Tickets// THE OPENING WHISTLE
The 2018 women's soccer season officially opens this week with the University of Cincinnati set to play one home and one away match to lift the lid on the new season. The Bearcats will start the season Thursday night at 7 p.m. when Eastern Kentucky pays a visit to Gettler Stadium. The opening weekend will come a close Sunday at 5 p.m. with the Bearcats traveling to Klöckner Stadium in Charlottesville, Va., to face #8/#5 Virginia. All three teams had strong outings last year with each winning at least 11 matches in the season, including UVa (13), UC (12) and EKU (11).
// 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. As always, fans are encouraged to join in the conversation using the hashtag #Bearcats.
// GOING LIVE
All home matches in 2018 will once again be streamed live on GoBearcats.com and, once again 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.
// EXPERIENCE UC
All home matches in 2018 will once again be part of the Experience UC initiative, which is 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 lacrosse, volleyball, tennis, soccer, swimming & diving and track & field home events.
// QUICK SHOTS
• Thursday will mark the start of the 39th year of UC soccer (381-276-61 all-time)
• The season opener will be the earliest played in program history, surpassing the 2012 opener in which the Bearcats tied, 1-1, at Elon on August 17
• Cincinnati is 25-12-1 in its first match of the year and 26-10-2 in its home opener
• The Bearcats were selected to finish fourth in the AAC according to a vote of the coaches
• Sophie Gorman was a unanimous selection to the 2018 AAC Preseason All-Conference Team
• Jordan Cotleur is one of two former Bearcats student-athletes that were nominated by UC for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award (Kellsa Mbah, Track & Field)
• Cincinnati has won at least 10 matches in each of the last four seasons and are looking to join the 1994-98 squads as the only UC teams to do so in five-consecutive years in program history
• Need 8: UC is 8 wins shy of 200 home victories in program history heading into the season
// IN THE RANKINGS
The Bearcats are not ranked this week in the United Soccer Coaches & TopDrawerSoccer.com Top 25 rankings, but several of UC's opponents are, including Sunday's opponent, Virginia, who is ranked #5 according to TDS and #8 by USC. Others in the first USC rankings of 2018 that UC will play include #14 Notre Dame and #16 UCF while four others are receiving votes.
// ALMOST OVER THE HILL
The 2018 season marks the 39th varsity campaign for the Bearcats program. In the previous 38 seasons, UC has compiled a 381-276-61 (.573) record, including a mark of 192-100-28 at home, leaving the team just 8 wins away from the 200-victory milestone.
// PRESEASON PROGNOSTICATIONS
The American Athletic Conference announced its annual preseason coaches poll for 2018 last week with the Bearcats receiving 54 points, which placed them fourth in the poll, just one point ahead of SMU (53). The Top 3 included UCF, who scored 76 points and earned six first-place votes, USF, who tallied 73 points and three first-place votes, and Memphis, who earned 68 points and the final first-place vote.
// GORMAN HONORED
The conference coaches also voted for individual awards with Sophie Gorman earning a unanimous selection to the 2018 AAC Preseason All-Conference Team. Gorman, heading into her sophomore season, was selected to the 2017 AAC All-Conference Second and 2017 AAC All-Rookie Teams after leading the Bearcats in goals (6), assists (4) and points (16) while tying for the top spot with three game-winning scores. A local product from McNicholas High School, Gorman was one of five players this year to earn unanimous selections to the preseason team.
// MORE HONORS
Former standout Jordan Cotleur, along with track & field champion Kellsa Mbah, have been nominated by UC for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award, one of the most prestigious awards given annually by the national governing body. The duo are among 581 female student-athletes that were nominated, including 251 from NCAA Division I. With school nominations completed, conferences now will select up to two nominees each from the pool of school nominees. Then, the Woman of the Year selection committee, made up of representatives from the NCAA membership, will choose the Top 30 honorees — 10 from each division.
// QUICK RECAP: TWO WINS IN THE PRESEASON
• The Bearcats went 2-0-0 in their two preseason matches this year, downing Dayton (3-0) at Nippert Stadium and Illinois (1-0) at Gettler Stadium
• Four different players scored for the Bearcats, including Sophie Gorman, Vanessa DiNardo and Jill Vetere in the win over the Flyers and Julia Abbott in the victory against the Hoosiers
• The defense did not allow a goal to be scored and limited both teams to a total of 11 shots (8 by Indiana, 3 by Dayton) with the UC keepers being called upon to save just four of those attempts
// KNOW THE FOE: EASTERN KENTUCKY
• The Colonels finished the 2017 season with an 11-5-4 overall record and posted a 6-1-3 mark in Ohio Valley Conference action to finish in a tie for second place with Tennessee Tech on 21 points (Murray State won the crown with 26 points)
• As the #3 seed in the OVC Tournament, the Colonels downed #2 Tennessee Tech, 1-0, in the semifinals before falling to #1 Murray State, 1-0, in the championship match at MSU
• Thursday's match will mark the second time in as many years EKU has ventured to the area to open their season after falling at NKU, 2-1, in last year's opener
• Bailly Bounds is the top returning scorer for the Colonels after her 10 points on three goals and four assists ranked her third on the team in 2017
• EKU will be using a new keeper this year after senior Anna Hall graduated following a season in which she played ever minute of the team's 20 matches, allowing 21 goals and halting 83 shots
// NOTING THE SERIES: BEARCATS-COLONELS
• Cincinnati leads the all-time series, 3-0-0, and has won the last two meetings by shutout after taking the series opener, 3-2, on the road in 2009
• The Bearcats won 2-0 in 2012 and 9-0 in 2014 to remain undefeated in the series
// THE LAST TIME • CIN 9:0 EKU
The Bearcats scored six second-half goals to take a 9-0 victory over the visiting Colonels on September 5, 2014, in the last meeting between the two programs. Jaycie Brown, Vanessa Gilles and Julie Gavorski - all of whom graduate from UC this past year - each scored two goals in the game while Megan Cravenor, Christi Howard and Danielle Rotheram each added one score. Defensively, UC recorded two saves, including one by Kristina Utley and one by a defender, to keep a clean sheet.
// KNOW THE FOE: VIRGINIA
• The Cavaliers finished the 2017 season with a 13-6-4 overall record and went 5-2-3 in the ACC, finishing fourth in the standings
• UVa advanced to the semifinals of the ACC Tournament before falling to Duke, 1-0, in that match
• The Cavaliers also earned a berth into the NCAA Tournament as the #12 seed and advanced to the Sweet 16 where they dropped a 2-1 score at #4 UCLA
• Four of the Top 5 scorers from 2017 return this year for UVA, including Taryn Torres, who tallied a team-high-tying eight goals and added one assist to tally 17 points on the year behind senior Veronica Latsko, who capped her final year with 20 points (8g-4a)
• Defensively, UVa allowed just 17 goals with a freshman in goal as Laurel Ivory played all by 30 minutes of the season in goal, recording 41 saves and miniscule 0.71 goals against average
// NOTING THE SERIES: BEARCATS-CAVALIERS
• Virginia leads the all-time series, 6-0-1, and has won each of the last five meetings
• The two teams played five years in a row against one another, including neutral site meetings in Radford, Va., in 1987 and Madison, Wis., in 1989
• The lone non-loss for the Bearcats in the series came in 1988 with the teams playing to a 1-1 draw
// THE LAST TIME • UVA 4:0 CIN
The last time Cincinnati and Virginia met came November 24, 2011, in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, a match the host Cavaliers won, 4-0. The loss ended the Bearcats' best run in program history after they had recorded their first wins in the national event. UC opened the NCAA Tournament with its first NCAA victory, roaring back from a 2-0 hole to knock-off visiting Oakland, 3-2, in Cincinnati. From there, the Bearcats advanced to meet #7 Notre Dame and upset the Fighting Irish on their home turf, 3-2, to earn a berth into the Sweet 16 and the meeting with UVa.
// LAST TIME VS. RANKED FOE
Sunday's match at Virginia will mark the 11th time the Bearcats have played a nationally ranked opponent in Stafford's time with the program with six of those matches coming in the 2015 season alone (2-5-3) as the Bearcats upset #18 USF in the regular season (1-0) and #10 UConn (3-2, OT) in the conference tournament while also tying #25 USF (1-1) in the tournament final before winning the crown on penalty kicks. UC's three losses that year came to #21 DePaul (1-2) in the season opener, #12 Virginia Tech (0-4) in the NCAA Tournament to close the year and at #18 UConn (0-1) in the regular season. The last time UC faced a ranked foe came last year with #14 UCF visiting Cincinnati for the conference opener (September 21, 2017). Both defenses played strong with neither conceding a goal as the two sides drew, 0-0.
// LIFTING THE LID • SEASON
The Bearcats hold an all-time record of 25-12-1 in their opening match of the season, including winners of their last two openers - a 1-0 victory over Buffalo last year and a 2-1 win over Dayton in double overtime to open the 2016 season. UC also is 15-6-0 when their first match of the year also is played at home. Under head coach Neil Stafford, UC holds a 3-2-0 record in their first match of the season after winning the last two in a row.
// LIFTING THE LID • HOME OPENER
UC holds a 26-10-2 overall record in their first home match of the season after winning the last two home openers, which also were its season openers. Overall, the team is 3-1-1 in their first home match under Stafford and hold a 7-2-1 record in the last 10 home openers as well. The Bearcats also have posted 15 shutouts in their home openers, holding a 14-0-1 record in those contests, with the latest shutout coming last year in a 1-0 victory over Buffalo.
// LIFTING THE LID • ROAD OPENER
When UC travels to Virginia Sunday, it will look to improve upon its 21-14-3 all-time record in its first road contest of the season and continue its two-match winning streak. The Bearcats won the past two road openers, including a 2-1 victory last year at Northwestern and a 3-2 win at Evansville in 2016. The win at Northwestern (September 3) also handed the Wildcats their first home defeat in nearly three years with the last setback coming October 12, 2014.
// DOUBLE DIGIT WINS
Last year, the Bearcats won 12 matches, marking the fourth year in a row the team has won 10+ in a single season under Stafford. That streak ties for the second-best in program history and leaves the Bearcats one shy of equalling the all-time best. Currently, the four-year streak equals the 1980-83 and 1986-89 squads for second while the 1994-97 teams hold the mark with five in a row.
// CONTINUING TO IMPROVE
Before Stafford took over the program, UC had improved its season win percentage in two-consecutive seasons four times, with the most recent coming in 2000 (.727 from .447) and 2001 (.834 from .727). After the program finished with a win percentage of .250 in 2012 and Stafford came in, the team has raised its win percentage in all five seasons, posting marks of .425 (2013), .550 (2014), .646 (2015), .650 (2016) and .711 (2017).
// SORRY, THE GOAL IS CLOSED
One of the reasons the Bearcats have continued to raise its overall profile has been the outstanding defense it has played. In 2012, UC conceded 39 goals. Since then, that number has gone down every year under Stafford, reaching a miniscule total of 11 allowed in 2017, which tied for the fewest in a season. During that span, UC has allowed 37 (2013), 27 (2014), 22 (2015), 21 (2016) and 11 (2017).
LOOKING BACK AT 2017
// AWARDS HAUL
For the 2017 season, the Bearcats collected 19 weekly awards from the American, including nine major awards and 10 Honor Roll selections. Here is the breakdown:
• Offensive POTW: Julie Gavorski (1), Jaycie Brown (1)
• Defensive POTW: Vanessa Gilles (4), Kiki Lowell (2)
• Goalkeeper OTW: Madison Less (1)
• Honor Roll: Less (3), Sophie Gorman (3), Gavorski (1), Taylor Pavlika (1), Karli Royer (1), Jill Vetere (1)
Following the season, several Bearcats were honored by the league as well:
• Co-Defensive Player of the Year: Vanessa Gilles
• AAC All-Conference: Vanessa Gilles (1), Sophie Gorman (2)
• AAC All-Rookie: Sophie Gorman, Kiki Lowell
// IN THE RPI
During the 2017 season, the Bearcats rose as high as #11 in the RPI data released by the NCAA, the highest ranking they have attained in program history. What is more impressive is where the program had come from. At the end of the 2012 season, Cincinnati's final RPI ranking was #227, meaning that, in the five years Stafford and his staff have guided the program, the Bearcats have clawed their way up 216 positions since the start of the 2013 season.
// BROUGHT HOME THE BAGEL
With the regular season finale - a 1-0 win over ECU - the 2017 Bearcats did something only four other UC squads had done in program history: post an undefeated home record. With the win, UC closed out the home slate with an 8-0-3 record, the first undefeated home slate since 1996. Here is a look at some of the stats and notes following the 8-0-3 record:
• The team's .950 win percentage at home is the third-best in program history behind only the 1982 (7-0-0) and 1984 (5-0-0) teams
• The 8 home wins is a program record, surpassing 10 previous times UC had recorded 7 wins
• The Bearcats posted eight shutouts at home, which ties the 2015 side for the most in a single season in program history
• UC allowed just 0.45 goals per match at home this year, one of only nine campaigns win which the Bearcats allowed one-half of one goal or less
// GORMAN GOALS
To get the 1-0 victory over ECU, Sophie Gorman did her thing and scored in the 42' as a shot was deflected by the defense right to Gorman, who put the ball over the keeper's head and under the crossbar for what would be the winner. What makes that goal even more interesting is that it not only won the game, but also book-ended the regular season with winning goals from Gorman as the freshman scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win over Buffalo in the season opener before Friday's victorious strike.
// SHARING THE SHEETS
In 2017, the Bearcats recorded 11 shutouts. While that is a strong statistic on its own, what is more impressive is that all four keepers on the roster have contributed to those clean sheets. Madison Less has recorded seven shutouts while Jane Sensibaugh and Claudia Eustaquio have tallied two and 1.5, respectively. Kaleigh Piscioneri joined in with a scoreless second half against Morehead State to pick up a share of a shutout. What does it all mean? It means that UC is the only team in the nation that has four keepers with at least a share of one shutout and also has the Bearcats joining Louisiana Tech as the only schools with three keepers that have tallied at least one full shutout.
// PROTECT THIS HOUSE
Since the start of the 2013 season, the Bearcats have played 47 home matches, posting a 32-6-9 record in that time (.777 win percentage). Including 2017, UC has won at least four home contests each season with eight in 2017, seven wins in 2014 and 2015, six in 2016 and four in 2013. Also, in that time, UC has out-scored its guests, 89-33 (+56).
// FRIENDLY CONFINES
In their first five seasons (including 2017), Stafford and his staff have accumulated 31 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 .843 win percentage (28-4-3) in her first five years.
// SUNDAY FUN DAY!
Since Stafford took over the program in time for the 2013 season, the Bearcats have played at home on Sunday 24 times and hold an impressive 21-0-3 record in those matches after posting wins over Boston University, 2-0, Miami (Fla.), 1-0, Purdue, 2-1, and USF, 1-0, and a 0-0 draw with Memphis last weekend. During those 24 matches, the Bearcats have out scored their foes, 50-11, with the UC defense recording 15 clean sheets in that span.
// ACADEMICALLY SOUND
Last year, the Bearcats collectively sported a 3.50 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, 28 of the 31 women on the roster recorded a 3.00 GPA or better during the 2017-18 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 2017-18 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.
// UP NEXT
Next week, the Bearcats return to their home turf once again as they will play host to two regional rivals. First, UC will welcome Wright State to Gettler Stadium on Friday, August 24, for the second half of a doubleheader that will see the men face Northern Illinois in their season opener at 6 p.m. and the women getting underway at approximately 8 p.m. Then, on Sunday, August 26, the Bearcats will face Northern Kentucky at 7 p.m. at Gettler Stadium for the third installment of the Riverboat Rivalry. Admission is complimentary for all fans as part of the Experience UC initiative.
The 2018 women's soccer season officially opens this week with the University of Cincinnati set to play one home and one away match to lift the lid on the new season. The Bearcats will start the season Thursday night at 7 p.m. when Eastern Kentucky pays a visit to Gettler Stadium. The opening weekend will come a close Sunday at 5 p.m. with the Bearcats traveling to Klöckner Stadium in Charlottesville, Va., to face #8/#5 Virginia. All three teams had strong outings last year with each winning at least 11 matches in the season, including UVa (13), UC (12) and EKU (11).
// 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. As always, fans are encouraged to join in the conversation using the hashtag #Bearcats.
// GOING LIVE
All home matches in 2018 will once again be streamed live on GoBearcats.com and, once again 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.
// EXPERIENCE UC
All home matches in 2018 will once again be part of the Experience UC initiative, which is 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 lacrosse, volleyball, tennis, soccer, swimming & diving and track & field home events.
// QUICK SHOTS
• Thursday will mark the start of the 39th year of UC soccer (381-276-61 all-time)
• The season opener will be the earliest played in program history, surpassing the 2012 opener in which the Bearcats tied, 1-1, at Elon on August 17
• Cincinnati is 25-12-1 in its first match of the year and 26-10-2 in its home opener
• The Bearcats were selected to finish fourth in the AAC according to a vote of the coaches
• Sophie Gorman was a unanimous selection to the 2018 AAC Preseason All-Conference Team
• Jordan Cotleur is one of two former Bearcats student-athletes that were nominated by UC for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award (Kellsa Mbah, Track & Field)
• Cincinnati has won at least 10 matches in each of the last four seasons and are looking to join the 1994-98 squads as the only UC teams to do so in five-consecutive years in program history
• Need 8: UC is 8 wins shy of 200 home victories in program history heading into the season
// IN THE RANKINGS
The Bearcats are not ranked this week in the United Soccer Coaches & TopDrawerSoccer.com Top 25 rankings, but several of UC's opponents are, including Sunday's opponent, Virginia, who is ranked #5 according to TDS and #8 by USC. Others in the first USC rankings of 2018 that UC will play include #14 Notre Dame and #16 UCF while four others are receiving votes.
// ALMOST OVER THE HILL
The 2018 season marks the 39th varsity campaign for the Bearcats program. In the previous 38 seasons, UC has compiled a 381-276-61 (.573) record, including a mark of 192-100-28 at home, leaving the team just 8 wins away from the 200-victory milestone.
// PRESEASON PROGNOSTICATIONS
The American Athletic Conference announced its annual preseason coaches poll for 2018 last week with the Bearcats receiving 54 points, which placed them fourth in the poll, just one point ahead of SMU (53). The Top 3 included UCF, who scored 76 points and earned six first-place votes, USF, who tallied 73 points and three first-place votes, and Memphis, who earned 68 points and the final first-place vote.
// GORMAN HONORED
The conference coaches also voted for individual awards with Sophie Gorman earning a unanimous selection to the 2018 AAC Preseason All-Conference Team. Gorman, heading into her sophomore season, was selected to the 2017 AAC All-Conference Second and 2017 AAC All-Rookie Teams after leading the Bearcats in goals (6), assists (4) and points (16) while tying for the top spot with three game-winning scores. A local product from McNicholas High School, Gorman was one of five players this year to earn unanimous selections to the preseason team.
// MORE HONORS
Former standout Jordan Cotleur, along with track & field champion Kellsa Mbah, have been nominated by UC for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award, one of the most prestigious awards given annually by the national governing body. The duo are among 581 female student-athletes that were nominated, including 251 from NCAA Division I. With school nominations completed, conferences now will select up to two nominees each from the pool of school nominees. Then, the Woman of the Year selection committee, made up of representatives from the NCAA membership, will choose the Top 30 honorees — 10 from each division.
// QUICK RECAP: TWO WINS IN THE PRESEASON
• The Bearcats went 2-0-0 in their two preseason matches this year, downing Dayton (3-0) at Nippert Stadium and Illinois (1-0) at Gettler Stadium
• Four different players scored for the Bearcats, including Sophie Gorman, Vanessa DiNardo and Jill Vetere in the win over the Flyers and Julia Abbott in the victory against the Hoosiers
• The defense did not allow a goal to be scored and limited both teams to a total of 11 shots (8 by Indiana, 3 by Dayton) with the UC keepers being called upon to save just four of those attempts
// KNOW THE FOE: EASTERN KENTUCKY
• The Colonels finished the 2017 season with an 11-5-4 overall record and posted a 6-1-3 mark in Ohio Valley Conference action to finish in a tie for second place with Tennessee Tech on 21 points (Murray State won the crown with 26 points)
• As the #3 seed in the OVC Tournament, the Colonels downed #2 Tennessee Tech, 1-0, in the semifinals before falling to #1 Murray State, 1-0, in the championship match at MSU
• Thursday's match will mark the second time in as many years EKU has ventured to the area to open their season after falling at NKU, 2-1, in last year's opener
• Bailly Bounds is the top returning scorer for the Colonels after her 10 points on three goals and four assists ranked her third on the team in 2017
• EKU will be using a new keeper this year after senior Anna Hall graduated following a season in which she played ever minute of the team's 20 matches, allowing 21 goals and halting 83 shots
// NOTING THE SERIES: BEARCATS-COLONELS
• Cincinnati leads the all-time series, 3-0-0, and has won the last two meetings by shutout after taking the series opener, 3-2, on the road in 2009
• The Bearcats won 2-0 in 2012 and 9-0 in 2014 to remain undefeated in the series
// THE LAST TIME • CIN 9:0 EKU
The Bearcats scored six second-half goals to take a 9-0 victory over the visiting Colonels on September 5, 2014, in the last meeting between the two programs. Jaycie Brown, Vanessa Gilles and Julie Gavorski - all of whom graduate from UC this past year - each scored two goals in the game while Megan Cravenor, Christi Howard and Danielle Rotheram each added one score. Defensively, UC recorded two saves, including one by Kristina Utley and one by a defender, to keep a clean sheet.
// KNOW THE FOE: VIRGINIA
• The Cavaliers finished the 2017 season with a 13-6-4 overall record and went 5-2-3 in the ACC, finishing fourth in the standings
• UVa advanced to the semifinals of the ACC Tournament before falling to Duke, 1-0, in that match
• The Cavaliers also earned a berth into the NCAA Tournament as the #12 seed and advanced to the Sweet 16 where they dropped a 2-1 score at #4 UCLA
• Four of the Top 5 scorers from 2017 return this year for UVA, including Taryn Torres, who tallied a team-high-tying eight goals and added one assist to tally 17 points on the year behind senior Veronica Latsko, who capped her final year with 20 points (8g-4a)
• Defensively, UVa allowed just 17 goals with a freshman in goal as Laurel Ivory played all by 30 minutes of the season in goal, recording 41 saves and miniscule 0.71 goals against average
// NOTING THE SERIES: BEARCATS-CAVALIERS
• Virginia leads the all-time series, 6-0-1, and has won each of the last five meetings
• The two teams played five years in a row against one another, including neutral site meetings in Radford, Va., in 1987 and Madison, Wis., in 1989
• The lone non-loss for the Bearcats in the series came in 1988 with the teams playing to a 1-1 draw
// THE LAST TIME • UVA 4:0 CIN
The last time Cincinnati and Virginia met came November 24, 2011, in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, a match the host Cavaliers won, 4-0. The loss ended the Bearcats' best run in program history after they had recorded their first wins in the national event. UC opened the NCAA Tournament with its first NCAA victory, roaring back from a 2-0 hole to knock-off visiting Oakland, 3-2, in Cincinnati. From there, the Bearcats advanced to meet #7 Notre Dame and upset the Fighting Irish on their home turf, 3-2, to earn a berth into the Sweet 16 and the meeting with UVa.
// LAST TIME VS. RANKED FOE
Sunday's match at Virginia will mark the 11th time the Bearcats have played a nationally ranked opponent in Stafford's time with the program with six of those matches coming in the 2015 season alone (2-5-3) as the Bearcats upset #18 USF in the regular season (1-0) and #10 UConn (3-2, OT) in the conference tournament while also tying #25 USF (1-1) in the tournament final before winning the crown on penalty kicks. UC's three losses that year came to #21 DePaul (1-2) in the season opener, #12 Virginia Tech (0-4) in the NCAA Tournament to close the year and at #18 UConn (0-1) in the regular season. The last time UC faced a ranked foe came last year with #14 UCF visiting Cincinnati for the conference opener (September 21, 2017). Both defenses played strong with neither conceding a goal as the two sides drew, 0-0.
// LIFTING THE LID • SEASON
The Bearcats hold an all-time record of 25-12-1 in their opening match of the season, including winners of their last two openers - a 1-0 victory over Buffalo last year and a 2-1 win over Dayton in double overtime to open the 2016 season. UC also is 15-6-0 when their first match of the year also is played at home. Under head coach Neil Stafford, UC holds a 3-2-0 record in their first match of the season after winning the last two in a row.
// LIFTING THE LID • HOME OPENER
UC holds a 26-10-2 overall record in their first home match of the season after winning the last two home openers, which also were its season openers. Overall, the team is 3-1-1 in their first home match under Stafford and hold a 7-2-1 record in the last 10 home openers as well. The Bearcats also have posted 15 shutouts in their home openers, holding a 14-0-1 record in those contests, with the latest shutout coming last year in a 1-0 victory over Buffalo.
// LIFTING THE LID • ROAD OPENER
When UC travels to Virginia Sunday, it will look to improve upon its 21-14-3 all-time record in its first road contest of the season and continue its two-match winning streak. The Bearcats won the past two road openers, including a 2-1 victory last year at Northwestern and a 3-2 win at Evansville in 2016. The win at Northwestern (September 3) also handed the Wildcats their first home defeat in nearly three years with the last setback coming October 12, 2014.
// DOUBLE DIGIT WINS
Last year, the Bearcats won 12 matches, marking the fourth year in a row the team has won 10+ in a single season under Stafford. That streak ties for the second-best in program history and leaves the Bearcats one shy of equalling the all-time best. Currently, the four-year streak equals the 1980-83 and 1986-89 squads for second while the 1994-97 teams hold the mark with five in a row.
// CONTINUING TO IMPROVE
Before Stafford took over the program, UC had improved its season win percentage in two-consecutive seasons four times, with the most recent coming in 2000 (.727 from .447) and 2001 (.834 from .727). After the program finished with a win percentage of .250 in 2012 and Stafford came in, the team has raised its win percentage in all five seasons, posting marks of .425 (2013), .550 (2014), .646 (2015), .650 (2016) and .711 (2017).
// SORRY, THE GOAL IS CLOSED
One of the reasons the Bearcats have continued to raise its overall profile has been the outstanding defense it has played. In 2012, UC conceded 39 goals. Since then, that number has gone down every year under Stafford, reaching a miniscule total of 11 allowed in 2017, which tied for the fewest in a season. During that span, UC has allowed 37 (2013), 27 (2014), 22 (2015), 21 (2016) and 11 (2017).
LOOKING BACK AT 2017
// AWARDS HAUL
For the 2017 season, the Bearcats collected 19 weekly awards from the American, including nine major awards and 10 Honor Roll selections. Here is the breakdown:
• Offensive POTW: Julie Gavorski (1), Jaycie Brown (1)
• Defensive POTW: Vanessa Gilles (4), Kiki Lowell (2)
• Goalkeeper OTW: Madison Less (1)
• Honor Roll: Less (3), Sophie Gorman (3), Gavorski (1), Taylor Pavlika (1), Karli Royer (1), Jill Vetere (1)
Following the season, several Bearcats were honored by the league as well:
• Co-Defensive Player of the Year: Vanessa Gilles
• AAC All-Conference: Vanessa Gilles (1), Sophie Gorman (2)
• AAC All-Rookie: Sophie Gorman, Kiki Lowell
// IN THE RPI
During the 2017 season, the Bearcats rose as high as #11 in the RPI data released by the NCAA, the highest ranking they have attained in program history. What is more impressive is where the program had come from. At the end of the 2012 season, Cincinnati's final RPI ranking was #227, meaning that, in the five years Stafford and his staff have guided the program, the Bearcats have clawed their way up 216 positions since the start of the 2013 season.
// BROUGHT HOME THE BAGEL
With the regular season finale - a 1-0 win over ECU - the 2017 Bearcats did something only four other UC squads had done in program history: post an undefeated home record. With the win, UC closed out the home slate with an 8-0-3 record, the first undefeated home slate since 1996. Here is a look at some of the stats and notes following the 8-0-3 record:
• The team's .950 win percentage at home is the third-best in program history behind only the 1982 (7-0-0) and 1984 (5-0-0) teams
• The 8 home wins is a program record, surpassing 10 previous times UC had recorded 7 wins
• The Bearcats posted eight shutouts at home, which ties the 2015 side for the most in a single season in program history
• UC allowed just 0.45 goals per match at home this year, one of only nine campaigns win which the Bearcats allowed one-half of one goal or less
// GORMAN GOALS
To get the 1-0 victory over ECU, Sophie Gorman did her thing and scored in the 42' as a shot was deflected by the defense right to Gorman, who put the ball over the keeper's head and under the crossbar for what would be the winner. What makes that goal even more interesting is that it not only won the game, but also book-ended the regular season with winning goals from Gorman as the freshman scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win over Buffalo in the season opener before Friday's victorious strike.
// SHARING THE SHEETS
In 2017, the Bearcats recorded 11 shutouts. While that is a strong statistic on its own, what is more impressive is that all four keepers on the roster have contributed to those clean sheets. Madison Less has recorded seven shutouts while Jane Sensibaugh and Claudia Eustaquio have tallied two and 1.5, respectively. Kaleigh Piscioneri joined in with a scoreless second half against Morehead State to pick up a share of a shutout. What does it all mean? It means that UC is the only team in the nation that has four keepers with at least a share of one shutout and also has the Bearcats joining Louisiana Tech as the only schools with three keepers that have tallied at least one full shutout.
// PROTECT THIS HOUSE
Since the start of the 2013 season, the Bearcats have played 47 home matches, posting a 32-6-9 record in that time (.777 win percentage). Including 2017, UC has won at least four home contests each season with eight in 2017, seven wins in 2014 and 2015, six in 2016 and four in 2013. Also, in that time, UC has out-scored its guests, 89-33 (+56).
// FRIENDLY CONFINES
In their first five seasons (including 2017), Stafford and his staff have accumulated 31 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 .843 win percentage (28-4-3) in her first five years.
// SUNDAY FUN DAY!
Since Stafford took over the program in time for the 2013 season, the Bearcats have played at home on Sunday 24 times and hold an impressive 21-0-3 record in those matches after posting wins over Boston University, 2-0, Miami (Fla.), 1-0, Purdue, 2-1, and USF, 1-0, and a 0-0 draw with Memphis last weekend. During those 24 matches, the Bearcats have out scored their foes, 50-11, with the UC defense recording 15 clean sheets in that span.
// ACADEMICALLY SOUND
Last year, the Bearcats collectively sported a 3.50 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, 28 of the 31 women on the roster recorded a 3.00 GPA or better during the 2017-18 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 2017-18 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.
// UP NEXT
Next week, the Bearcats return to their home turf once again as they will play host to two regional rivals. First, UC will welcome Wright State to Gettler Stadium on Friday, August 24, for the second half of a doubleheader that will see the men face Northern Illinois in their season opener at 6 p.m. and the women getting underway at approximately 8 p.m. Then, on Sunday, August 26, the Bearcats will face Northern Kentucky at 7 p.m. at Gettler Stadium for the third installment of the Riverboat Rivalry. Admission is complimentary for all fans as part of the Experience UC initiative.