TicketsCINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati soccer team lost a heartbreaker in its season opener Sunday, falling 1-0 to UCF at the UCF Soccer Complex in Orlando, Florida.
The Bearcats (1-0) had put on a strong defensive performance in stifling a high-powered Knights (1-0) attack, but the ball literally fell UCF's way on a windy corner-kick attempt in the 86th minute.
UCF's Ellie Moreno deflected the ball up in the air off a corner kick, the wind moved it around and UC goalkeeper Anna Rexford just missed playing the bounce and ball dropped over the goal line for the only tally of the game.
Rexford had been outstanding in her first career start, turning away nine total UCF shots and making three saves. UC's backline as a whole, led by preseason All-AAC defender Ashley Barron was strong all game keeping the Knights at bay.
UC turned up on the offensive pressure in the second half, forcing three corners and a pair of shots.
FIRST HALF RECAP
The teams were knotted at 0-0 after the first 45 minutes. UCF pressed the offensive advantage, firing seven shots, with two on goal along with five corners. Rexford made a pair of saves. With the ball in UC's defensive end for most of the half, Sydney McMillin recorded the Bearcats lone shot of the opening stanza.
NOTABLE
• UC, originally scheduled to open its season on Feb. 14, was playing for the first time in 475 days.
• Kaitlyn Andrews, Lauren Bastian, Elizabeth Fortuna, McMillin and Chloe Spitler all made their UC debuts Sunday.
• Game-time temperature in Orlando was 70 degrees, compared to 10 degrees when the team departed Cincinnati on Saturday and Barron, Taylor Nuncio and Rexford played the full 90 minutes while Alli Pestaina played 87 minutes.
UP NEXT
The Bearcats will open the home portion of the schedule with an AAC matchup against Houston on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021 at noon ET inside Gettler Stadium. Fans can watch the match on ESPN+ or view live stats on BearcatStats.com.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati soccer, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the team (@GoBearcatsWSOC) and Head Coach Neil Stafford (@UCGaffer) on Twitter. You can also find the Bearcats on Instagram and Facebook.
The Bearcats (1-0) had put on a strong defensive performance in stifling a high-powered Knights (1-0) attack, but the ball literally fell UCF's way on a windy corner-kick attempt in the 86th minute.
UCF's Ellie Moreno deflected the ball up in the air off a corner kick, the wind moved it around and UC goalkeeper Anna Rexford just missed playing the bounce and ball dropped over the goal line for the only tally of the game.
Rexford had been outstanding in her first career start, turning away nine total UCF shots and making three saves. UC's backline as a whole, led by preseason All-AAC defender Ashley Barron was strong all game keeping the Knights at bay.
UC turned up on the offensive pressure in the second half, forcing three corners and a pair of shots.
FIRST HALF RECAP
The teams were knotted at 0-0 after the first 45 minutes. UCF pressed the offensive advantage, firing seven shots, with two on goal along with five corners. Rexford made a pair of saves. With the ball in UC's defensive end for most of the half, Sydney McMillin recorded the Bearcats lone shot of the opening stanza.
NOTABLE
• UC, originally scheduled to open its season on Feb. 14, was playing for the first time in 475 days.
• Kaitlyn Andrews, Lauren Bastian, Elizabeth Fortuna, McMillin and Chloe Spitler all made their UC debuts Sunday.
• Game-time temperature in Orlando was 70 degrees, compared to 10 degrees when the team departed Cincinnati on Saturday and Barron, Taylor Nuncio and Rexford played the full 90 minutes while Alli Pestaina played 87 minutes.
UP NEXT
The Bearcats will open the home portion of the schedule with an AAC matchup against Houston on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021 at noon ET inside Gettler Stadium. Fans can watch the match on ESPN+ or view live stats on BearcatStats.com.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati soccer, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the team (@GoBearcatsWSOC) and Head Coach Neil Stafford (@UCGaffer) on Twitter. You can also find the Bearcats on Instagram and Facebook.