TicketsCINCINNATI - Despite a constant deluge of rain in the area and dropping temperatures, the University of Cincinnati women's soccer team made sure it didn't drop its third contest in a row as the Bearcats prevailed over visiting ECU, 1-0, Friday night at Gettler Stadium. Sophie Gorman notched the lone score of the night to help the Bearcats close the regular season with a 12-3-3 overall record, a 5-2-2 mark in the American Athletic Conference and an 8-0-3 home record, the first undefeated home slate since 1996 for UC. The loss ended the Pirates' season with a 6-10-2 record and a 1-8-0 mark in the league.
Gorman, who tallied in the 42' of play to eventually give the Bearcats the win, netted her sixth goal of the year and her third game-winner of her rookie campaign, both of which lead the team. In fact, the true freshman both opened and closed the regular season scoring for the Bearcats as she scored the winner in a 1-0 victory over Buffalo to open the season before closing it out tonight with her strike.
// QUICK NOTES
• The Bearcats finished the regular season with a 12-3-3 overall record and a 5-2-2 mark in the AAC while the Pirates closed their season with a 6-10-2 record and 1-8-0 mark in the conference
• Cincinnati moved to 7-1-1 all-time against ECU, has won four in a row in the series, all by way of shutout, and is now 4-1-0 all-time when the series is contested in Cincinnati
• With its 8-0-3 home record this year, UC finished off just the fifth time in program history and the first since the 1996 squad went 7-0-2
• The eight home wins stand as a single-season record for the Bearcats, surpassing the previous mark of seven recorded by 10 others
• With the three points, the Bearcats finished with 17 points and third place overall in the AAC standings, setting up a quarterfinal match with sixth-seeded SMU Wednesday in Orlando at 4:30 p.m. on the American Digital Network
• The five conference wins marks the second time in three years UC has accomplished that feat and just the third time the Bearcats have one five or more league contests in a season since winning six in 2002
• Sophie Gorman netted her team-leading sixth goal of the year and team-lead-tying third game-winner
• Gorman's game-winner book-ended the regular season for the Bearcats as she tallied in a 1-0 win over Buffalo to open the year
• Madison Less posted six saves to earn her seventh shutout of the year while helping the Bearcats to their league-best 11th
• The Bearcats shutout eight opponents at home this year, tying the 2015 team for the most in a single season
• The five goals allowed at home this season ties as the ninth-fewest in program history and marks the fourth year in a row that a Stafford-guided side has allowed six or few in a home season
• The senior class ends their home campaign with several records, including a program-record 27 shutouts (19 is second place by the 1985 and 2016 classes) while the 20 goals they allowed in four years ranks as the seventh-best in program history for a senior class
// FIRST HALF
Cincinnati got off to an early start and nearly took the lead in the second minute as Gabrielle LoPresti moved into the box and was taken down inside the area to draw a penalty kick. LoPresti took the spot kick for the Bearcats, but ECU keeper Michelle Newhouse guessed correctly and dove to her left to make the save and prevent the hosts for an early lead. Several minutes later, UC was back in on the attack, this time with Jordan Cotleur getting in behind the defense where she tried to chip the keeper, only to see her shot turned away.
After both teams pressed high and forced the back and forth action, the Bearcats came out with what would be the lone goal. In the 42', UC stole the ball away and saw Katy Couperus line up a shot from distance. Couperus fired toward the goal and saw her shot blocked by a defender with the ball going directly to Gorman at the top of the box. From there, Gorman immediately one-timed the ball and sent it over the keeper's head, just under the cross bar, and into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead at the break.
// SECOND HALF
The second half saw much of the same, including an increase the rain fall that continued to soak the stadium. UC had two very strong chances in the final 45, starting in the 58'. Lizzie Ehrnfelt was taken down on the side line, drawing a free kick. Couperus took the set piece and offered up a lob into the box where Cassie Wheldon was waiting near the back post and put her head on the ball. Wheldon's shot, however, rang off the crossbar and back into play. Then, in the 82', freshman Lexie Kolano had a go as she moved toward the top of the box and slid a hard shot skipping across the pitch toward the far post only to see Newhouse record her fifth save of the night.
Madison Less was stellar in the goal once again as she recorded six saves to pick up her sixth win of the year while posting her league-leading seventh shutout and the team's AAC-best 11th clean sheet of the season. The Bearcats out-shot the Pirates, 14-8, while also earning the advantage in corner kicks, 8-2.
// NEXT MATCH
The American Athletic Conference Tournament awaits the Bearcats as they will travel to Orlando, Fla., for a quarterfinal match Wednesday, November 1, at 4:30 p.m. against SMU. The Bearcats, who finished third in the league standings, will be the third seed in the playoffs while the Mustangs, who clinched the final berth Thursday night with a win over Houston, earned the six seed. UCF will be the host of the tournament after winning the regular season title while USF (2nd), Memphis (4th) and UConn (5th) will round out the tournament field. The semifinals will be contested Friday and the championship match 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.
Gorman, who tallied in the 42' of play to eventually give the Bearcats the win, netted her sixth goal of the year and her third game-winner of her rookie campaign, both of which lead the team. In fact, the true freshman both opened and closed the regular season scoring for the Bearcats as she scored the winner in a 1-0 victory over Buffalo to open the season before closing it out tonight with her strike.
// QUICK NOTES
• The Bearcats finished the regular season with a 12-3-3 overall record and a 5-2-2 mark in the AAC while the Pirates closed their season with a 6-10-2 record and 1-8-0 mark in the conference
• Cincinnati moved to 7-1-1 all-time against ECU, has won four in a row in the series, all by way of shutout, and is now 4-1-0 all-time when the series is contested in Cincinnati
• With its 8-0-3 home record this year, UC finished off just the fifth time in program history and the first since the 1996 squad went 7-0-2
• The eight home wins stand as a single-season record for the Bearcats, surpassing the previous mark of seven recorded by 10 others
• With the three points, the Bearcats finished with 17 points and third place overall in the AAC standings, setting up a quarterfinal match with sixth-seeded SMU Wednesday in Orlando at 4:30 p.m. on the American Digital Network
• The five conference wins marks the second time in three years UC has accomplished that feat and just the third time the Bearcats have one five or more league contests in a season since winning six in 2002
• Sophie Gorman netted her team-leading sixth goal of the year and team-lead-tying third game-winner
• Gorman's game-winner book-ended the regular season for the Bearcats as she tallied in a 1-0 win over Buffalo to open the year
• Madison Less posted six saves to earn her seventh shutout of the year while helping the Bearcats to their league-best 11th
• The Bearcats shutout eight opponents at home this year, tying the 2015 team for the most in a single season
• The five goals allowed at home this season ties as the ninth-fewest in program history and marks the fourth year in a row that a Stafford-guided side has allowed six or few in a home season
• The senior class ends their home campaign with several records, including a program-record 27 shutouts (19 is second place by the 1985 and 2016 classes) while the 20 goals they allowed in four years ranks as the seventh-best in program history for a senior class
// FIRST HALF
Cincinnati got off to an early start and nearly took the lead in the second minute as Gabrielle LoPresti moved into the box and was taken down inside the area to draw a penalty kick. LoPresti took the spot kick for the Bearcats, but ECU keeper Michelle Newhouse guessed correctly and dove to her left to make the save and prevent the hosts for an early lead. Several minutes later, UC was back in on the attack, this time with Jordan Cotleur getting in behind the defense where she tried to chip the keeper, only to see her shot turned away.
After both teams pressed high and forced the back and forth action, the Bearcats came out with what would be the lone goal. In the 42', UC stole the ball away and saw Katy Couperus line up a shot from distance. Couperus fired toward the goal and saw her shot blocked by a defender with the ball going directly to Gorman at the top of the box. From there, Gorman immediately one-timed the ball and sent it over the keeper's head, just under the cross bar, and into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead at the break.
// SECOND HALF
The second half saw much of the same, including an increase the rain fall that continued to soak the stadium. UC had two very strong chances in the final 45, starting in the 58'. Lizzie Ehrnfelt was taken down on the side line, drawing a free kick. Couperus took the set piece and offered up a lob into the box where Cassie Wheldon was waiting near the back post and put her head on the ball. Wheldon's shot, however, rang off the crossbar and back into play. Then, in the 82', freshman Lexie Kolano had a go as she moved toward the top of the box and slid a hard shot skipping across the pitch toward the far post only to see Newhouse record her fifth save of the night.
Madison Less was stellar in the goal once again as she recorded six saves to pick up her sixth win of the year while posting her league-leading seventh shutout and the team's AAC-best 11th clean sheet of the season. The Bearcats out-shot the Pirates, 14-8, while also earning the advantage in corner kicks, 8-2.
// NEXT MATCH
The American Athletic Conference Tournament awaits the Bearcats as they will travel to Orlando, Fla., for a quarterfinal match Wednesday, November 1, at 4:30 p.m. against SMU. The Bearcats, who finished third in the league standings, will be the third seed in the playoffs while the Mustangs, who clinched the final berth Thursday night with a win over Houston, earned the six seed. UCF will be the host of the tournament after winning the regular season title while USF (2nd), Memphis (4th) and UConn (5th) will round out the tournament field. The semifinals will be contested Friday and the championship match 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.