TicketsHOUSTON -- The Cincinnati soccer team fought through searing humidity and a strong Houston attack, but a 79th-minute goal was the difference in a 2-1 defeat Sunday afternoon.
Cincinnati, which headed to Texas straight from a Thursday night contest at first-place South Florida, fell to 6-7-3 and 1-4-2 in AAC play.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Cougars (12-4-2, 4-2-1 AAC) struck first in the 39th minute. Maddie Bowers took a sprinting cross down the middle of the field and punched it in for a 1-0 lead. It was UH's fourth-straight shot on goal after UC kept every attempt away the first 33 minutes.
Paige Miller picked up the equalizer in the 70th minute, a near-impossible shot from the deep right side. She was able to bend it into the far side of the net, and it was both the team's first shot in nearly 20 minutes as well as a source of rejuvenation. Grace Wolber fired one a minute later that was saved.
The Cougars rallied and regained the lead in the 79th minute. Bowers and Ashley Barron went toe-to-toe toward the six-yard box, who kicked it out to Kayla Izaguirre before she beat the keeper and Barron's lunging deflection attempt was not enough.
Wolber had another crack at a tie in the 85th minute when she tapped one in off of Taylor Nuncio's header, but an offsides call negated it.
UC utilized plenty of substitutions for fresh legs and energy as the heat index reached 90 degrees.
NOTABLE
-Miller's goal was the freshman's third. Her others came in consecutive September wins over Ball State and Eastern Illinois.
-Fellow freshman Emma Schmelzer played 41 minutes for the second-straight game, her most since Sept. 9 at Kansas.
-Annie Metzger's 26 minutes were her second-most this season.
-Karli Royer and Lauren Bastian each took a team-high two shots. Houston held a 14-10 advantage overall.
UP NEXT
Cincinnati closes its regular season Thursday when it hosts UCF.
Cincinnati, which headed to Texas straight from a Thursday night contest at first-place South Florida, fell to 6-7-3 and 1-4-2 in AAC play.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Cougars (12-4-2, 4-2-1 AAC) struck first in the 39th minute. Maddie Bowers took a sprinting cross down the middle of the field and punched it in for a 1-0 lead. It was UH's fourth-straight shot on goal after UC kept every attempt away the first 33 minutes.
Paige Miller picked up the equalizer in the 70th minute, a near-impossible shot from the deep right side. She was able to bend it into the far side of the net, and it was both the team's first shot in nearly 20 minutes as well as a source of rejuvenation. Grace Wolber fired one a minute later that was saved.
The Cougars rallied and regained the lead in the 79th minute. Bowers and Ashley Barron went toe-to-toe toward the six-yard box, who kicked it out to Kayla Izaguirre before she beat the keeper and Barron's lunging deflection attempt was not enough.
Wolber had another crack at a tie in the 85th minute when she tapped one in off of Taylor Nuncio's header, but an offsides call negated it.
UC utilized plenty of substitutions for fresh legs and energy as the heat index reached 90 degrees.
NOTABLE
-Miller's goal was the freshman's third. Her others came in consecutive September wins over Ball State and Eastern Illinois.
-Fellow freshman Emma Schmelzer played 41 minutes for the second-straight game, her most since Sept. 9 at Kansas.
-Annie Metzger's 26 minutes were her second-most this season.
-Karli Royer and Lauren Bastian each took a team-high two shots. Houston held a 14-10 advantage overall.
UP NEXT
Cincinnati closes its regular season Thursday when it hosts UCF.