Tickets// THE OPENING WHISTLE
The University of Cincinnati women's soccer team, which is now ranked in the Top 25 of all three national rankings for the first time this year, will look to continue its winning ways Friday night when the Eagles of Morehead State pay a visit to Gettler Stadium for a 7 p.m. Senior Night match. The Bearcats enter the match with a 9-1-2 overall record and continue to sit atop the table in the American Athletic Conference with #10 UCF at 3-0-1 while the Eagles come to town with a 3-8-1 overall mark and sit tied for sixth in the Ohio Valley Conference with a 2-3-1 record.
// 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
All home matches in 2017 will once again be streamed live on GoBearcats.com and, this year, will all be free. The link to the stream can be found on the women's soccer schedule page. On the same page, links to live statistics can also be found.
// SENIOR SENDOFF
While it will not be the final home match of their careers, six senior players and one student manager will be recognized Friday night after the match concludes as part of Senior Night. The group that will be honored includes student-athletes Jaycie Brown, Katy Couperus, Lizzie Ehrnfelt, Julie Gavorski, Vanessa Gilles and Taylor Pavlika and student manager Alex Keller.
// QUICK SHOTS
• Overall, Cincinnati is 9-1-2 on the year, is undefeated in its last four and winners of three in a row
• The Bearcats are 3-0-1 in the American Athletic Conference and their 10 points have them tied with #10 UCF as table toppers through two weeks of conference play
• UC made its debut in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 and Soccer America's Top 25 this week, coming in at #22 in both, while ranking #20 in Top Drawer Soccer's Top 25
• The Bearcats are ranked in the national coaches' poll for the first time since 2002 when UC was #24 heading into the NCAA Tournament according to the NSCAA (now USC)
• UC is coming off a 2-0-0 weekend on the road with a 1-0 win at UConn and a 3-0 win at Temple
• The road win over the Huskies also was the 50th of Neil Stafford's UC coaching career
• The win at UConn is the first in program history for UC (1-3-1 all-time in Storrs) and, combined with the win at Temple, gave UC its first weekend conference road sweep (two wins) since 2002
• The Bearcats have posted shutouts in four-consecutive matches, which is only the eighth time the team has kept a clean sheet in four or more matches in a row in program history and the first since the 2002 season
• Three players scored their first goals with UC: Vetere at UConn and both Lowell and Kolano at Temple with the goals from Lowell and Kolano being the first of their collegiate careers
• Should UC win Friday, it would mark the fourth year in a row the Bearcats have posted a double-digit win total and the first time since 1994-98 (five years) that the program has done so
• The Bearcats currently rank in the Top 14 nationally (and lead the American Athletic Conference) in four statistical categories: #8 in goals against average (.402), #10 in shutout percentage (66.7), #12 in save percentage (87.8) and #14 in win percentage (83.3)
// FEELING 22
For the first time this season and the first time since 2002, the Bearcats found their name listed in the United Soccer Coaches (formerly NSCAA) Top 25 rankings, coming in at #22 this week. The same ranking was attained in Soccer America's rankings, the first time UC has entered that listing this year as well. The Bearcats remained in the Top Drawer Soccer Top 25 for the fourth week in a row, moving up one spot to #20 this week. UC and UCF (#10/#18/#21) are the only American Athletic Conference teams ranked this week.
// RPI RISING
For the third week in a row, the Bearcats' RPI ranking rose to a record level, this time the #11 position following a pair of wins on the road last week in conference. This ranking comes one week after sitting #12 and two weeks removed from being at #20. The #11 ranking now sees the program's astronomical rise of 216 spots from #227 when Neil Stafford took over the program prior to the start of the 2013 season. Looking at the rest of the teams in the current RPI, the Bearcats are 3-1-1 against teams currently in the Top 50, including wins over #28 Purdue, #37 Northwestern and #41 USF, a tie with #5 UCF and loss at #19 LSU. UC also is 1-0-1 against the Top 100 with a draw to #71 Pittsburgh and win over #100 Boston University.
// QUICK RECAP: SWEEPING SUCCESS
• Cincinnati went 2-0-0 on its road trip last week, handing UConn a 1-0 loss before defeating Temple, 3-0, to post the first sweep of those two schools (home or away) in AAC play
• At UConn, Katy Couperus fired a shot from distance that drilled the crossbar and came right to the feet of Jill Vetere, who volleyed the ball out of the air and into the net in the 66' for her first UC goal and, eventually, the game-winner
• Madison Less recorded 1 save against the Huskies while the UC defense blocked six shots in front of her to help the redshirt freshman to her league-leading fifth shutout of 2017
• At Temple, the Bearcats exploded for a season-high three goals with rookies Kiki Lowell and Lexie Kolano scoring the first and third goals of the match, respectively, with both netting their first career collegiate goals
• Jordan Cotleur added the second goal of the match, her first of the year
• Claudia Eustaquio got the start in goal and made three saves for her first shutout as a Bearcat (sixth overall including her five at Detroit in 2015) in her first action since September 5, 2016
// HONORS
Following their play this weekend, a pair of Bearcats were honored by the American Athletic Conference in the league's weekly awards release. Kiki Lowell was named the Defensive Player of the Week for the second week in a row after she played all 180 minutes over the weekend, anchored the defense to two more shutouts and added her first collegiate goal, the game-winner at Temple. Jill Vetere, who also scored her first goal with the Bearcats, gave UC a 1-0 win at UConn and landed the junior transfer on the Honor Roll.
// BREAKING OUT BROOMS
With their wins at both UConn and Temple over the weekend, the Bearcats did something they had not done since the 2002 season: win both legs of a conference road trip in the same weekend. The last time it happened, UC first handed Marquette a 1-0 loss in overtime on October 18, 2002, before stopping in Chicago to down DePaul, 2-0, on October 20, 2002. Those matches were part of play in Conference USA.
// DOING LAUNDRY
In the last four matches, all of which have come against AAC foes, the Bearcats have not allowed a goal, recording four-consecutive clean sheets. Not only is the four-match streak the first recorded by the Bearcats under Stafford, it also is the first since the 2002 season and just the eighth time in program history. The 2002 team had an eight match streak with the 2001 and 1982 squads posting seven-match streaks. This year's squad joins the 1983, 1984, 1986 and 1989 teams with four-match streaks. A shutout against Morehead State would be the fourth-longest streak in program history.
// GOING STREAKING
Speaking of long streaks, the two shutouts over the weekend extended the team's current consecutive minutes streak of not allowing a goal to 426:23, the third-longest in program history (since records were available from 2001 to present) and is the longest under Stafford. The last time a ball got past the Bearcats and into the netting was at the 43:37 mark of the first half at LSU when the Tigers scored the eventual game-winner in UC's lone loss this year. Since then, UC has shutout UCF (0-0), USF (1-0), UConn (1-0) and Temple (3-0).
// KNOW THE FOE: MOREHEAD STATE
• The Eagles enter the contest with a 3-8-1 overall record and 2-3-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference
• UC and MSU share one common opponent in Northern Kentucky: the Bearcats won, 1-0, at NKU earlier this year while the Eagles lost, 2-1, at home to the Norse
• Despite their record, the Eagles are 2-1-1 in their last four with a 4-2 home win over UT Martin and a 3-1 road win at Eastern Illinois and a 1-1 draw with SEMO (L, 3-0 at SIU Edwardsville)
• Cara Maher leads the scoring with a team-high three goals and seven points while three others have each scored two goals as well
• Michelle Washburn has seen all the action in goal this year and has a 1.70 goals against average after allowing 21 goals in 1113 minutes of play while stopping 69 shots as well
// IN THE SERIES: BEARCATS vs. EAGLES
• Cincinnati leads the all-time series with Morehead State, 5-0-0, and is 3-0-0 at home
• The Bearcats won the last meeting, 2-1, in Cincinnati on August 20, 2010
• The Bearcats hold a 25-2 scoring advantage in the series with three shutout wins (4-0, 6-0 and 10-0) along with wins of 3-1 and 2-1
• Prior to the meeting in 2010, the two teams had played in four of UC's first five varsity seasons (1980, 1982, 1983 and 1984) with each team hosting two matches
// ACCOUNTS OPENED
So far this year, five players have scored their first goals for the Bearcats with four of those being true freshmen securing their first collegiate goals. Sophie Gorman led the way with her first goal in the season-opening 1-0 win against Buffalo and has added two more goals and team-high-tying two assists to her ledger. Two weeks ago, Karli Royer joining the scoring list as her corner kick made its way into the goal for a 1-0 win over USF. Last week, Jill Vetere (junior) scored at UConn for her first tally after transferring into the program before Kiki Lowell and Lexie Kolano scored at Temple for their firsts.
// LOTS OF WINS
With the 1-0 win over UConn on the road, the Bearcats not only secured their first win in program history in Storrs (1-3-1), they also captured the 50th win of Neil Stafford's UC coaching career. This milestone comes three weeks after Stafford's side won, 2-1, over Purdue to give the gaffer his 150th career coaching victory while also securing the 375th win in UC history.
// 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).
// FRIENDLY CONFINES
In their first five seasons (including 2017 so far), Stafford and his staff have accumulated 29 home wins, the most of any UC women's soccer coach in his/her first five seasons. Meridy Glenn's teams from 1983 to 1987 won 28 matches and posted a .853 win percentage (28-4-2) in her first five seasons.
// CHASING WINS - SENIORS
The 2017 seniors have won 43 matches in their time at UC, which currently ranks tied for 12th on the all-time class wins list. Having won 10, 13 and 11 matches in the last three seasons and 9 already in 2017, the seniors now need just four more wins to reach 47 and crack into the Top 10 in program history (would tie for 8th with the 1996, 1989 and 1983 teams). The senior class also is now just one win 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 33 victories in their time at UC, a total that ranks them tied for the 26th-most wins in program history. One more wins would move them into the Top 25.
// BEEN A WHILE
Kiki Lowell's goal was assisted by Cassie Wheldon, giving the junior her first assist since the 2015 season. Wheldon, who one-timed a pass from Taylor Pavlika's corner kick into the box that was then redirected by Lowell, last recorded a helper on November 8, 2015, as she played a through ball to Jaycie Brown who chipped the USF keeper to tie the match at 1-1 in the 88'. The match was the AAC Championship Final that UC eventually won, 4-2, on penalties to grab the league title and its first NCAA berth since 2002.
// LESS LEADING
So far this year, Madison Less has seen the majority of playing time in goal, splitting time with both Jane Sensibaugh and Claudia Eustaquio in 2017. Less has played 670 minutes, made 21 saves and allowed just three goals for a miniscule 0.40 goals against average. The redshirt freshman has tallied a league-best five shutouts, which also ranks her 28th nationally, while sitting second in goals against average (eighth nationally) and save percentage at 87.5 (16th nationally).
// BEEN A WHILE - PART II
Speaking of Eustaquio, the redshirt sophomore got the call in goal Sunday at Temple and turned in three saves to record a clean sheet in UC's 3-0 win. That shutout was the first of her UC career and the sixth overall after she tallied five with Detroit as a freshman. The match at Temple was just the fifth of Eustaquio's UC career and her first since September 5 last year when an injury sidelined her the rest of the way. Oddly enough, in the five matches she has played for the Bearcats, all five have come on the road.
// THAT MAKES THREE
Following the 3-0 win at Temple, the Bearcats not only have eight shutouts recorded this season, but have done so with three different keepers. Less leads the way with five clean sheets while Sensibaugh has recorded two and Eustaquio one. All told, the trio has recorded 36 saves and allowed just five goals scored in 1120 minutes of play.
// GILLES GETTING UP THERE
Last week, Vanessa Gilles earned her 75th career start, which moved her into a tie with Heather Herweh (1999-02) for the ninth-most in program history. She is now just five starts away from tying for eighth with Stacey Kyser (1999-02) with 80 career starts. Gilles also continues to climb higher on the career minutes ledger as she currently sits second all-time with 6,866 minutes played and is chasing only her former backline teammate, Kayla Utley, who played 7,101 minutes from 2013-16.
// PLAYING IT CLOSE
The Bearcats have played 12 matches do far in 2017 with eight being decided by one goal. On those matches, UC has posted a 7-1 record with the lone loss coming in a 1-0 setback on the road to LSU. The two matches not ending tied or decided by one goal this year was a 2-0 victory over visiting Boston University the opening weekend and last week's 3-0 win at Temple.
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.
// 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
The Bearcats return to conference action next week with a pair of AAC foes set to visit Gettler Stadium. First, the Bearcats will face the Golden Hurricane of Tulsa at 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 12, before welcoming the Memphis Tigers to town for a 1 p.m. match on Sunday, October 15.
The University of Cincinnati women's soccer team, which is now ranked in the Top 25 of all three national rankings for the first time this year, will look to continue its winning ways Friday night when the Eagles of Morehead State pay a visit to Gettler Stadium for a 7 p.m. Senior Night match. The Bearcats enter the match with a 9-1-2 overall record and continue to sit atop the table in the American Athletic Conference with #10 UCF at 3-0-1 while the Eagles come to town with a 3-8-1 overall mark and sit tied for sixth in the Ohio Valley Conference with a 2-3-1 record.
// 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
All home matches in 2017 will once again be streamed live on GoBearcats.com and, this year, will all be free. The link to the stream can be found on the women's soccer schedule page. On the same page, links to live statistics can also be found.
// SENIOR SENDOFF
While it will not be the final home match of their careers, six senior players and one student manager will be recognized Friday night after the match concludes as part of Senior Night. The group that will be honored includes student-athletes Jaycie Brown, Katy Couperus, Lizzie Ehrnfelt, Julie Gavorski, Vanessa Gilles and Taylor Pavlika and student manager Alex Keller.
// QUICK SHOTS
• Overall, Cincinnati is 9-1-2 on the year, is undefeated in its last four and winners of three in a row
• The Bearcats are 3-0-1 in the American Athletic Conference and their 10 points have them tied with #10 UCF as table toppers through two weeks of conference play
• UC made its debut in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 and Soccer America's Top 25 this week, coming in at #22 in both, while ranking #20 in Top Drawer Soccer's Top 25
• The Bearcats are ranked in the national coaches' poll for the first time since 2002 when UC was #24 heading into the NCAA Tournament according to the NSCAA (now USC)
• UC is coming off a 2-0-0 weekend on the road with a 1-0 win at UConn and a 3-0 win at Temple
• The road win over the Huskies also was the 50th of Neil Stafford's UC coaching career
• The win at UConn is the first in program history for UC (1-3-1 all-time in Storrs) and, combined with the win at Temple, gave UC its first weekend conference road sweep (two wins) since 2002
• The Bearcats have posted shutouts in four-consecutive matches, which is only the eighth time the team has kept a clean sheet in four or more matches in a row in program history and the first since the 2002 season
• Three players scored their first goals with UC: Vetere at UConn and both Lowell and Kolano at Temple with the goals from Lowell and Kolano being the first of their collegiate careers
• Should UC win Friday, it would mark the fourth year in a row the Bearcats have posted a double-digit win total and the first time since 1994-98 (five years) that the program has done so
• The Bearcats currently rank in the Top 14 nationally (and lead the American Athletic Conference) in four statistical categories: #8 in goals against average (.402), #10 in shutout percentage (66.7), #12 in save percentage (87.8) and #14 in win percentage (83.3)
// FEELING 22
For the first time this season and the first time since 2002, the Bearcats found their name listed in the United Soccer Coaches (formerly NSCAA) Top 25 rankings, coming in at #22 this week. The same ranking was attained in Soccer America's rankings, the first time UC has entered that listing this year as well. The Bearcats remained in the Top Drawer Soccer Top 25 for the fourth week in a row, moving up one spot to #20 this week. UC and UCF (#10/#18/#21) are the only American Athletic Conference teams ranked this week.
// RPI RISING
For the third week in a row, the Bearcats' RPI ranking rose to a record level, this time the #11 position following a pair of wins on the road last week in conference. This ranking comes one week after sitting #12 and two weeks removed from being at #20. The #11 ranking now sees the program's astronomical rise of 216 spots from #227 when Neil Stafford took over the program prior to the start of the 2013 season. Looking at the rest of the teams in the current RPI, the Bearcats are 3-1-1 against teams currently in the Top 50, including wins over #28 Purdue, #37 Northwestern and #41 USF, a tie with #5 UCF and loss at #19 LSU. UC also is 1-0-1 against the Top 100 with a draw to #71 Pittsburgh and win over #100 Boston University.
// QUICK RECAP: SWEEPING SUCCESS
• Cincinnati went 2-0-0 on its road trip last week, handing UConn a 1-0 loss before defeating Temple, 3-0, to post the first sweep of those two schools (home or away) in AAC play
• At UConn, Katy Couperus fired a shot from distance that drilled the crossbar and came right to the feet of Jill Vetere, who volleyed the ball out of the air and into the net in the 66' for her first UC goal and, eventually, the game-winner
• Madison Less recorded 1 save against the Huskies while the UC defense blocked six shots in front of her to help the redshirt freshman to her league-leading fifth shutout of 2017
• At Temple, the Bearcats exploded for a season-high three goals with rookies Kiki Lowell and Lexie Kolano scoring the first and third goals of the match, respectively, with both netting their first career collegiate goals
• Jordan Cotleur added the second goal of the match, her first of the year
• Claudia Eustaquio got the start in goal and made three saves for her first shutout as a Bearcat (sixth overall including her five at Detroit in 2015) in her first action since September 5, 2016
// HONORS
Following their play this weekend, a pair of Bearcats were honored by the American Athletic Conference in the league's weekly awards release. Kiki Lowell was named the Defensive Player of the Week for the second week in a row after she played all 180 minutes over the weekend, anchored the defense to two more shutouts and added her first collegiate goal, the game-winner at Temple. Jill Vetere, who also scored her first goal with the Bearcats, gave UC a 1-0 win at UConn and landed the junior transfer on the Honor Roll.
// BREAKING OUT BROOMS
With their wins at both UConn and Temple over the weekend, the Bearcats did something they had not done since the 2002 season: win both legs of a conference road trip in the same weekend. The last time it happened, UC first handed Marquette a 1-0 loss in overtime on October 18, 2002, before stopping in Chicago to down DePaul, 2-0, on October 20, 2002. Those matches were part of play in Conference USA.
// DOING LAUNDRY
In the last four matches, all of which have come against AAC foes, the Bearcats have not allowed a goal, recording four-consecutive clean sheets. Not only is the four-match streak the first recorded by the Bearcats under Stafford, it also is the first since the 2002 season and just the eighth time in program history. The 2002 team had an eight match streak with the 2001 and 1982 squads posting seven-match streaks. This year's squad joins the 1983, 1984, 1986 and 1989 teams with four-match streaks. A shutout against Morehead State would be the fourth-longest streak in program history.
// GOING STREAKING
Speaking of long streaks, the two shutouts over the weekend extended the team's current consecutive minutes streak of not allowing a goal to 426:23, the third-longest in program history (since records were available from 2001 to present) and is the longest under Stafford. The last time a ball got past the Bearcats and into the netting was at the 43:37 mark of the first half at LSU when the Tigers scored the eventual game-winner in UC's lone loss this year. Since then, UC has shutout UCF (0-0), USF (1-0), UConn (1-0) and Temple (3-0).
// KNOW THE FOE: MOREHEAD STATE
• The Eagles enter the contest with a 3-8-1 overall record and 2-3-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference
• UC and MSU share one common opponent in Northern Kentucky: the Bearcats won, 1-0, at NKU earlier this year while the Eagles lost, 2-1, at home to the Norse
• Despite their record, the Eagles are 2-1-1 in their last four with a 4-2 home win over UT Martin and a 3-1 road win at Eastern Illinois and a 1-1 draw with SEMO (L, 3-0 at SIU Edwardsville)
• Cara Maher leads the scoring with a team-high three goals and seven points while three others have each scored two goals as well
• Michelle Washburn has seen all the action in goal this year and has a 1.70 goals against average after allowing 21 goals in 1113 minutes of play while stopping 69 shots as well
// IN THE SERIES: BEARCATS vs. EAGLES
• Cincinnati leads the all-time series with Morehead State, 5-0-0, and is 3-0-0 at home
• The Bearcats won the last meeting, 2-1, in Cincinnati on August 20, 2010
• The Bearcats hold a 25-2 scoring advantage in the series with three shutout wins (4-0, 6-0 and 10-0) along with wins of 3-1 and 2-1
• Prior to the meeting in 2010, the two teams had played in four of UC's first five varsity seasons (1980, 1982, 1983 and 1984) with each team hosting two matches
// ACCOUNTS OPENED
So far this year, five players have scored their first goals for the Bearcats with four of those being true freshmen securing their first collegiate goals. Sophie Gorman led the way with her first goal in the season-opening 1-0 win against Buffalo and has added two more goals and team-high-tying two assists to her ledger. Two weeks ago, Karli Royer joining the scoring list as her corner kick made its way into the goal for a 1-0 win over USF. Last week, Jill Vetere (junior) scored at UConn for her first tally after transferring into the program before Kiki Lowell and Lexie Kolano scored at Temple for their firsts.
// LOTS OF WINS
With the 1-0 win over UConn on the road, the Bearcats not only secured their first win in program history in Storrs (1-3-1), they also captured the 50th win of Neil Stafford's UC coaching career. This milestone comes three weeks after Stafford's side won, 2-1, over Purdue to give the gaffer his 150th career coaching victory while also securing the 375th win in UC history.
// 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).
// FRIENDLY CONFINES
In their first five seasons (including 2017 so far), Stafford and his staff have accumulated 29 home wins, the most of any UC women's soccer coach in his/her first five seasons. Meridy Glenn's teams from 1983 to 1987 won 28 matches and posted a .853 win percentage (28-4-2) in her first five seasons.
// CHASING WINS - SENIORS
The 2017 seniors have won 43 matches in their time at UC, which currently ranks tied for 12th on the all-time class wins list. Having won 10, 13 and 11 matches in the last three seasons and 9 already in 2017, the seniors now need just four more wins to reach 47 and crack into the Top 10 in program history (would tie for 8th with the 1996, 1989 and 1983 teams). The senior class also is now just one win 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 33 victories in their time at UC, a total that ranks them tied for the 26th-most wins in program history. One more wins would move them into the Top 25.
// BEEN A WHILE
Kiki Lowell's goal was assisted by Cassie Wheldon, giving the junior her first assist since the 2015 season. Wheldon, who one-timed a pass from Taylor Pavlika's corner kick into the box that was then redirected by Lowell, last recorded a helper on November 8, 2015, as she played a through ball to Jaycie Brown who chipped the USF keeper to tie the match at 1-1 in the 88'. The match was the AAC Championship Final that UC eventually won, 4-2, on penalties to grab the league title and its first NCAA berth since 2002.
// LESS LEADING
So far this year, Madison Less has seen the majority of playing time in goal, splitting time with both Jane Sensibaugh and Claudia Eustaquio in 2017. Less has played 670 minutes, made 21 saves and allowed just three goals for a miniscule 0.40 goals against average. The redshirt freshman has tallied a league-best five shutouts, which also ranks her 28th nationally, while sitting second in goals against average (eighth nationally) and save percentage at 87.5 (16th nationally).
// BEEN A WHILE - PART II
Speaking of Eustaquio, the redshirt sophomore got the call in goal Sunday at Temple and turned in three saves to record a clean sheet in UC's 3-0 win. That shutout was the first of her UC career and the sixth overall after she tallied five with Detroit as a freshman. The match at Temple was just the fifth of Eustaquio's UC career and her first since September 5 last year when an injury sidelined her the rest of the way. Oddly enough, in the five matches she has played for the Bearcats, all five have come on the road.
// THAT MAKES THREE
Following the 3-0 win at Temple, the Bearcats not only have eight shutouts recorded this season, but have done so with three different keepers. Less leads the way with five clean sheets while Sensibaugh has recorded two and Eustaquio one. All told, the trio has recorded 36 saves and allowed just five goals scored in 1120 minutes of play.
// GILLES GETTING UP THERE
Last week, Vanessa Gilles earned her 75th career start, which moved her into a tie with Heather Herweh (1999-02) for the ninth-most in program history. She is now just five starts away from tying for eighth with Stacey Kyser (1999-02) with 80 career starts. Gilles also continues to climb higher on the career minutes ledger as she currently sits second all-time with 6,866 minutes played and is chasing only her former backline teammate, Kayla Utley, who played 7,101 minutes from 2013-16.
// PLAYING IT CLOSE
The Bearcats have played 12 matches do far in 2017 with eight being decided by one goal. On those matches, UC has posted a 7-1 record with the lone loss coming in a 1-0 setback on the road to LSU. The two matches not ending tied or decided by one goal this year was a 2-0 victory over visiting Boston University the opening weekend and last week's 3-0 win at Temple.
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.
// 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
The Bearcats return to conference action next week with a pair of AAC foes set to visit Gettler Stadium. First, the Bearcats will face the Golden Hurricane of Tulsa at 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 12, before welcoming the Memphis Tigers to town for a 1 p.m. match on Sunday, October 15.