CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati women's soccer team suffered a 1-0 loss to visiting SMU Sunday at Gettler Stadium in the American Athletic Conference Tournament First Round to see its 2019 season come to a close. The Bearcats, who finished the year with a 7-9-3 overall record, were the #4 seed in the AAC event while the Mustangs, who hold a 12-6-1 record, were the #5 seed. UC, who tied a record for its most conference wins in an AAC season with their 5-3-1 record, were able to build back from a 1-5-0 start to the campaign to earn their first postseason berth since 2017.
// NOTING THE MATCH
• Cincinnati sees its 2019 season come to a close with a 7-9-3 record while SMU advances to the AAC Semifinals against host Memphis with a record of 12-6-1
• With the loss, the Bearcats slipped to 4-6-2 all-time against the Mustangs and 2-2-1 when the teams meet in Cincinnati
• UC hosted a conference tournament match for just the second time in program history and it came exactly 24 years to the day since the Bearcats dropped a 3-0 decision to visiting Evansville in the first round of the Conference USA Tournament in 1995
• The Bearcats have played in six of the seven AAC Tournaments that have been held, but have fallen in the first round in all but one
• Comparing last year to this year, the Bearcats improved by 11 points in conference play, the third-best improvement in AAC history and just the fourth double-digit improvement as well
• Sophie Gorman led the offense with three shots and Sydney Goins added two on the day
• Han Tang nearly tied the match in the 80', but her quick shot was saved to prevent the UC score
• Today's match was the final for eight Cincinnati seniors as well
// SCORING SUMMARY
51' • SMU got on the board with the lone score of the game at 50:32 following a foul. On the free-kick, Celiana Torres played the ball in toward the front post from 30 yards out where Brooke Golik ran under the pass and headed it past Madison Less for the goal.
// CLOSE CALLS
Although the Bearcats were unable to find the back of the net, they were able to test the SMU keeper a few times. In the 6', Gorman looked to strike first as she stole the ball, moved to the top of the box and fired a low liner toward the post that Sutherland dove and saved. In the 25', Gorman was at it again, this time dropping a pass to Karli Royer, who slid a pass toward the front of the goal with Sydney Kilgore rushing on, only to see the keeper dive on the pass right before Kilgore arrived.
In the second half, the Bearcats earned a free-kick just outside the box and Gorman lined up over the ball. She took a shot that cleared the wall, but didn't get back down in time as she took aim at the upper 90, pushing her shot just high. Finally, in the 80', the best chance of the day emerged for the Bearcats. On the play, Kilgore chased the ball into the corner and played a pass back into the box near the front post. Tang came charging in and half-volleyed the ball out of the air, but Sutherland was there to parry the ball away and prevent the Bearcats from scoring.
// SEASON REVIEW
The Bearcats opened the year with a 1-0-0 record before dropping five in a row to tough competition. Despite the 1-5-0 record, UC continued to battle throughout and used a nearly 500 minute shutout streak to begin closing in on a .500 record. With a 2-5-2 record in non-conference play, the Bearcats got off to a flying start by sweeping six points on the road in the Northeast. Following a home split with Memphis (0-3) and Tulsa (4-2), the Bearcats sat 3-1-0 in the league, already well ahead of their 1-6-2 record from 2018. UC closed the final five games of the regular season with a 2-2-1 record to finish fourth in the league (up six spots from last year) with 16 points (up 11) and tie for the most wins UC has had in an AAC season in its seven years in the league.
// THANK YOU SENIORS!
Today's match was the final contest for eight seniors that, as Head Coach Neil Stafford said, "have left a great legacy not only on the field but in the classroom". The group, which includes Julia Abbott, Holyn Alf, Bri Costigan, Sydney Goins, Libby Greenwell, Sydney Kilgore, Dee Picou and Michelle Travassos, leaves UC having posted 38 wins (21st all-time at UC) and shutout 31 opponents, which is tied for eighth in program history. Additionally, the group was a huge part of last year's 3.79 GPA that led the nation.
// NEXT MATCH
The 2019 season for the Bearcats has come to an end. UC will be back in exhibition action this Spring to begin preparations for the 2020 season. Check back to GoBearats.com for more information as it becomes available.
Women’s Soccer Falls to SMU, 1-0, in AAC Tournament
The University of Cincinnati women's soccer team suffered a 1-0 loss to visiting SMU Sunday at Gettler Stadium in the American Athletic Conference Tournament First Round to see its 2019 season come to a close. The Bearcats, who finished the year with a 7-9-3 overall record, were the 4 seed in the AAC event while the Mustangs, who hold a 12-6-1 record, were the 5 seed.
