TicketsCINCINNATI - Jill Vetere played the role of hero Sunday night as she netted the game-winning goal in overtime off a corner kick from Dee Picou to send the University of Cincinnati women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over visiting Northern Kentucky in the third edition of the Riverboat Rivalry played at Gettler Stadium. The win, UC's third in a row over the Norse by the identical 1-0 score, moved the Bearcats to 3-1-0 on the year while the visitors fell to 2-2-0.
// QUICK NOTES
• Cincinnati improved to 3-1-0 on the season while Northern Kentucky fell to 2-2-0 overall
• The Bearcats remained undefeated in the Riverboat Rivalry match, winning for the third time in a row in the series and by a 1-0 score for the third time in a row as well
• Tonight's match was the first 'Sunday Fun Day' for the Bearcats and, with the win, saw them move to 22-0-3 in all Sunday home contests under Neil Stafford (since the start of the 2013 season) with UC outscoring their foes, 51-11, in those matches while posting 16 shut outs
• 1194 fans turned out for the match, marking the sith-largest home crowd in school history and the 11th-largest crowd the Bearcats have ever played (home or away)
• The Bearcats are currently on a 15-match undefeated streak at home after winning, 2-1, over Temple to close out the 2016 season and going 8-0-3 last year before moving to 3-0-0 at home this year. The record streak is 23 in a row (1983-86).
• Vetere scored her third career goal for the Bearcats and her second game-winning strike. The first of UC career came September 28, 2017, when helped the Bearcats to a 1-0 road win at UConn.
• The goal came at 98:46, marking the third-latest goal scored under Stafford and the second in three years after Julie Gavorski scored at 109:46 to defeat Dayton in the 2016 opener
• After her corner kick crossed the box and found Vetere for the game-winning shot, Picou was credited with the assist, marking the first point of her collegiate career
• Madison Less made her season debut, stopping three shots in all to earn her eighth career shutout, leaving her 0.2 shy of tying for 10th all-time on the program's career Top 10 ledger
• Less is the third keeper to see action this year for the Bearcats and the second of the weekend after Jane Sensibaugh earned the shutout victory Friday night against Wright State
// CINCINNATI 1:0 NORTHERN KENTUCKY
Throughout much of the second half and into overtime, the Bearcats continued to press forward and had the visitors on their heels defending. With wave after wave of attack, the Bearcats finally cashed in on their pressure by earning a corner kick. At the flag, Picou set the ball and sent a high arching pass into the area that missed an on-rushing Kiki Lowell, who scored in the opener off a set-piece header. With ball still bending out, Vetere brought the ball to the ground and immediately shot low past the keeper into the opposite side netting to secure the overtime victory and give the hosts another thrilling late win. The assist credited to Picou was not only the first of her career, but also the first point of her career with UC.
// OTHER CHANCES
The Bearcats outshot the Norse, 18-6, and had several very close encounters with NKU keeper Emily Lohmann, who turned away six shots, several of which came courtesy of her tipping a high shot over her cross bar.
• In the 34', UC was awarded a free kick just outside the area with Cassie Wheldon taking a crack at goal. Her shot looked as if it would have gotten past the keeper, but it struck the post and bounced away.
• In the 83', Vetere nearly sent the home crowd home with a regulation win as she collected the ball near the top of the box and ripped a shot that rose toward the cross bar. Her she was parried away by Lohmann over the bar to preserve the scoreless match.
• In the 85', Vanessa DiNardo tried her hand at hitting the winner as she stepped inside the top of the box and bent a shot toward the post that the Norse keeper pushed aside as well
• Less than one minute before the winner was scored, Sophie Gorman, who scored the winner last year at NKU, was at the top of the area and chipped a shot on goal, only to see Lohmann once again punch that shot over the bar and allow the match to continue
// NEXT MATCH
The Bearcats return to the road for one match this week as they renew their series with Notre Dame as the two sides will meet Thursday at 7 p.m. on South Bend, Ind.
// 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 lacrosse, volleyball, women's tennis, men's and women's soccer, swimming & diving and track & field home events.
// QUICK NOTES
• Cincinnati improved to 3-1-0 on the season while Northern Kentucky fell to 2-2-0 overall
• The Bearcats remained undefeated in the Riverboat Rivalry match, winning for the third time in a row in the series and by a 1-0 score for the third time in a row as well
• Tonight's match was the first 'Sunday Fun Day' for the Bearcats and, with the win, saw them move to 22-0-3 in all Sunday home contests under Neil Stafford (since the start of the 2013 season) with UC outscoring their foes, 51-11, in those matches while posting 16 shut outs
• 1194 fans turned out for the match, marking the sith-largest home crowd in school history and the 11th-largest crowd the Bearcats have ever played (home or away)
• The Bearcats are currently on a 15-match undefeated streak at home after winning, 2-1, over Temple to close out the 2016 season and going 8-0-3 last year before moving to 3-0-0 at home this year. The record streak is 23 in a row (1983-86).
• Vetere scored her third career goal for the Bearcats and her second game-winning strike. The first of UC career came September 28, 2017, when helped the Bearcats to a 1-0 road win at UConn.
• The goal came at 98:46, marking the third-latest goal scored under Stafford and the second in three years after Julie Gavorski scored at 109:46 to defeat Dayton in the 2016 opener
• After her corner kick crossed the box and found Vetere for the game-winning shot, Picou was credited with the assist, marking the first point of her collegiate career
• Madison Less made her season debut, stopping three shots in all to earn her eighth career shutout, leaving her 0.2 shy of tying for 10th all-time on the program's career Top 10 ledger
• Less is the third keeper to see action this year for the Bearcats and the second of the weekend after Jane Sensibaugh earned the shutout victory Friday night against Wright State
Check out overtime heroics from @scrumjillyumcis & thrilling end to the #RiverboatRivalry!#Bearcats | #CultureOfExcellence pic.twitter.com/iDph6ErSaV
— Cincinnati W-Soccer (@GoBearcatsWSOC) August 27, 2018
// CINCINNATI 1:0 NORTHERN KENTUCKY
Throughout much of the second half and into overtime, the Bearcats continued to press forward and had the visitors on their heels defending. With wave after wave of attack, the Bearcats finally cashed in on their pressure by earning a corner kick. At the flag, Picou set the ball and sent a high arching pass into the area that missed an on-rushing Kiki Lowell, who scored in the opener off a set-piece header. With ball still bending out, Vetere brought the ball to the ground and immediately shot low past the keeper into the opposite side netting to secure the overtime victory and give the hosts another thrilling late win. The assist credited to Picou was not only the first of her career, but also the first point of her career with UC.
// OTHER CHANCES
The Bearcats outshot the Norse, 18-6, and had several very close encounters with NKU keeper Emily Lohmann, who turned away six shots, several of which came courtesy of her tipping a high shot over her cross bar.
• In the 34', UC was awarded a free kick just outside the area with Cassie Wheldon taking a crack at goal. Her shot looked as if it would have gotten past the keeper, but it struck the post and bounced away.
• In the 83', Vetere nearly sent the home crowd home with a regulation win as she collected the ball near the top of the box and ripped a shot that rose toward the cross bar. Her she was parried away by Lohmann over the bar to preserve the scoreless match.
• In the 85', Vanessa DiNardo tried her hand at hitting the winner as she stepped inside the top of the box and bent a shot toward the post that the Norse keeper pushed aside as well
• Less than one minute before the winner was scored, Sophie Gorman, who scored the winner last year at NKU, was at the top of the area and chipped a shot on goal, only to see Lohmann once again punch that shot over the bar and allow the match to continue
// NEXT MATCH
The Bearcats return to the road for one match this week as they renew their series with Notre Dame as the two sides will meet Thursday at 7 p.m. on South Bend, Ind.
// 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 lacrosse, volleyball, women's tennis, men's and women's soccer, swimming & diving and track & field home events.