Soccer Squares Off With Houston In Wednesday Matinee

CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati soccer team closes out its five-match homestand against Houston in an American Athletic Conference match on Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at Gettler Stadium. 
 
Kickoff is scheduled for noon ET and the game will air on ESPN+ with live stats also available.
 
SCOUTING THE BEARCATS

• Lauren Bastian, Ashley Barron, Kendall Battle, Vanessa DiNardo, Camryn Hartman and Brandi Thomsen have all found the back of the net for UC in 2021. 
• DiNardo (12), Bastian and Battle (7) lead the shot callers.
• Barron, who has worn the captain's armband, leads a back line which has surrendered only six goals. 
• GK Anna Rexford has made 20 saves with a 1.33 goals against average in six starts.
• Seven members of UC's freshmen class have seen significant playing time with Sophie Gorman as the lone senior who features regularly.
• UC averages a goal per game on 10.3 shots per game and continues to clean up its 11.2 fouls per game average.

 
SCOUTING THE COUGARS

• Houston is 4-2-1 overall and 1-2-1 in AAC play. The Cougars have won two of three, beating Rice and Tulsa at home and falling at Memphis.
• Jazmin Grant, Mia Brascia and Zionah Browne have scored three goals apiece and dished out seven assists.
• Salma Ghazal (0.58 GAA, 11 sv) is the primary net minder.

TIME IS ON MY SIDE

• The Houston match was originally scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 28 but postponed to due COVID-19 issues at Houston.

FROM THE SPOT

• Lauren Bastian scored her first career goal on a penalty kick in the 75th minute of a 2-1 in over Tennessee.
• It was UC's first PK goal since Han Tang at Lipscomb (2019).
• Bastian's brace snapped a 253-minute scoreless streak for the Bearcats, who had last scored a goal in the second minute of the Temple game on March 14, 2021.

SUNDAY FUN DAY 

• UC got its first-ever win over RV Tennessee on March 21 on the head of a Kendall Battle strike from Lauren Bastian.
• A lofted cross from Bastian found a streaking Battle on the far post and the ball was headed to the right side of the net past a diving Vols GK. 
• Cincinnati played the aggressor all match long, peppering 16 shots at the Vols defense and forcing their keepers to make five saves. UC GK Anna Rexford was never seriously challenged, making one save in the win.

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.