TicketsCINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati women's soccer team, the third-seed in the event, dropped a 1-0 decision to sixth-seeded SMU Wednesday in the quarterfinals of the 2017 American Athletic Conference Tournament hosted by UCF in Orlando, Fla. The loss dropped the Bearcats to 12-4-3 on the year while the Mustangs improved to 10-6-3 overall.
// QUICK NOTES
• Cincinnati fell to 12-4-3 on the year while SMU stands 10-6-3 overall
• SMU now leads the all-time series, 4-3-2, following the win
• Sophie Gorman led the way with three shots on the day while Jordan Cotleur and Karli Royer each added a pair
• Madison Less recorded one save in the contest
// FIRST HALF
The Bearcats sustained a barrage of shots from the Mustangs in the second minute of play as a corner kick was played in to the box where a shot was put in on frame and blocked by the defense before a follow-up shot also was blocked by the defense and sent out of the box. UC took the ball the other way and worked to maintain possession before earning a corner kick of their own. On the kick, Karli Royer played a ball in to the box with Vanessa Gilles getting her head on the ball, only to see her shot punched off the cross bar by SMU keeper Catie Brown.
In the 25', the ball was played in from the back line and went over the SMU defensive line, leading Jordan Cotleur into the box where she got a foot on the ball only to see her offering go just wide of the frame. Six minutes later, UC earned a free kick as a shot near the top of the box hit an SMU defender's arm and the Mustangs were whistled for a hand ball. Katie Couperus took the free kick and shot it just under the crossbar with Brown again getting a hand on the shot, clicking it off the crossbar to keep UC off the board.
In the 34', UC had another solid attempt after a Kiki Lowell long throw-in was flicked into the middle of the box where Sophie Gorman was running on goal and hit the ball, only to see her shot miss wide. The Mustangs took the ball the other way on the goal kick and got all the way to the way to the end line where the ball was cross in toward the top of the box where Allie Thornton fired a shot that Gilles blocked, ending the threat. But, one minute later, Thornton hit the ball from about 25 yards out and found the back of the net to stake the Mustangs to a 1-0 lead through the opening 45 minutes of play.
// SECOND HALF
SMU earned a corner kick in the opening minutes of play in the second half and had another good look at goal as the service was headed toward the back post where Bri Costigan was in place and cleared the ball off the line to prevent another score. In the 39', UC went on the offensive, breaking out of the defensive end of the field and pushing forward with Cassie Wheldon sending a through ball into the area, but her touch was slightly too heavy as the SMU keeper smothered the pass to end the threat.
The 69' saw another solid chance just miss as Gorman dropped a pass to Dee Picou at the top of the box with Picou launching a shot toward the goal, but the keeper made a diving save to prevent the goal. One minute later, Gorman looked to draw UC level, but her long-distance shot, but her offering missed wide. In the 82', Gorman again looked to bring UC back from the brink of elimination as she popped a shot toward goal, but the SMU defense blocked the shot to keep the Bearcats off the board.
// NEXT MATCH
Following their elimination from the conference tournament, the Bearcats will now await word from the NCAA to see if UC will be an at-large selection into the national tournament. The NCAA Selection Show will be held Monday on NCAA.com.
// 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
• Cincinnati fell to 12-4-3 on the year while SMU stands 10-6-3 overall
• SMU now leads the all-time series, 4-3-2, following the win
• Sophie Gorman led the way with three shots on the day while Jordan Cotleur and Karli Royer each added a pair
• Madison Less recorded one save in the contest
// FIRST HALF
The Bearcats sustained a barrage of shots from the Mustangs in the second minute of play as a corner kick was played in to the box where a shot was put in on frame and blocked by the defense before a follow-up shot also was blocked by the defense and sent out of the box. UC took the ball the other way and worked to maintain possession before earning a corner kick of their own. On the kick, Karli Royer played a ball in to the box with Vanessa Gilles getting her head on the ball, only to see her shot punched off the cross bar by SMU keeper Catie Brown.
In the 25', the ball was played in from the back line and went over the SMU defensive line, leading Jordan Cotleur into the box where she got a foot on the ball only to see her offering go just wide of the frame. Six minutes later, UC earned a free kick as a shot near the top of the box hit an SMU defender's arm and the Mustangs were whistled for a hand ball. Katie Couperus took the free kick and shot it just under the crossbar with Brown again getting a hand on the shot, clicking it off the crossbar to keep UC off the board.
In the 34', UC had another solid attempt after a Kiki Lowell long throw-in was flicked into the middle of the box where Sophie Gorman was running on goal and hit the ball, only to see her shot miss wide. The Mustangs took the ball the other way on the goal kick and got all the way to the way to the end line where the ball was cross in toward the top of the box where Allie Thornton fired a shot that Gilles blocked, ending the threat. But, one minute later, Thornton hit the ball from about 25 yards out and found the back of the net to stake the Mustangs to a 1-0 lead through the opening 45 minutes of play.
// SECOND HALF
SMU earned a corner kick in the opening minutes of play in the second half and had another good look at goal as the service was headed toward the back post where Bri Costigan was in place and cleared the ball off the line to prevent another score. In the 39', UC went on the offensive, breaking out of the defensive end of the field and pushing forward with Cassie Wheldon sending a through ball into the area, but her touch was slightly too heavy as the SMU keeper smothered the pass to end the threat.
The 69' saw another solid chance just miss as Gorman dropped a pass to Dee Picou at the top of the box with Picou launching a shot toward the goal, but the keeper made a diving save to prevent the goal. One minute later, Gorman looked to draw UC level, but her long-distance shot, but her offering missed wide. In the 82', Gorman again looked to bring UC back from the brink of elimination as she popped a shot toward goal, but the SMU defense blocked the shot to keep the Bearcats off the board.
// NEXT MATCH
Following their elimination from the conference tournament, the Bearcats will now await word from the NCAA to see if UC will be an at-large selection into the national tournament. The NCAA Selection Show will be held Monday on NCAA.com.
// 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.