TicketsCINCINNATI - Claudia Eustaquio recorded six saves while the defense in front of her put up a solid showing to help the University of Cincinnati women's soccer team record a scoreless draw with visiting #16 Kansas Thursday night at Gettler Stadium in Cincinnati. The Bearcats, who faced their third nationally ranked opponent of the year so far, moved to 3-2-1 overall while the Jayhawks moved to 5-0-2.
// QUICK NOTES
• Cincinnati improved to 3-2-1 on the year and 3-0-1 at home while the Jayhawks remained undefeated at 5-0-2 following their first road contest of the 2018 season
• Kansas entered the match ranked #16 in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll and #25 according to Top Drawer Soccer
• UC moved to 0-2-1 on the year against ranked teams having lost at #8 Virginia and #25 Notre Dame before tonight
• With the tie, UC remained undefeated at home this year, moving to 3-0-1, while also increasing its current home undefeated streak to 16 in a row (12-0-4), dating back to the end of 2016
• The Bearcats are 1-0-1 in overtime this year with a 1-0 win over Northern Kentucky two weeks ago to go with tonight's tie
• The match was the first between the two teams and just the sixth against the Big XII with UC moving to 2-3-1 in those matches and snapping a three-match losing streak to the league
• Eustaquio recorded six saves to keep her first clean sheet of the season and the second of her UC career
• Tonight's match marked the first time KU has not scored this year
• Six Bearcats each had at least one shot on the night with Jill Vetere leading the way with two to her credit
• The match started 47 minutes late because of lightning in the area, the second time weather has delayed a home match in 2018 after a 53 minute delay held up the season opener with Eastern Kentucky
// CHANCES
The Bearcats had four very solid chances on the night. In the 13', UC went on a counter attack with Bri Costigan sending a pass over the KU defense from deep. Sydney Kilgore ran under it, but was unable to get a toe to the ball as the KU keeper snared the ball out of the air. Then, with under one minute remaining before halftime, a long pass from Kiki Lowell nearly produced a goal as well with Kilgore again on the receiving end of the pass. She took the ball, drove toward the box and slid a shot toward the back post, seeing it skip just wide.
In the 47', just over one minute into the second half, Kilgore nearly put the hosts ahead as Vetere carried to ball into the corner and send a pass screaming across the face of goal. Kilgore rushed on, but was unable to get a foot on the ball as is rolled to the opposite side of the pitch.
// STOUT DEFENSE
While Eustaquio receives credit for the shutout, her teammates did their part to assist. The biggest assist came late in regulation as Lowell's defensive back-tracking saved the match. With 86:53 showing on the clock, KU went on the break with Taylor Christie carrying the ball down the center of the attacking third, looking to challenge Eustaquio one on one. As she entered the penalty area, Lowell arrived and played the ball beautifully to tackle it away from Christie just enough for Eustaquio to smother the ball and keep the visitors off the board.
In overtime, the guests had a pair of solid attempts, one each on the extra sessions. In the first overtime period, KU was again pressing forward and sent a pass through the area, seeing it miss all on coming traffic, much as the Bearcats experienced in the 47' on their own attempt. Then, with under three minutes remaining in the match, a cross was played in a Hagen was there, but her header was saved by Eustaquio to help the Bearcats earn the result.
// NEXT MATCH
The Bearcats return to the road Sunday as they will travel to Auburn, Ala., to face the #10 Auburn Tigers. The match with undefeated AU (6-0-0) will start at Noon local (1 p.m. ET) and will be carried live online via the SEC Network.
// 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 3-2-1 on the year and 3-0-1 at home while the Jayhawks remained undefeated at 5-0-2 following their first road contest of the 2018 season
• Kansas entered the match ranked #16 in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll and #25 according to Top Drawer Soccer
• UC moved to 0-2-1 on the year against ranked teams having lost at #8 Virginia and #25 Notre Dame before tonight
• With the tie, UC remained undefeated at home this year, moving to 3-0-1, while also increasing its current home undefeated streak to 16 in a row (12-0-4), dating back to the end of 2016
• The Bearcats are 1-0-1 in overtime this year with a 1-0 win over Northern Kentucky two weeks ago to go with tonight's tie
• The match was the first between the two teams and just the sixth against the Big XII with UC moving to 2-3-1 in those matches and snapping a three-match losing streak to the league
• Eustaquio recorded six saves to keep her first clean sheet of the season and the second of her UC career
• Tonight's match marked the first time KU has not scored this year
• Six Bearcats each had at least one shot on the night with Jill Vetere leading the way with two to her credit
• The match started 47 minutes late because of lightning in the area, the second time weather has delayed a home match in 2018 after a 53 minute delay held up the season opener with Eastern Kentucky
// CHANCES
The Bearcats had four very solid chances on the night. In the 13', UC went on a counter attack with Bri Costigan sending a pass over the KU defense from deep. Sydney Kilgore ran under it, but was unable to get a toe to the ball as the KU keeper snared the ball out of the air. Then, with under one minute remaining before halftime, a long pass from Kiki Lowell nearly produced a goal as well with Kilgore again on the receiving end of the pass. She took the ball, drove toward the box and slid a shot toward the back post, seeing it skip just wide.
In the 47', just over one minute into the second half, Kilgore nearly put the hosts ahead as Vetere carried to ball into the corner and send a pass screaming across the face of goal. Kilgore rushed on, but was unable to get a foot on the ball as is rolled to the opposite side of the pitch.
// STOUT DEFENSE
While Eustaquio receives credit for the shutout, her teammates did their part to assist. The biggest assist came late in regulation as Lowell's defensive back-tracking saved the match. With 86:53 showing on the clock, KU went on the break with Taylor Christie carrying the ball down the center of the attacking third, looking to challenge Eustaquio one on one. As she entered the penalty area, Lowell arrived and played the ball beautifully to tackle it away from Christie just enough for Eustaquio to smother the ball and keep the visitors off the board.
In overtime, the guests had a pair of solid attempts, one each on the extra sessions. In the first overtime period, KU was again pressing forward and sent a pass through the area, seeing it miss all on coming traffic, much as the Bearcats experienced in the 47' on their own attempt. Then, with under three minutes remaining in the match, a cross was played in a Hagen was there, but her header was saved by Eustaquio to help the Bearcats earn the result.
// NEXT MATCH
The Bearcats return to the road Sunday as they will travel to Auburn, Ala., to face the #10 Auburn Tigers. The match with undefeated AU (6-0-0) will start at Noon local (1 p.m. ET) and will be carried live online via the SEC Network.
// 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.