CINCINNATI - The American Athletic Conference has announced its first weekly women's soccer honors for the 2019 season with two members of the University of Cincinnati program garnering recognition, including Madison Less, who named the AAC Goalkeeper of the Week. Joining Less with an award this week is Vanessa DiNardo, who was placed on the Honor Roll.
// MAKING SAVES
In the opening weekend of play, Less was called into the starting lineup twice and played the full 180 minutes to help the Bearcats to a 1-1-0 record. On opening night, the junior keeper helped UC to a 2-0 victory as she halted both shots sent her way and picked up the ninth clean sheet of her career, moving her into 10th on the program's all-time Top 10. Then, at #25 Virginia Tech, the keeper stopped 10 shots to tie a career high and limit the Hokies to a 2-0 win.
With her selection this week, Less has now been named the conference's keeper of the week for the third time. She has now received the honor once in each of her three years playing for the Bearcats, including October 30, 2017, September 17, 2018 and this week. Her selection also puts her one award shy of Natalie Smith, who was a four-time AAC goalkeeper of the week in 2013, 2015 (2x) and 2016.
// GETTING GOALS
DiNardo got the Bearcats off to a quick start in the win column as she netted a brace in 21 seconds to down the Red Storm Thursday night. In the match, Sydney Goins played a long ball to DiNardo before she hammered home a shot for a 1-0 lead. Then, 21 seconds later, she found the back of the net after sending home a rebound off a Maddy Pittman shot that hit off the post. The 21-second time span is the fastest back-to-back goals scored by a UC woman since at least 2001.
The Honor Roll selection for DiNardo is the first of her career and is her third career honor from the league. Last year, she was a unanimous selection to the AAC All-Rookie Team before earning a place on the preseason AAC All-Conference team this year.
// NEXT UP
The Bearcats return to the road Thursday as they will face Missouri (2-0-0) in Columbia, Mo., in a 7 p.m. CT (8 p.m. ET) match. The match will be streamed live on the SEC Network+ on ESPN.com.
// 2019 AAC Weekly Awards
Offensive Player of the Week
n/a
Goalkeeper of the Week
Madison Less • Aug. 26
Rookie of the Week
n/a
Honor Roll
Vanessa DiNardo • Aug. 26
Less Named AAC Goalkeeper of the Week
The American Athletic Conference has announced its first weekly women's soccer honors for the 2019 season with two members of the University of Cincinnati program garnering recognition, including Madison Less, who named the AAC Goalkeeper of the Week.
