Soccer Closes Regular Season With No. 15 USF Sunday

CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati soccer team closes out the regular season Sunday against No. 15 USF. The Bearcats have not played since March 27, which capped a seven-game stretch over 20 days. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET from Gettler Stadium with coverage on ESPN+ and BearcatStats.com.
 
HONORING THE SENIORS

• Sunday serves as senior day with the Bearcats set to honor its four-member senior class, MF Sophie Gorman, D Riley Gruenbaum, GK Madison Less and D Karli Royer 

 
BACK IN BLACK

• UC is returning to action for the first time since a March 27 win at ECU which capped a span of seven games in 20 days. The Bearcats matchup at SMU on April 3 was canceled due to a lack of player availability with SMU.
• USF beat Memphis last weekend to claim first place in the AAC.

 
LAST TIME OUT

• Alli Pestaina was named AAC Defensive Player of the Week on March 29 while Kendall Battle and Anna Rexford earned spots on the weekly honor roll.
• The Bearcats picked up a pair of league wins, knocking off Houston 1-0 in overtime at Gettler Stadium and beating East Carolina 2-1 on the road.
• Pestaina anchored a back line which conceded one goal in 185 minutes in a pair of wins, including an OT shutout of Houston. Against East Carolina, the junior scored the game-winning goal and assisted on the opening score.
• Battle scored the game-winning goal in overtime against Houston on Wednesday, March 24.
• Rexford allowed only one goal in a pair of wins last week, including an overtime shutout of Houston.

 
SONG BENEATH THE SONG

• UC currently sits in fourth place in the AAC with one match to play and its AAC Tournament future up for grabs.
• UC, ECU and UCF are three teams playing for two spots in the postseason event to be hosted by No. 1 seed USF.
• The Bearcats can claim either the third or fourth seed ...

UC AS THE 3 SEED
• Win vs. USF AND ECU draw/loss vs. Memphis
• Draw vs. USF AND ECU loss vs. Memphis AND UCF draw/loss vs. Houston
 
UC AS THE 4 SEED
• Win vs. USF AND ECU win vs. Memphis
• Draw vs. USF AND ECU win/draw vs. Memphis AND UCF draw/loss vs. Houston
• Draw vs. USF AND UCF win vs. Houston AND ECU loss vs. Memphis
• Loss vs. USF AND UCF draw/loss vs. Houston
 
UC DOESN'T MAKE TOURNAMENT
• Draw vs. USF AND UCF win vs. Houston AND ECU win/draw vs. Memphis
• Loss vs. USF AND UCF win vs. Houston

 
SCOUTING THE BEARCATS

• Eight players have netted goals for UC in 2021 with Kendall Battle (2) topping the charts.
• Vanessa DiNardo (15) and Lauren Bastian (11) lead the shot callers while Alli Pestaina leads with two assists.
• Ashley Barron, who has worn the captain's armband, leads a back line which has surrendered only nine goals. 
• GK Anna Rexford, a freshman, has made 22 saves with a 1.12 goals against average in nine 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 over a goal per game on 11.5 shots per game.