CINCINNATI — The University of Cincinnati soccer team fell victim to two quick, second-half goals in a hard-fought, 2-1 defeat to No. 16 Michigan on Sunday afternoon. The Bearcats fell to 4-3-1.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bearcats had the best start possible in the first half with a Vanessa DiNardo goal in the second minute. Lauren Bastian played a ball into DiNardo who took it in stride and finished spectacularly in the upper right hand corner from outside the box. The Wolverines tightened up defensively after the goal and controlled the rest of the half. Anna Rexford made three saves in the opening period.
The second half was all Wolverines and they goals in the 62nd and 64th minutes to take the lead, both by Raleigh Loughman. The first goal came off a great pass from Meredith Haakenson who left it on a plate for Loughman who drove it into the top of the net. The second goal was a penalty awarded after a handball on the Bearcats and Loughman dispatched it to the right side.
Rexford had a combined five saves in the match pushing her season total to 26. DiNardo has four goals on the season with nine of her 18 shots on target. Michigan had a 12-11 shots advantage and have now outdone its opponents 178-60 this season.
QUOTE FROM COACH NEIL STAFFORD
"We're trying to learn as much as we can about the ladies to find out what's in the tank for our team and I thought today we really showed well and absolutely threw the first punch of the game on an unbelievable shot from Vanessa DiNardo and really super proud of how we came out and it's always supper difficult when you play a team like this. You have to find a balance of how much you want to defend and how much you can attack. I thought we did a poor job of that in the second half. We defended way too much…got a lot of defenders behind the ball. So we got pinned in a little bit in the second half. The two goals in three minutes were disappointing, but I'm proud of the ladies and their effort. I also think our expectations need to be higher. Thought the gave the ball way too much today against a good opponent who was very stretched and expansive when they did give the ball away we didn't take advantage. I think it's something to be proud of but I think our game needs to be better, greater, and higher."
NOTABLE
-This was the first match of the season that the Bearcats lost when leading at halftime (previously 4-0-0).
-Vanessa DiNardo's goal in the second minute was the 10th quickest goal in school history and second fastest under Neil Stafford (1:35).
-UC leads the all-time series 4-2-0.
-DiNardo's 50% shot on target rate marked her best return since her freshman season (50%).
-Rexford's five saves is the third time this season she has had five-plus saves (six on Aug. 29 vs. Virginia Tech and five on Sept. 2 vs Ball State).
UP NEXT
The Bearcats open up conference play on Thursday at home to Tulsa (7 p.m.).
Soccer Falls in Heartbreaker to No. 16 Michigan
The University of Cincinnati soccer team fell victim to two quick, second-half goals in a hard-fought, 2-1 defeat to No. 16 Michigan on Sunday afternoon. The Bearcats fell to 4-3-1.
