TicketsCINCINNATI -- Eight non-conference tests later, the University of Cincinnati soccer team begins a new chapter of the season when it hosts Tulsa on Thursday night (7 p.m.), the AAC opener for both teams.
ESPN Plus | Live Stats | Free Admission
THE LATEST
UC has fallen in back-to-back contests, albeit at Kansas and to No. 16 Michigan, for the first time since early in the spring season. The Bearcats turned heads in the second minute when Lauren Bastian picked a pass and relayed a perfect feed for Vanessa DiNardo's goal, the 10th-fastest strike in program history. Michigan, however, scored two quick goals (the latter a PK), midway through the second half to ultimately prevail.
MORE ON DINARDO
DiNardo's goal against the Wolverines was her fourth, and she also leads the team in points (nine) and shots (18). She had four her previous three years. Seven different Bearcats have found the scoring column after 10 scored the team's 11 goals over the short spring season.
TAKE THE SHOT
UC's 11 shots on goal in the 5-0 win over Eastern Illinois were its most since Sept. 29, 2019 against UConn. Its next two-highest games of the year followed with six apiece against Kansas and Michigan, arguably the two toughest opponents to date.
HOME GAMES AND HALFTIMES
Cincinnati's front-loaded home slate has seen it play five of its first eight contests at Gettler Stadium, with two of the road games coming a combined 10 miles from campus. The Bearcats were 5-0-2 over its last seven home games before the Michigan loss. That game was also its first of the season when leading at the half, as it was 4-0-0 prior.
THE MATCHUP
The two teams sit a spot from each other in nearly every AAC statistical category, as well as sharing 4-3-1 overall records. The Golden Hurricane are 2-1-0 on the road, most recently winning at crosstown rival Oral Roberts on Sunday. The Bearcats lead the series 8-2-0, including 6-2-0 under Neil Stafford, with four-straight wins to boot.
Last year's game was a 3-0 victory, featuring a 16-3 shots advantage and goals by Ashley Barron, Brandi Thomsen and Camryn Hartman. It was a similar story in 2019, as UC led 3-0 at the half (two goals by Han Tang, one by Hartman) en route to a 4-2 decision. Tulsa head coach Jim Rhein was named to the interim role in June after serving as an assistant since 2008.