TicketsSOUTH BEND, Ind. - Sydney Kilgore netted her second goal of the season to stake the University of Cincinnati women's soccer to a 1-0 lead in the 58', but host rv/#25 Notre Dame stormed back for two goals of their own to claim a 2-1 win over the visiting Bearcats Thursday night at Alumni Stadium in South Bend, Ind. The loss snapped the Bearcats' two-match winning streak and sent them to a 3-2-0 record on the year while the Irish rebounded from their first loss of the campaign to improve to 4-1-0 overall.
// QUICK NOTES
• Cincinnati fell to 3-2-0 on the year while Notre Dame moved to 4-1-0
• The Irish entered the match ranked #25 according to Top Drawer Soccer and were receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches poll
• The Bearcats are now 3-0-0 at home in 2018 and 0-2-0 on the road after dropping their second away match to an ACC foe
• The Irish improved to 14-1-1 all-time against the Bearcats and have won 10 in a row in the series
• Kilgore scored her team-leading second goal of the year, tying her previous season high set back in 2016 when she was a freshman at Indiana (did not score last year)
• Madison Less tallied six saves in the match in her second contest of the season
• Michelle Travassos earned her first career start with the Bearcats after an injury sidelined her all of the last season
• 23 players saw minutes in the game, including 21 in the first half alone
// QUOTING STAFFORD
"Unfortunately, tonight was a missed opportunity for the program," Head Coach Neil Stafford said. "There were several periods in the match where I thought we did really well, but those, at times, were too few and far between. We had prepared well on both sides of the ball but then, in critical moments, became complacent and lacked discipline to execute. You can't make it easy for a good attacking side to punish you. We had poor clearance and no one stepped to the ball as she drove across the 18, only to get a free shot off and score. And then, for the second goal, we got caught flat in the back which results in a dangerous ball into the box. Undisciplined behavior and a lack of leadership to organize or fix lead to moments of madness and that gets you punished.
"I've always been confident of our ability to get the most out of the players and, right now, that's not happening consistently enough when we play some of the bigger name teams," Stafford continued. "The players are not competing at an intensity that is acceptable for this level of soccer. It's an eye-opening experience for them and one that's providing a certain amount of adversity. They don't recognize that it's a blessing to go through this as it will help us in the long run. The players have to believe in themselves more and understand that they've been brought here for a reason. We have the utmost confidence in them, but they've got to believe it themselves. You have to be able to stand on your own two feet. We are very lucky to have these next several games coming our way as I hope the players get comfortable with the pressure. We're now onto Kansas."
// CINCINNATI 1:0 NOTRE DAME
UC got on the board first in the 58' as Kilgore collected her second goal in a Bearcats kit. The play began near midfield where Cassie Wheldon forced a turnover and collected the loose ball. Wheldon carried toward the UND goal and let a shot rip from 25 yards away, sending a low ball toward the Irish keeper. The shot was saved, but caromed off the keeper right into the path of Kilgore, who was running on goal and hammered home the loose ball for a 1-0 lead. Kilgore now leads the team in scoring with her two strikes, which also equals her previous season-high goal total of two that she bagged for Indiana in 2016, her freshman season (she did not score last year with IU).
// CINCINNATI 1:1 NOTRE DAME
Less than seven minutes later, in the 65', the hosts pulled level as Olivia Wingate scored from the top of the box. The play began with a long throw in that was pushed away, only to see Wingate collect the ball and move toward the top of the area, where she sent an arching shot toward the goal. The shot slipped past a diving save attempt from Less and into the side netting to square the match at 1-1.
// CINCINNATI 1:2 NOTRE DAME
With the match tied, the Irish netted the game-winner in the 72'. The ball was carried down the flank and sent across the mouth of the goal where a shot was taken. Less dove and got her fingers on the attempt, sending it off the post. But, that carom went back into the center of the box where Karin Muya struck the ball into the net before Less could recover from her diving save.
// FIRST HALF
The match opened with the Bearcats playing aggressively and pushing forward to create several solid chances, including just 30 seconds in as Brandi Thomsen's through ball into the box was just a touch too heavy for an on-coming Kilgore, sending the Irish keeper into action to smother the chance. After 15 minutes of play, the hosts began to turn the tables, gaining an edge in possession and forcing the Bearcats defense to stand tall. That included the Irish's best chance, which came at the 34' mark on a header that Less made a shoe-string save and the UC defense was able to clear away to avert any more chances. The half ended with UND leading in shots, 12-5.
// IMPROVED RESULT
Although the end result was not what the Bearcats had hoped, it was one of its better showings in the series. The last time the two teams played was in 2012 - the final year both were members of the BIG EAST - with the host Irish winning, 7-0. Looking back, tonight's score marked just the fourth time in 16 matches that the final was decided by one goal or less with the most recent being a 2-1 loss in Cincinnati in 2009. Added to that, the two goals allowed to the Irish also was different from the earlier years: in the previous 15 contests, UC held the Irish to two or fewer goals just three times, including the 2-1 loss in 2009, UC's 3-2 win in the NCAA Second Round game in South Bend in 2001 and a 2-2 draw in Cincinnati in 1995.
// NEXT MATCH
A pair of nationally ranked foes are on the slate for the Bearcats next week with one each at home and on the road. First, UC will play host to #19 Kansas at 7 p.m. Thursday with fans being encouraged to join the team in wearing red at Gettler Stadium. Then, on Sunday, the Bearcats will battle #17 Auburn on the road with a 1 p.m. ET (noon local) start in Auburn, Ala.
// 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 fell to 3-2-0 on the year while Notre Dame moved to 4-1-0
• The Irish entered the match ranked #25 according to Top Drawer Soccer and were receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches poll
• The Bearcats are now 3-0-0 at home in 2018 and 0-2-0 on the road after dropping their second away match to an ACC foe
• The Irish improved to 14-1-1 all-time against the Bearcats and have won 10 in a row in the series
• Kilgore scored her team-leading second goal of the year, tying her previous season high set back in 2016 when she was a freshman at Indiana (did not score last year)
• Madison Less tallied six saves in the match in her second contest of the season
• Michelle Travassos earned her first career start with the Bearcats after an injury sidelined her all of the last season
• 23 players saw minutes in the game, including 21 in the first half alone
// QUOTING STAFFORD
"Unfortunately, tonight was a missed opportunity for the program," Head Coach Neil Stafford said. "There were several periods in the match where I thought we did really well, but those, at times, were too few and far between. We had prepared well on both sides of the ball but then, in critical moments, became complacent and lacked discipline to execute. You can't make it easy for a good attacking side to punish you. We had poor clearance and no one stepped to the ball as she drove across the 18, only to get a free shot off and score. And then, for the second goal, we got caught flat in the back which results in a dangerous ball into the box. Undisciplined behavior and a lack of leadership to organize or fix lead to moments of madness and that gets you punished.
"I've always been confident of our ability to get the most out of the players and, right now, that's not happening consistently enough when we play some of the bigger name teams," Stafford continued. "The players are not competing at an intensity that is acceptable for this level of soccer. It's an eye-opening experience for them and one that's providing a certain amount of adversity. They don't recognize that it's a blessing to go through this as it will help us in the long run. The players have to believe in themselves more and understand that they've been brought here for a reason. We have the utmost confidence in them, but they've got to believe it themselves. You have to be able to stand on your own two feet. We are very lucky to have these next several games coming our way as I hope the players get comfortable with the pressure. We're now onto Kansas."
// CINCINNATI 1:0 NOTRE DAME
UC got on the board first in the 58' as Kilgore collected her second goal in a Bearcats kit. The play began near midfield where Cassie Wheldon forced a turnover and collected the loose ball. Wheldon carried toward the UND goal and let a shot rip from 25 yards away, sending a low ball toward the Irish keeper. The shot was saved, but caromed off the keeper right into the path of Kilgore, who was running on goal and hammered home the loose ball for a 1-0 lead. Kilgore now leads the team in scoring with her two strikes, which also equals her previous season-high goal total of two that she bagged for Indiana in 2016, her freshman season (she did not score last year with IU).
// CINCINNATI 1:1 NOTRE DAME
Less than seven minutes later, in the 65', the hosts pulled level as Olivia Wingate scored from the top of the box. The play began with a long throw in that was pushed away, only to see Wingate collect the ball and move toward the top of the area, where she sent an arching shot toward the goal. The shot slipped past a diving save attempt from Less and into the side netting to square the match at 1-1.
// CINCINNATI 1:2 NOTRE DAME
With the match tied, the Irish netted the game-winner in the 72'. The ball was carried down the flank and sent across the mouth of the goal where a shot was taken. Less dove and got her fingers on the attempt, sending it off the post. But, that carom went back into the center of the box where Karin Muya struck the ball into the net before Less could recover from her diving save.
// FIRST HALF
The match opened with the Bearcats playing aggressively and pushing forward to create several solid chances, including just 30 seconds in as Brandi Thomsen's through ball into the box was just a touch too heavy for an on-coming Kilgore, sending the Irish keeper into action to smother the chance. After 15 minutes of play, the hosts began to turn the tables, gaining an edge in possession and forcing the Bearcats defense to stand tall. That included the Irish's best chance, which came at the 34' mark on a header that Less made a shoe-string save and the UC defense was able to clear away to avert any more chances. The half ended with UND leading in shots, 12-5.
// IMPROVED RESULT
Although the end result was not what the Bearcats had hoped, it was one of its better showings in the series. The last time the two teams played was in 2012 - the final year both were members of the BIG EAST - with the host Irish winning, 7-0. Looking back, tonight's score marked just the fourth time in 16 matches that the final was decided by one goal or less with the most recent being a 2-1 loss in Cincinnati in 2009. Added to that, the two goals allowed to the Irish also was different from the earlier years: in the previous 15 contests, UC held the Irish to two or fewer goals just three times, including the 2-1 loss in 2009, UC's 3-2 win in the NCAA Second Round game in South Bend in 2001 and a 2-2 draw in Cincinnati in 1995.
// NEXT MATCH
A pair of nationally ranked foes are on the slate for the Bearcats next week with one each at home and on the road. First, UC will play host to #19 Kansas at 7 p.m. Thursday with fans being encouraged to join the team in wearing red at Gettler Stadium. Then, on Sunday, the Bearcats will battle #17 Auburn on the road with a 1 p.m. ET (noon local) start in Auburn, Ala.
// 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.