UC Plays Xavier to Scoreless Draw in Queen City Derby

CINCINNATI - For the first time since 2015, the Queen City Derby was contested Sunday night at Nippert Stadium with the University of Cincinnati women's soccer team and crosstown rival Xavier playing to a scoreless draw in front of boisterous 3,114 fans. With the draw, the Bearcats improved to 2-5-1 on the year and went undefeated on the week, posting a 1-0-1 record after winning, 3-2, at Lipscomb Thursday. The Musketeers, playing in their four double-overtime in eight matches this year, moved to 5-1-2.

// NOTING THE MATCH
• Cincinnati improved to 2-5-1 in 2019 while Xavier moved to 5-1-2 overall
• The Bearcats now stand 25-6-2 in the all-time series with the Musketeers and 13-3-1 when the match is played in Clifton
• The series has ended in scoreless draws in the last two meetings after not having recorded a tie in the previous 31
• Additionally, the Bearcats improved to 85-23-7 all-time against foes from the state of Ohio and are undefeated in their last seven in a row, holding a 5-0-2 mark in that span (both ties are 0-0 draws with Xavier)
• 3,114 fans were on hand at Nipper Stadium tonight, marking what is believed to be the third largest crowd to see a women's collegiate soccer match in the state of Ohio behind the 4,722 that came out in 2016 to see UC defeat Northern Kentucky and the 3,186 that saw Ohio State defeat Louisville, 2-1, in overtime in 2008 in Columbus
• In the 40 years UC has played at the varsity level, tonight's match marks just the 18th time (745 matches in total through tonight) that the final was a scoreless draw
• Of those 18 scoreless draws, eight have been recorded in the past four and one-half seasons, including two each in 2015, 2016 and 2017 and one each in both 2018 and 2019
• Less stopped three shots on the night - two of which were huge - to record her 10th career shutout, the #10 total in program history
• Of those 10 clean sheets, three have come in 0-0 draws at home, including against UCF and Memphis in 2017 and Xavier tonight
• Morgan Jackson and Sophie Gorman each recorded career-high shot totals as Jackson launched two and Gorman four for the second match in a row
• Tonight's match marked the first time Stafford has coached against one of his former assistants in an NCAA Division I match with Nate Lie leading Xavier

// SCORING RECAP
There was no scoring in the match.

// BIG SAVES
Although she was called upon to make just three saves in the match, Less was certainly up to the task to keep the visitors off the board. First, in the 78', Xavier broke down the left flank and slid a pass across the front of the goal mouth were the ball came to an attacker on the back post. With Less moving to her left to cut the angle, the shot went back toward the back post. Less got her hand up and deflected the ball to erase what looked to be the opening goal. Then, in the second overtime, XU decided to try Less from distance, blasting a from nearly 30 yards. The ball came low and to her right where Less dove and tipped the skipping shot away to preserve the clean sheet.

// HIGH TEN
With the shutout, Less now has 10.0 career clean sheets, the 10th-most in program history. Currently, Kathy Kronauge (1985-87) sits ninth overall with 10.5 shutouts to her credit.

// STOUT DEFENSE
It wasn't just Less' play that sparkled on defense tonight, but also outstanding play for two young backs. Freshman Ashley Barron and sophomore Alli Pestania not only earned a start in the match, they also both played the full 110 minutes. Both were all over the back line looking to keep Xavier off the board with Barron absorbing several shots as well.

// NEXT MATCH
The Bearcats will have a slight break in the action this upcoming week as only one match is on the slate, a 5 p.m. home contest with Austin Peay. The Governors and Bearcats will meet at Gettler Stadium Saturday for UC's final non-conference regular season match of 2019.