TicketsTAMPA, Fla. – The University of Cincinnati soccer team's quest for the 2020 American Athletic Conference Championship came up a little short Saturday as the Bearcats were defeated by South Florida, 4-0, at Corbett Soccer Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
UC closes the season with a 5-5-1 mark while USF moved to 9-0-2 on the year.
The Bearcats defense had been a strength all season long, surrendering less than a goal per game, but not a lot went right Saturday with an own goal and penalty kick as two of the Bulls' four tallies.
Offensive chances were hard to come by for UC as USF held a 24-8 advantage on shots with a 10-3 edge in shots on goal.
D Ashley Barron, MF Taylor Nuncio, D Karli Royer and F Chloe Spitler were tabbed for the AAC All-Tournament Team.
The two teams squared off in the title game for the second time since 2015. UC defeated USF on penalties five seasons ago, but the Bulls had the measure of the Bearcats today and handed UC its first four-goal defeat since Oct. 14, 2018 (vs. UConn), a span of 30 matches.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Looking ahead, UC brings back a good portion of its roster and recently celebrated a four-person senior class consisting of MF Sophie Gorman, D Riley Gruenbaum, GK Madison Less and Royer. Of the 10 players who scored goals in 2020, at least nine are set to return in the fall of 2021, including AAC Defender of the Year Barron, Second-Team All-AAC honorees Kendall Battle and Alli Pestaina and AAC All-Rookie Team member Lauren Bastian.
Bastian missed the AAC Tournament due to illness and UC played the spring season without five starters or projected contributors, including: MF Ellie Flower, GK Madison Less, F Sydney McMillin, MF Ally Sidloski, MF Julia Simer and MF Ying Zhan.
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.
UC closes the season with a 5-5-1 mark while USF moved to 9-0-2 on the year.
The Bearcats defense had been a strength all season long, surrendering less than a goal per game, but not a lot went right Saturday with an own goal and penalty kick as two of the Bulls' four tallies.
Offensive chances were hard to come by for UC as USF held a 24-8 advantage on shots with a 10-3 edge in shots on goal.
D Ashley Barron, MF Taylor Nuncio, D Karli Royer and F Chloe Spitler were tabbed for the AAC All-Tournament Team.
The two teams squared off in the title game for the second time since 2015. UC defeated USF on penalties five seasons ago, but the Bulls had the measure of the Bearcats today and handed UC its first four-goal defeat since Oct. 14, 2018 (vs. UConn), a span of 30 matches.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Looking ahead, UC brings back a good portion of its roster and recently celebrated a four-person senior class consisting of MF Sophie Gorman, D Riley Gruenbaum, GK Madison Less and Royer. Of the 10 players who scored goals in 2020, at least nine are set to return in the fall of 2021, including AAC Defender of the Year Barron, Second-Team All-AAC honorees Kendall Battle and Alli Pestaina and AAC All-Rookie Team member Lauren Bastian.
Bastian missed the AAC Tournament due to illness and UC played the spring season without five starters or projected contributors, including: MF Ellie Flower, GK Madison Less, F Sydney McMillin, MF Ally Sidloski, MF Julia Simer and MF Ying Zhan.
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.