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CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati men's soccer team hosted the Dayton Flyers Sunday in a spring friendly and came away with a 1-0 victory to improved to 2-1-0 on the spring season with its only loss coming against professional side FC Cincinnati.
The Bearcats got on the scoreboard early when Ryan Melink (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland) sent a cross from the near side into the box where Austin Smythe's (Cincinnati, Ohio/Summit Country Day/Radford) header attempt bounced off the crossbar. Subsequently, Sean Clarke (Baltimore, Md./Loyola Blakefield) collected the rebound and slid the ball past the goalkeeper at the seven-minute mark for the first and only score of the game. UC had another solid scoring chance midway through the first half when David Sanz's (Santander, Spain/IE La Marina) free kick from just outside the box was saved from reaching the upper-right-corner of the net. In total, UC totaled 10 shots -- including three on goal -- in the period.
Sanz had another shot on goal in the 66th minute when he fired straight-on from just outside the box which the goalkeeper secured. In the 75th minute, off of a Sanz corner kick, Aerin West (Sylvania, Ohio/Northview) delivered a header wide of the net from the box following a Patrick Nielsen (Copenhagen, Denmark/Rungsted Gymnasium) header challenge. The Red & Black was able to keep the visitors scoreless through the duration of the match with a save by goalkeeper Pearce Skinner (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc) - who had seven on the night - while also maintaining possession.
// COACH DAYES ON THE BEARCATS
"This was a typical spring match," said head coach Hylton Dayes. "At times, the play was good but other times it was a bit scrappy from both teams. Our goal was off a quality, attacking movement that we have been working on in practice. Ryan Melink received the ball wide in space and played a driven ball across the box and Sean Clarke was able to score off the rebound. Pearce Skinner made some quality saves to keep the clean sheet as Dayton created chances off of their pressure. Overall, we were pleased with the effort from the guys and the 1-0 result."
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats will host their final home spring friendly on Saturday, April 8 when they welcome the Marshall Thundering Herd to Gettler Stadium for a 3 p.m. kickoff. Admission to the match will be free.