CINCINNATI - Madison Less and Han Tang, both members of the University of Cincinnati women's soccer program, have earned recognition from the American Athletic Conference for outstanding performances turned in last week with Less being named the AAC Goalkeeper of the Week and Tang being selected to the Honor Roll. Both Bearcats played a big role in the team posting a 1-0-1 record during last week's slate while helping UC snap a five-match skid.
// MAKING SAVES
Less continued her strong play in goal as she tallied five saves in two matches to help UC come from behind in a 3-2 win at Lipscomb before posting a double-overtime shutout of Xavier. Against the Bisons, the Bearcats fell behind 2-1 at the break. In the second half, Less was called upon to make two stops to keep the hosts off the board and did just that as UC won to snap a five-match losing streak. Then, in Sunday's renewal of the Queen City Derby, Less needed to make just three stops for the shutout, but two were huge as one denied the Musketeers from point-blank range in the final 15 minutes of regulation and the other kept XU off the board in the second overtime period on a shot from distance. With the draw, Less recorded her 10th career shutout and moved into 10th all-time at UC for clean sheets.
With her selection this week, Less has now been named the conference's keeper of the week for the fourth 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 August 26, 2019 ahead of this week's honor. Her selection also places her in a tie with Natalie Smith for the most goalkeeper awards at UC after Smith was a four-time AAC goalkeeper of the week in 2013, 2015 (2x) and 2016.
// BRACED FOR MORE
Tang recorded several firsts at LU as she recorded her first multiple-goal match, first penalty kick conversion and first game-winning score to help the Bearcats to victory. Tang opened the scoring a 2:44 to make it 1-0 with the eighth-fastest goal scored under Neil Stafford (since 2013). After falling behind and then seeing the match tied, UC was award a spot kick in the 68' with Tang taking the penalty and sending the ball into the back of the net for the eventual winner. She is the second UC player to score a brace this year after UC had not had a multiple-goal scorer since early in the 2017 season.
Tang's selection is the first of her career and makes her the 19th different UC player to be selected to the AAC Honor Roll since joining the league in 2013. Her selection also is the 42nd Honor Roll selection overall for the Bearcats.
// RUNNING TOTALS
With the selections this week, UC has garnered four awards from the AAC in 2019. Less has twice been named the goalkeeper of the week while Tang joins Vanessa DiNardo (Aug. 26) as selections to the Honor Roll.
// NEXT UP
The Bearcats return to action Saturday at home as Austin Peay will pay a visit to Gettler Stadium for a 5 p.m. contest.
// 2019 AAC Weekly Awards
Goalkeeper of the Week
Madison Less • Aug. 26 & Sept. 16
Honor Roll
Vanessa DiNardo • Aug. 26
Han Tang • Sept. 16
Less, Han Earn Weekly AAC Honors
Madison Less and Han Tang, both members of the University of Cincinnati women's soccer program, have earned recognition from the American Athletic Conference for outstanding performances turned in last week with Less being named the AAC Goalkeeper of the Week and Tang being selected to the Honor Roll.
