on a nine-match run in 2015, posting a 6-0-3 record in the process.
// MORE STREAKING
For the fourth year in a row, the Bearcats have recorded a run of five or matches in which they have gone undefeated. After not posting such a streak in Stafford's first year (2013), UC came back in 2014 with a five-match run (3-0-2) before posting its nine-match stretch in 2015 (6-0-3). Last year, the team had a run of six matches in a row without a defeat (5-0-1) before this year's current seven-match streak. Historically, this is just the second time the program has seen four seasons in a row with a five-match or better undefeated streak. The only other instance came in the programs first four years of play, posting streaks of five in 1980, six in 1981 and seven in both 1982 and 1983.
// WINS IN A ROW
The Bearcats had won four matches in a row, marking the 23rd time in program history that the team has won at least four matches in a row during one season. Not including the current streak, UC teams have posted win streaks of four (9 times), five (3), six (4), seven (3), nine (2) and 13 (1) since the program began in 1980.
// BEST START
With wins at NKU (Sept. 7) and home to Purdue (Sept. 10), the Bearcats improved to 6-0-1 on the year, their best start in program history. The previous mark was 5-0-1 by the 2010 side before they lost in their seventh match of the season. The start also is another improvement for a team under the direction of Neil Stafford, who took over after the 2012 season. In his first campaign, the Bearcats opened their first seven matches of the year with a 1-6-0 record and now, after 4, 4 and 5 wins in the first seven matches each of the last three years, the Bearcats are 6-0-1 under Stafford.
// MILESTONE - PROGRAM
The win over Purdue marked a pair of milestones as well. First, the win is the 375th in program history. The Bearcats now stand 375-272-59 all-time since becoming a varsity program in time for the start of the 1980 campaign. With the win, the Bearcats now have two milestone wins under Neil Stafford as they won, 3-2, at Duquesne on Sept. 13, 2015, for the program's 350th win.
// MILESTONE - STAFFORD
The second milestone hit in the win over Purdue was for Stafford, who recorded the 150th win of his coaching career. Currently in his 15th collegiate season and his fifth at Cincinnati, Stafford holds a 150-101-32 record as a collegiate women's coach and, with a 48-30-13 record, is approaching his 50th win with the Bearcats.
// 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.
// 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.
// 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.
// 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.
// 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.
// 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 was 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
Next week will feature just one match on the slate as Morehead State will pay a visit to Gettler Stadium for a 7 p.m. match with the Bearcats at Gettler Stadium. The prior to the match, the program will honor its six seniors players one student manager for their contributions to the program. The 2017 Seniors include Jaycie Brown, Katy Couperus, Lizzie Ehrnfelt, Julie Gavorski, Vanessa Gilles and Taylor Pavlika along with manager Alex Keller.
The University of Cincinnati women's soccer team, coming off a 1-0-1 opening to conference play last weekend at home, hits the road this week for its first road matches inside the American Athletic Conference as the Bearcats are set to meet UConn at 7 p.m. Thursday night in Storrs, Conn., before facing Temple at 1 p.m. Sunday in Philadelphia. The Bearcats, who sport a 7-1-2 overall record, are currently tied atop the AAC table on four points with Memphis and UCF.
// 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.
// GOING LIVE
Both matches will be streamed online this week through each school's respective web sites. Visit the schedule page of UConnHuskies.com and OwlSports.com for the links.
// QUICK SHOTS
• UC is 7-1-2 overall on the year and 1-0-1 in the American Athletic Conference
• Last week, UC drew, 0-0, with #14 UCF before defeating USF, 1-0
• Madison Less recorded a career-high seven saves in the tie with UCF
• Karli Royer scored her first career goal, bending a corner kick into the net in the 88' to give the Bearcats their winning goal against USF
• The national rankings were released Monday & Tuesday with UC receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 (#29) and standing #21 in the TopDrawerSoccer.com ranking
• In the latest RPI, the Bearcats are #12 this week, the highest ranking the program has received and the second-best in the AAC as UCF remained at #4
• UC has posted six shutouts in 10 matches this year with Madison Less holding four of those clean sheets, which ties her 40th nationally and 1st in the AAC
• Less also carries a 0.47 GAA which is the best in single-season history at UC for keepers having played 500 or more minutes in a season
• In Stafford's five years at UC, his side has recorded 37 shutouts, the same amount the Bearcats record in the 10 seasons prior to his arrival (2003-12)
• Vanessa Gilles continues to climb higher in a pair of career Top 10 ledgers at UC, including being tied for 10th in career starts (74) and second in minutes played (6,835)
• The American Athletic Conference named three Bearcats to weekly honors, including Kiki Lowell being named the Defensive Player of the Week and both Madison Less and Karli Royer earning spots on the Honor Roll
• Royer also was named to the TopDrawerSoccer.com Team of the Week (honorable mention)
• HeroSports.com has Kiki Lowell listed as a candidate for this week's Hero of the Week
// IN THE RANKINGS
The Bearcats remained in the TopDrawerSoccer.com Top 25 rankings this week, moving up to #21 from #25 last week. UC also is receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll as they garnered 31 votes this week, good enough to rank them 29th overall. The Bearcats also moved up in the USC Southeast Region rankings, climbing four places to #5 this week. UCF is the only other team in the AAC named in any of the polls, standing #13 in the USC and #23 in the TDS ranks while moving up to #2 in the Southeast Region.
// RPI RELEASED
The second release of RPI rankings took place Monday with the Bearcats climbing to new heights once again, this time moving to #12 nationally after sitting at #20 in last week's initial release. The ranking is believed to be the highest the program has ever achieved and comes about with a 7-1-2 overall record that includes a 3-1-1 record against five foes ranked in the current Top 50: #4 UCF (T), #11 LSU (L), #22 Purdue (W), #37 Northwestern (W) and #49 USF (W). With the ranking of #12, the program has now improved an astronomical 215 positions from the final 2012 ranking of 227 UC held before bringing Neil Stafford on to guide the program.
The #Bearcats have come a long way under the direction of @UCGaffer & his assistants... see just how far here: https://t.co/YNp4VFyXUl pic.twitter.com/GGdMJLTpQK
— Cincinnati W-Soccer (@GoBearcatsWSOC) September 27, 2017
// QUICK RECAP: 1-0-1 OPENING WEEKEND
• Cincinnati posted a 1-0-1 record on the opening week of AAC action, playing #14 UCF to a scoreless draw before downing USF, 1-0
• Madison Less had a career-high 7 saves in the draw with the Knights, bettering her previous best of 4 (at Northern Kentucky)
• Against the Bulls, Less had four more saves and the team recorded two saves as well to keep USF off the board in a 1-0 win
• Freshman Karli Royer scored the first goal of her career as she hit a corner kick toward the box that curled inside the front post with just under three minutes remaining in regulation
• The win over USF pushed UC to 21-0-2 in Sunday home matches under Stafford
// KNOW THE FOE: UCONN
• The Huskies enter the weekend with a 2-4-3 overall record following a 1-1 draw with Colorado College in their most recent match (Sunday, September 17)
• UConn's match with Cincinnati Thursday night will be their conference opener for 2017
• The Huskies' last two matches have gone to overtime, including the 1-1 draw with CC and a 3-2 loss in double overtime to visiting Long Beach State
• Kess Elmore leads the Huskies in scoring with 11 points on a team-high five goals and one assist
• Mollie Kerrigan has played every minute in goal for UConn, saving 36 shots and allowing 12 goals for a 1.21 goals against average through nine matches
// IN THE SERIES: BEARCATS vs. HUSKIES
• The Huskies lead the overall series, 5-3-2
• UConn also leads the series when the matches are played in Storrs, holding a 3-0-1 record
• The then-ranked #18 Huskies won the last meeting in Storrs, 1-0, October 11, 2015
• The last time the two teams met was last year in Cincinnati, a 2-0 win for the #18 Huskies on October 27, 2016
// KNOW THE FOE: TEMPLE
• The Owls are 4-4-1 overall on the year and are set to face ECU Thursday night in the conference opener for the 2017 season
• Temple played at Central Connecticut in its most recent match, falling, 1-0, on the road in a loss that snapped the team's four-match undefeated streak (3-0-1) at the time
• The Owls are 3-2-0 at home with their most recent match being an 8-0 victory over Delaware State
• Kerri McGinley leads the team in scoring with eight points on a team-high-tying three goals
• Two keepers have split time in goal with Morgan Basileo (3-1-1) holding a 0.42 goals against average and Jordan Nash (1-3-0) carrying a 1.70 GAA
// IN THE SERIES: BEARCATS vs. OWLS
• The all-time series between Cincinnati and Temple is tied, 2-2-0, with all four matches ending with a 2-1 score
• The series also is tied when the teams meet in Philadelphia, 1-1-0
• The Owls won the last meeting in Philly, 2-1, on October 8, 2015, a win that gave the hosts a two-match winning streak in the series
• The Bearcats won the last overall meeting in Cincinnati (Oct. 30, 2016) to secure a spot in the Top 6 of the AAC standings a berth into the conference tournament
// HONORS
The American Athletic Conference selected a trio of Bearcats for weekly awards, including Kiki Lowell, who was named the Defensive Player of the Week. Along with Lowell's honor, fellow rookie classmates Madison Less and Karli Royer were selected to the Honor Roll. The award for Less was her second of the season while Lowell and Royer collected the first accolades of their careers. Royer also was tabbed to the honorable mention group for Top Drawer Soccer's National Team of the Week selections.
#Congrats to #Bearcats rookies Lowell (DEF OW), Royer (HR) & Less (HR) on their weekly @American_WSoc awards! https://t.co/35iKaNbJV8 pic.twitter.com/eAiLNMBlEB
— Cincinnati W-Soccer (@GoBearcatsWSOC) September 25, 2017
// ROYER'S RIP
Karli Royer recorded the first goal of her collegiate career and did so in dramatic fashion as she took the corner kick and played the ball into the box before it curled toward and then inside the near post to give UC a 1-0 lead and, three minutes later, the win. Her first collegiate game-winner, which game with 87:38 showing on the clock, ranks as the 14th-latest scored in regulation since 2003 and the 9th-latest scored in regulation of a match in the Stafford Era.
// ACCOUNT OPENED
Royer is the second true freshman to record at least one point this year following her goal against USF. 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.
// LESS GETTING MORE
Madison Less has been on a hot streak of late, recording back-to-back shutouts in goal to help UC to a 1-0-1 start in league action. The last time Less allowed a goal came in a 1-0 loss at LSU. Since that goal, which came at 43:37 in the first half, the Bearcats have not been scored upon, a streak currently counting at 246:23.
// SHUTTING THEM DOWN
So far this year, the Bearcats have kept a clean sheet in six of their 10 matches with Less recording four of those shutouts in goal. That now brings the program's total to 37 shutouts since the start of the 2013 season when Stafford took over, the same among the program recorded in the 10 seasons prior to his arrival. All told, the Bearcats, as a program, have recorded six or more shutouts in a season 25 times and have tallied 239 total clean sheets in program history.
// GILLES GETTING UP THERE
In the match with USF Sunday, Vanessa Gilles earned her 74th career start, tying her with Kim Sykes (2005-08) for the 10th-most in program history. She also logged the full 90 minutes, bringing her career total to 6,835 minutes, the second-most in UC history, just ahead of Sykes' 6,820 minutes. Gilles trails just one woman in all-time minutes played and that is her former back line teammate, Kayla Utley, who closed our her career last year after 7,101 minutes played. If Gilles plays the full 90 in the next three matches, she will surpass Utley for the top spot.
// PLAYING IT CLOSE
The Bearcats have played 10 matches do far in 2017 with seven being decided by one goal. On those matches, UC has posted a 6-1 record with the lone loss coming in a 1-0 setback on the road to LSU. The lone match not ending tied or decided by one goal this year was a 2-0 victory over visiting Boston University the opening weekend.
// BREAKING THE TIE
With the clock winding down in regulation Sunday, it appeared the match was destined for overtime, which, in the series with USF, would be nothing new. Overall, the series was tied 10-10-4 entering Sunday and the previous three matches all had ended tied as well. But, Royer's goal late in the match gave the Bearcats the victory and ended the tie streak.
// LOTS OF WINS
Playing in their 38th varsity season, the 2017 Bearcats have won seven of their first 10 matches. Looking back through the previous years, this has happened just nine other times. The 1980 squad won nine of their first 10 while the 1981, 1982, 1986, 1989, 1997 and 2002 sides each won eight. The 7-in-10 is not new to a Stafford-led team as the Bearcats did the same last year.
// PROTECT THIS HOUSE
Not only has Sunday been a fun day at home for the Bearcats under Stafford (21-0-2), but most days at Gettler Stadium fit the bill as well. Since the start of the 2013 season, the Bearcats have played 43 home matches, posting a 29-6-8 record in that time (.767 win percentage). Including 2017, UC has won at least four home contests each season with seven wins in 2014 and 2015, six in 2016, five so far this year and four in 2013. Also, in that time, UC has out-scored its guests, 81-31 (+50).
// CHASING WINS - SENIORS
The 2017 seniors have won 41 matches in their time at UC, which currently ranks tied for 17th 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 (they are at 7 so far), 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). The senior class also is now just three wins away from double-digit victories for the fourth year in a row, a feat that only has been accomplished four times in program history: 1983 (13-10-10-14), 1989 (13-10-10-14), 1997 (15-10-15-16) and 1998 (10-15-16-10).
// CHASING WINS - JUNIORS
So far, the junior class has recorded 31 victories in their time at UC, a total that ranks them tied for the 28th-most wins in program history. Three more wins would move them into the Top 25.
PREVIOUSLY NOTED
// LONG STREAK
Prior to the loss at LSU, the team's streak of seven in a row without a defeat stood in a tie for the ninth-best in program history. The 1994 team posted a 14-match streak (12-0-2) from match #8 through #21 while both the 1983 (10-0-3) and 1986 (12-0-1) sides put together 13-match runs, both between match #4 and #16 of their respective seasons. This is the second seven-match or better streak a Stafford-led Bearcats squad has amassed after the team went on a nine-match run in 2015, posting a 6-0-3 record in the process.
// MORE STREAKING
For the fourth year in a row, the Bearcats have recorded a run of five or matches in which they have gone undefeated. After not posting such a streak in Stafford's first year (2013), UC came back in 2014 with a five-match run (3-0-2) before posting its nine-match stretch in 2015 (6-0-3). Last year, the team had a run of six matches in a row without a defeat (5-0-1) before this year's current seven-match streak. Historically, this is just the second time the program has seen four seasons in a row with a five-match or better undefeated streak. The only other instance came in the programs first four years of play, posting streaks of five in 1980, six in 1981 and seven in both 1982 and 1983.
// WINS IN A ROW
The Bearcats had won four matches in a row, marking the 23rd time in program history that the team has won at least four matches in a row during one season. Not including the current streak, UC teams have posted win streaks of four (9 times), five (3), six (4), seven (3), nine (2) and 13 (1) since the program began in 1980.
// BEST START
With wins at NKU (Sept. 7) and home to Purdue (Sept. 10), the Bearcats improved to 6-0-1 on the year, their best start in program history. The previous mark was 5-0-1 by the 2010 side before they lost in their seventh match of the season. The start also is another improvement for a team under the direction of Neil Stafford, who took over after the 2012 season. In his first campaign, the Bearcats opened their first seven matches of the year with a 1-6-0 record and now, after 4, 4 and 5 wins in the first seven matches each of the last three years, the Bearcats are 6-0-1 under Stafford.
// MILESTONE - PROGRAM
The win over Purdue marked a pair of milestones as well. First, the win is the 375th in program history. The Bearcats now stand 375-272-59 all-time since becoming a varsity program in time for the start of the 1980 campaign. With the win, the Bearcats now have two milestone wins under Neil Stafford as they won, 3-2, at Duquesne on Sept. 13, 2015, for the program's 350th win.
// MILESTONE - STAFFORD
The second milestone hit in the win over Purdue was for Stafford, who recorded the 150th win of his coaching career. Currently in his 15th collegiate season and his fifth at Cincinnati, Stafford holds a 150-101-32 record as a collegiate women's coach and, with a 48-30-13 record, is approaching his 50th win with the Bearcats.
// 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.
// 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.
// 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.
// 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.
// 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.
// 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 was 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
Next week will feature just one match on the slate as Morehead State will pay a visit to Gettler Stadium for a 7 p.m. match with the Bearcats at Gettler Stadium. The prior to the match, the program will honor its six seniors players one student manager for their contributions to the program. The 2017 Seniors include Jaycie Brown, Katy Couperus, Lizzie Ehrnfelt, Julie Gavorski, Vanessa Gilles and Taylor Pavlika along with manager Alex Keller.