TicketsCINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati women's soccer team dropped its first conference match of the 2017 season Thursday afternoon at Houston as the #21 Bearcats fell to the Cougars, 2-1, on a late UH goal at the Carl Lewis Complex in Houston. The loss, which ended UC's second, seven-match undefeated streak of the season, sent the Bearcats' record to 11-2-3 overall and 4-1-2 in the American Athletic Conference while the Cougars improved to 6-8-1 overall and 2-5-0 in league play.
// QUICK NOTES
• The Bearcats slipped to 11-2-3 overall and 4-1-2 in the American while Houston improved to 6-8-1 overall and 2-5-0 in the American
• UC still leads the all-time series, 7-3-1, and is 3-2-0 in Houston all-time after winning the previous three meetings
• The loss snapped the Bearcats' seven match undefeated streak in which they had gone 5-0-2 in that time
• Sophie Gorman netted her fifth goal of the year to up her lead on the rest of the team (four are tied for second with three goals each)
• Jaycie Brown was credited with the assist on the goal, her second of the year
• Madison Less recorded six saves in the match, her second match in a row with at least six stops
• Vanessa Gilles played the entire 90 minutes and moved into first on the program's all-time minutes played list with 7,156 minutes played, surpassing former teammate Kayla Utley (2013-16), who tallied 7,101 minutes
// FIRST HALF
After a bit of settling in for both teams, UC started to take control and got the first shot off in the 10' as Katy Couperus moved toward a loose ball and ripped a shot from the top of the box that rang off the post and back into play. Then, three minutes later, Couperus put the ball back in play from near midfield and sent the ball inside the 18 yard box where Vanessa Gilles was waiting and put her head to the ball, a shot that was saved by the UH keeper.
UH had several chances as well, but Less was up to the task as she punched one attempt over the cross bar and saw her defense assist as well. In the 21', the Cougars fired a shot that Less blocked for a save. The rebound came back to a UH player who hit a shot toward the goal where Bri Costigan was on the line and knocked the ball away with her thigh to prevent a score and keep it at 0-0.
Later in the half, UC had a pair of strong chances off corner kicks from the familiar combination of Taylor Pavlika to Gilles. Pavlika played the ball in during an attempt in the 35' with Gilles getting her head on the pass that UH keeper Rachel Estopare punched over the bar. Then, in the 42', Gilles' header attempt was cleared off the line after an initial hand was put to the ball by Estopare. The period ended with UC leading in shots, 13-10, and corner kicks, 5-2.
// SECOND HALF
Following the scoreless first half, the Bearcats came out aggressively and that eventually paid off as UC took a 1-0 lead in the 56'. With UC driving closer to the goal, Brown moved the ball down the right side and fed a pass to the center of the six-yard box where Gorman was rushing toward. From there, the freshman redirected the pass into the netting to grab her team-high fifth goal of the year. After several other chances to score, the Cougars turned the tables and drew level in the 66' as Vanessa Almaguer redirected a pass that slipped by Less and toward the goal. Try as the might, the UC defenders in the area could not clear the ball from the line before it rolled over, giving the hosts a goal and knotting the match at 1-1.
The Bearcats continued to press forward and built up for several attacks, but were unable to get a good shot on frame. Nearing the final minute, UC pushed forward, only to see the ball stolen and sent down the pitch. Jazmin Grant moved in on goal and slipped a pass across the goal frame where Mia Brascia one-timed the pass into the net to give the hosts a 2-1 lead with just 48 seconds remaining as the goal came at 89:12 on the clock.
// NEXT MATCH
The Bearcats will now head to Dallas for a Sunday match with SMU that is set to begin at 1 p.m. CT (2 p.m. ET) at Westcott Field. The match will be the final regular season road match on the 2017 slate for the Bearcats.
// 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.
// QUICK NOTES
• The Bearcats slipped to 11-2-3 overall and 4-1-2 in the American while Houston improved to 6-8-1 overall and 2-5-0 in the American
• UC still leads the all-time series, 7-3-1, and is 3-2-0 in Houston all-time after winning the previous three meetings
• The loss snapped the Bearcats' seven match undefeated streak in which they had gone 5-0-2 in that time
• Sophie Gorman netted her fifth goal of the year to up her lead on the rest of the team (four are tied for second with three goals each)
• Jaycie Brown was credited with the assist on the goal, her second of the year
• Madison Less recorded six saves in the match, her second match in a row with at least six stops
• Vanessa Gilles played the entire 90 minutes and moved into first on the program's all-time minutes played list with 7,156 minutes played, surpassing former teammate Kayla Utley (2013-16), who tallied 7,101 minutes
// FIRST HALF
After a bit of settling in for both teams, UC started to take control and got the first shot off in the 10' as Katy Couperus moved toward a loose ball and ripped a shot from the top of the box that rang off the post and back into play. Then, three minutes later, Couperus put the ball back in play from near midfield and sent the ball inside the 18 yard box where Vanessa Gilles was waiting and put her head to the ball, a shot that was saved by the UH keeper.
UH had several chances as well, but Less was up to the task as she punched one attempt over the cross bar and saw her defense assist as well. In the 21', the Cougars fired a shot that Less blocked for a save. The rebound came back to a UH player who hit a shot toward the goal where Bri Costigan was on the line and knocked the ball away with her thigh to prevent a score and keep it at 0-0.
Later in the half, UC had a pair of strong chances off corner kicks from the familiar combination of Taylor Pavlika to Gilles. Pavlika played the ball in during an attempt in the 35' with Gilles getting her head on the pass that UH keeper Rachel Estopare punched over the bar. Then, in the 42', Gilles' header attempt was cleared off the line after an initial hand was put to the ball by Estopare. The period ended with UC leading in shots, 13-10, and corner kicks, 5-2.
// SECOND HALF
Following the scoreless first half, the Bearcats came out aggressively and that eventually paid off as UC took a 1-0 lead in the 56'. With UC driving closer to the goal, Brown moved the ball down the right side and fed a pass to the center of the six-yard box where Gorman was rushing toward. From there, the freshman redirected the pass into the netting to grab her team-high fifth goal of the year. After several other chances to score, the Cougars turned the tables and drew level in the 66' as Vanessa Almaguer redirected a pass that slipped by Less and toward the goal. Try as the might, the UC defenders in the area could not clear the ball from the line before it rolled over, giving the hosts a goal and knotting the match at 1-1.
The Bearcats continued to press forward and built up for several attacks, but were unable to get a good shot on frame. Nearing the final minute, UC pushed forward, only to see the ball stolen and sent down the pitch. Jazmin Grant moved in on goal and slipped a pass across the goal frame where Mia Brascia one-timed the pass into the net to give the hosts a 2-1 lead with just 48 seconds remaining as the goal came at 89:12 on the clock.
// NEXT MATCH
The Bearcats will now head to Dallas for a Sunday match with SMU that is set to begin at 1 p.m. CT (2 p.m. ET) at Westcott Field. The match will be the final regular season road match on the 2017 slate for the Bearcats.
// 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.