CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati women's soccer dropped a 2-0 decision to visiting Northwestern Thursday night at Gettler Stadium. With the loss, the Bearcats fell to 1-4-0 on the year while the Wildcats improved to 2-2-1.
// NOTING THE MATCH
• Cincinnati fell to 1-4-0 overall while Northwestern improved to 2-2-1
• The Wildcats reclaimed the lead in the all-time series at 3-2-1 and snapped the Bearcats' two-match winning streak over NU
• The loss is the second in a row at home for the Bearcats, marking the first time UC has dropped back-to-back home contests since the 2012 season, one year before Neil Stafford took over the program
• Vanessa DiNardo led the team with two shots on goal, both of which required a strong save from the NU keeper
• UC sent 22 players to the pitch on the night, tying for the most used this season
• Three players earned their first starts of the season, including Juila Abbott, Riley Gruenbaum and Alli Pestaina
• Madison Less recorded a pair of saves in goal in the loss
// SCORING RECAP
Northwestern took an early lead as the Wildcats struck in the 10'. Danika Austin drove down the right flank and played a ball in that came to Paige Miller, who back-heeled the ball past Less for a 1-0 lead. In the second half, Marianna Annest played a looping ball into the box that was deflected and came to Nia Harris, who used her chest to deflect the ball into the netting for a 2-0 lead. The final goal came in the 68' of play.
// CLOSE
DiNardo had a pair of strong scoring chances that required solid saves to prevent goals. Her first chance came in the 24' after she had just entered the match. On the play, Han Tang played a slick through ball to the center of the box that DiNardo ran on to and fired a low, hard shot. The NU keeper, Mackenzie Wood, slid toward the shot and deflected it out of play to prevent UC from leveling. In the second half, DiNardo once again had a good look at goal, but was denied. This time, she got free toward the top of the box and moved to her left, creating space for a shot that went low. Wood dove to halt the attempt and keep UC off the board once again.
// SEEING THE FIELD
For the second time this year, the Bearcats saw 22 players enter the match, tying for the most in a single match in 2019. Three of those players all earned their first starts of the season, including Abbott, Gruenbaum and Pestaina, with each logging at least 53 minutes.
// NEXT MATCH
The Bearcats return to the road Sunday as they will face #11 Tennessee in Knoxville in a 1 p.m. start.
Northwestern Downs Women’s Soccer, 2-0
The University of Cincinnati women's soccer dropped a 2-0 decision to visiting Northwestern Thursday night at Gettler Stadium.
