TicketsCINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati women's soccer team scored a big victory on the road Sunday afternoon in Evanston, Ill., as the Bearcats, who trailed, 1-0, at halftime, battled back to defeat Northwestern, the reigning Big Ten Conference Champion, 2-1. Julie Gavorski tallied both goals for the Bearcats to help UC overcome its second halftime deficit of the year and move to 4-0-1 overall while the Wildcats fell to 2-2-1 following their first home loss since October 12, 2014.
"I am really happy for the program today," Head Coach Neil Stafford said following the victory. "It was a great result to get all three points at a very hard-working, organized Northwestern side. It's nice finally seeing us have a bit of quality in the final third of the field and scoring two great goals. I told the players at halftime that someone needs to step up and give us that little bit of quality to drag us over the line. It was nice for Julie to be able to showcase her talent and score the goals we needed today."
The Bearcats are no strangers to staying in the fight and bouncing back as this marks the second time in 2017 they have found a way back from a second half deficit. On August 24, UC trailed visiting Pittsburgh, 1-0, at the break and fell behind, 2-0, early in the second half before Vanessa Gilles found the back of the net twice to help the Bearcats salvage a tie and remain undefeated. This time, it was fellow senior Gavorski who knocked in a pair to not only erase the deficit, but also give UC the lead and, eventually, the victory.
"Playing Northwestern at their place is very difficult, so to come from behind speaks volumes about the character and mentality to these players and coaches," Stafford said. "Apart from the 'Fight to the Finish' attitude these players have, I thought we did well after halftime to adjust and to keep more possession. We did well getting into pockets of space which they weren't closing down and I thought we ran their backs ragged. Our fitness played a big part. Although shaky once or twice today, Jane Sensibaugh deserves a lot of credit for staying focused. I think there was a huge lesson for her today and she got better from this experience."
With the win, the Bearcats joined the 2010 squad with matching 4-0-1 records for the second-best start in program history (the 1980 team opened 5-0-0). Two other teams also opened 3-0-1, but fell in the fifth match, including the 1996 team that dropped a 2-1 decision at Northwestern to slip to 3-1-1 on the year.
"This was a great win for our program today and I'm spirited to hear that all the players that stayed behind got together to watch the game," Stafford said. "That in itself speaks volumes about the character of the kids we have. Now, it's time to focus on a good Northern Kentucky side in the local derby this Thursday and it will be important for us to keep this momentum going."
// QUICK NOTES
• The Bearcats are now 4-0-1 on the season while the Wildcats slipped to 2-2-1
• UC evened the all-time series with NU at 2-2-1 with the victory
• The win helped UC to the second-best five-match start in program history as this year's squad and the 2010 team both improved to 4-0-1 after opening the year 3-0-1
• The loss for Northwestern was its first at home since October 12, 2014
• This is the second time a UC side has entered a road match at Northwestern with a 3-0-1 record with the 1996 Bearcats falling, 2-1 in the first instance
• Julie Gavorski tallied her 19th and 20th career goals in the match, needing just three more this year to crack the program's all-time Top 10 in career scores
• Gavorski's second goal of the match goes down as the game-winner, which is the 9th off her career, tying her for fifth all-time in UC history with Julie Morrissey (2008-10)
• On the second goal of the match, Sophie Gorman was credited with the assist, the first of her collegiate career
• Jane Sensibaugh (1 GA, 2 saves) allowed the first goal of her career at 40:43 in the first half and saw her scoreless streak to open her career come to an end at 220:43 after posting back-to-back shutouts in her first two starts
// FIRST HALF RECAP
The Bearcats applied pressure to the hosts from the opening whistle and got the first few chances on goal as both Cassie Wheldeon and Jaycie Brown saw their shots saved. In the 9', NU had its first attempt to break the tie as a corner kick was sent into the box and headed on goal, only to see the ball deflect down toward the line where Sensibaugh cleared the ball for her first save of the match.
In the 20', Vanessa Gilles had a chance at giving UC an early lead as a corner kick from Taylor Pavlika was played into the box and Gilles put her head on the ball, but it was deflected out by the NU defense. In the 37', the Bearcats drew a pair of corner kicks, but were unable to get a clean look on goal before the ball was cleared out only to see Julie Gavorski launch a shot from deep that was saved as well.
Then, in the 41', the hosts broke the scoreless draw as a ball was played into the Bearcats' defensive third. Sensibaugh came off her line to try and gather the ball, but NU's Kayla Sharples just got her head onto the ball and flicked it past the UC keeper for a 1-0 lead. The goal allowed was the first by Sensibaugh and came in her third start and 220:43 of scoreless play to open her collegiate career.
// SECOND HALF RECAP
Early in the second half, the hosts drove down the field and threatened once again, but UC turned things around and made their own moves on goal. The 48' provided a bit of foreshadowing for later in the match as Gorman played a pass into Gavorski who, in turn, ripped a shot that just missed and bounded into the side netting. But, just four minutes later (52'), Gavorski hit the mark for her first goal as she collected the ball at the top of the box, turned and sent a screamer into the upper 90 to draw the match at 1-1.
From there, both teams began to find more shots with the hosts nearly connecting on several occasions. In the 55', the Wildcats let fly two shots in a row that the UC defense turned away. Then, in the 66', NU had a diving header in the box that slipped just wide. That was followed in the 68' with a corner kick swung into the box and a pair of shots being either deflected or cleared from the line by the Bearcats' back line to keep the match square.
After a couple more Wildcats headers missed their mark, UC pushed forward and found their winning touch. Gorman carried the ball and danced through traffic and, when met in the box by a defender, slid a pass to Gavorski, who calmly buried a shot from the middle of the area to give the Bearcats a 2-1 lead. That goal, which goes down as the game winner, give Gavorski 20 career goals and moved her into a tie for fifth on the program's all-time game-winning goals list with Julie Morrissey (2008-10).
Following the goal, the hosts continued to apply pressure, but were unable to score the equalizer as the defense, backed by Sensibaugh, kept NU off the board the rest of the way. With the win, Sensibaugh moves to 3-0-0 on the year.
// NEXT MATCH
A pair of matches await the Bearcats this week as both will come inside the tri-state area. First, UC will cross the river and head to Highland Heights, Ky., Thursday night for a 7 p.m. match at Northern Kentucky in the second annual Riverboat Rivalry match. Then, UC will be back at home Sunday at 1 p.m. with Purdue coming to Gettler Stadium.
// 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.
"I am really happy for the program today," Head Coach Neil Stafford said following the victory. "It was a great result to get all three points at a very hard-working, organized Northwestern side. It's nice finally seeing us have a bit of quality in the final third of the field and scoring two great goals. I told the players at halftime that someone needs to step up and give us that little bit of quality to drag us over the line. It was nice for Julie to be able to showcase her talent and score the goals we needed today."
The Bearcats are no strangers to staying in the fight and bouncing back as this marks the second time in 2017 they have found a way back from a second half deficit. On August 24, UC trailed visiting Pittsburgh, 1-0, at the break and fell behind, 2-0, early in the second half before Vanessa Gilles found the back of the net twice to help the Bearcats salvage a tie and remain undefeated. This time, it was fellow senior Gavorski who knocked in a pair to not only erase the deficit, but also give UC the lead and, eventually, the victory.
"Playing Northwestern at their place is very difficult, so to come from behind speaks volumes about the character and mentality to these players and coaches," Stafford said. "Apart from the 'Fight to the Finish' attitude these players have, I thought we did well after halftime to adjust and to keep more possession. We did well getting into pockets of space which they weren't closing down and I thought we ran their backs ragged. Our fitness played a big part. Although shaky once or twice today, Jane Sensibaugh deserves a lot of credit for staying focused. I think there was a huge lesson for her today and she got better from this experience."
With the win, the Bearcats joined the 2010 squad with matching 4-0-1 records for the second-best start in program history (the 1980 team opened 5-0-0). Two other teams also opened 3-0-1, but fell in the fifth match, including the 1996 team that dropped a 2-1 decision at Northwestern to slip to 3-1-1 on the year.
"This was a great win for our program today and I'm spirited to hear that all the players that stayed behind got together to watch the game," Stafford said. "That in itself speaks volumes about the character of the kids we have. Now, it's time to focus on a good Northern Kentucky side in the local derby this Thursday and it will be important for us to keep this momentum going."
// QUICK NOTES
• The Bearcats are now 4-0-1 on the season while the Wildcats slipped to 2-2-1
• UC evened the all-time series with NU at 2-2-1 with the victory
• The win helped UC to the second-best five-match start in program history as this year's squad and the 2010 team both improved to 4-0-1 after opening the year 3-0-1
• The loss for Northwestern was its first at home since October 12, 2014
• This is the second time a UC side has entered a road match at Northwestern with a 3-0-1 record with the 1996 Bearcats falling, 2-1 in the first instance
• Julie Gavorski tallied her 19th and 20th career goals in the match, needing just three more this year to crack the program's all-time Top 10 in career scores
• Gavorski's second goal of the match goes down as the game-winner, which is the 9th off her career, tying her for fifth all-time in UC history with Julie Morrissey (2008-10)
• On the second goal of the match, Sophie Gorman was credited with the assist, the first of her collegiate career
• Jane Sensibaugh (1 GA, 2 saves) allowed the first goal of her career at 40:43 in the first half and saw her scoreless streak to open her career come to an end at 220:43 after posting back-to-back shutouts in her first two starts
// FIRST HALF RECAP
The Bearcats applied pressure to the hosts from the opening whistle and got the first few chances on goal as both Cassie Wheldeon and Jaycie Brown saw their shots saved. In the 9', NU had its first attempt to break the tie as a corner kick was sent into the box and headed on goal, only to see the ball deflect down toward the line where Sensibaugh cleared the ball for her first save of the match.
In the 20', Vanessa Gilles had a chance at giving UC an early lead as a corner kick from Taylor Pavlika was played into the box and Gilles put her head on the ball, but it was deflected out by the NU defense. In the 37', the Bearcats drew a pair of corner kicks, but were unable to get a clean look on goal before the ball was cleared out only to see Julie Gavorski launch a shot from deep that was saved as well.
Then, in the 41', the hosts broke the scoreless draw as a ball was played into the Bearcats' defensive third. Sensibaugh came off her line to try and gather the ball, but NU's Kayla Sharples just got her head onto the ball and flicked it past the UC keeper for a 1-0 lead. The goal allowed was the first by Sensibaugh and came in her third start and 220:43 of scoreless play to open her collegiate career.
// SECOND HALF RECAP
Early in the second half, the hosts drove down the field and threatened once again, but UC turned things around and made their own moves on goal. The 48' provided a bit of foreshadowing for later in the match as Gorman played a pass into Gavorski who, in turn, ripped a shot that just missed and bounded into the side netting. But, just four minutes later (52'), Gavorski hit the mark for her first goal as she collected the ball at the top of the box, turned and sent a screamer into the upper 90 to draw the match at 1-1.
From there, both teams began to find more shots with the hosts nearly connecting on several occasions. In the 55', the Wildcats let fly two shots in a row that the UC defense turned away. Then, in the 66', NU had a diving header in the box that slipped just wide. That was followed in the 68' with a corner kick swung into the box and a pair of shots being either deflected or cleared from the line by the Bearcats' back line to keep the match square.
After a couple more Wildcats headers missed their mark, UC pushed forward and found their winning touch. Gorman carried the ball and danced through traffic and, when met in the box by a defender, slid a pass to Gavorski, who calmly buried a shot from the middle of the area to give the Bearcats a 2-1 lead. That goal, which goes down as the game winner, give Gavorski 20 career goals and moved her into a tie for fifth on the program's all-time game-winning goals list with Julie Morrissey (2008-10).
Following the goal, the hosts continued to apply pressure, but were unable to score the equalizer as the defense, backed by Sensibaugh, kept NU off the board the rest of the way. With the win, Sensibaugh moves to 3-0-0 on the year.
// NEXT MATCH
A pair of matches await the Bearcats this week as both will come inside the tri-state area. First, UC will cross the river and head to Highland Heights, Ky., Thursday night for a 7 p.m. match at Northern Kentucky in the second annual Riverboat Rivalry match. Then, UC will be back at home Sunday at 1 p.m. with Purdue coming to Gettler Stadium.
// 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.