TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati women's soccer team hits the road to take on Pittsburgh in the match of unbeaten programs on Sunday at Ambrose Urbanic Field.
Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET and live coverage will be air on ACCNX.
LAST TIME OUT
Cincinnati remained unbeaten after defeating Stony Brook 5-1 on Thursday afternoon at Gettler Stadium. A dominating start for the first touch saw Mackenzie Tucker connect with Ellie Flower off a corner kick attempt as Flower found the ball in traffic before heading it through the right side of the frame in the 2nd minute. The Bearcats continued to attack in the final third and were able to double their lead in the 18th minute with Tucker notching her second assist of the match with a cross that was finished by Sarah Kate Rath for her first career collegiate goal. Cincinnati dominated possession for the remainder of the half, outshooting Stony Brook 11-2 and holding a 5-0 advantage in corner kicks at the break. Stony Brook responded with a goal of their own in the 57th minute as Reilly Rich notched her third of the season on a strike that tucked inside the right post. Cincinnati re-established their control of the match in the 73rd minute as Megan Smith dribbled through the defense and connected on her first collegiate goal from right inside the box. The Bearcats added two more tallies in the final five minutes of the match as Paige Miller connected on her first goal of the season in the 87th minute and Smith added another in the 89th minute.
THE SERIES
This is the fourth-ever meeting between the two programs. Cincinnati leads the all-time series 2-0-1, 1-0-1 at home, 1-0-0 on the road. The two teams last played on August 24, 2017, where the match ended in a 2-2 (2OT) draw in Cincinnati. The Bearcats won the only match in Pittsburgh, defeating the Panthers 2-1 (20T) in the first-ever meeting on Oct. 5, 2007.
ANNA REXFORD NAMED AAC GOALKEEPER PLAYER OF THE WEEK FOR WEEK OF AUG. 22
Anna Rexford was named American Athletic Conference Goalkeeper of the Week, announced Monday. This is the second time in her career that she has garnered the honor. Rexford tallied seven saves last week in matches against Bowling Green and Murray State. She recorded her 100th career save on her first of three against the Racers on Sunday, punching away a free kick attempt in the 48th minute. The latest performance was her third clean sheet of the season, totaling ten saves to only two goals allowed while playing all 450 minutes through the first five matches. The two goals allowed in the first five contests is the lowest under head coach Neil Stafford. Rexford is tied for the AAC-lead with three shutouts and ranks third with a .833 save percentage. She is one of 37 goalkeepers in the nation with three shutouts this season.
COMPARED TO THE CONFERENCE
Cincinnati is tied for first in the AAC with two goals allowed and three shutouts through the first five matches. Cincinnati is the only unbeaten AAC program that has played five matches and is one of three remaining undefeated AAC teams, joined by SMU and UCF. The Bearcats also rank top three in shots (68), points (26), goals (10) and assists (6).
OFFENSE MOVING FAST
The Bearcats' final two goals, scored within 1:19 of each other, on Thursday (Paige Miller - 86:59; Megan Smith - 88:18) were the seventh fastest in program history. The five goals scored today matches the most since a 9-0 win against Eastern Kentucky on Sept. 5, 2014. The Bearcats also scored five against Eastern Illinois (5-0 win on Sept. 5, 2021) and Saint Francis (PA) (5-0 win on Sept. 7, 2014). The 22 shots are the most in a game for Cincinnati since the Bearcats recorded 26 against Temple on Sept. 23, 2021.
IT FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME
Freshman Megan Smith and Sarah Kate Rath recorded their first collegiate goals against Stony Brook on Thursday. Smith found the back of the net for her first two collegiate goals in the 73rd and 89th minute, while Rath headed in her first collegiate goal in the 18th minute. Mackenzie Tucker recorded her first two assists as a Bearcat, assisting on the first two goals of the afternoon to Flower and Rath.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati women's soccer, please visit GoBEARCATS.com and follow @GoBearcatsWSOC on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET and live coverage will be air on ACCNX.
LAST TIME OUT
Cincinnati remained unbeaten after defeating Stony Brook 5-1 on Thursday afternoon at Gettler Stadium. A dominating start for the first touch saw Mackenzie Tucker connect with Ellie Flower off a corner kick attempt as Flower found the ball in traffic before heading it through the right side of the frame in the 2nd minute. The Bearcats continued to attack in the final third and were able to double their lead in the 18th minute with Tucker notching her second assist of the match with a cross that was finished by Sarah Kate Rath for her first career collegiate goal. Cincinnati dominated possession for the remainder of the half, outshooting Stony Brook 11-2 and holding a 5-0 advantage in corner kicks at the break. Stony Brook responded with a goal of their own in the 57th minute as Reilly Rich notched her third of the season on a strike that tucked inside the right post. Cincinnati re-established their control of the match in the 73rd minute as Megan Smith dribbled through the defense and connected on her first collegiate goal from right inside the box. The Bearcats added two more tallies in the final five minutes of the match as Paige Miller connected on her first goal of the season in the 87th minute and Smith added another in the 89th minute.
THE SERIES
This is the fourth-ever meeting between the two programs. Cincinnati leads the all-time series 2-0-1, 1-0-1 at home, 1-0-0 on the road. The two teams last played on August 24, 2017, where the match ended in a 2-2 (2OT) draw in Cincinnati. The Bearcats won the only match in Pittsburgh, defeating the Panthers 2-1 (20T) in the first-ever meeting on Oct. 5, 2007.
ANNA REXFORD NAMED AAC GOALKEEPER PLAYER OF THE WEEK FOR WEEK OF AUG. 22
Anna Rexford was named American Athletic Conference Goalkeeper of the Week, announced Monday. This is the second time in her career that she has garnered the honor. Rexford tallied seven saves last week in matches against Bowling Green and Murray State. She recorded her 100th career save on her first of three against the Racers on Sunday, punching away a free kick attempt in the 48th minute. The latest performance was her third clean sheet of the season, totaling ten saves to only two goals allowed while playing all 450 minutes through the first five matches. The two goals allowed in the first five contests is the lowest under head coach Neil Stafford. Rexford is tied for the AAC-lead with three shutouts and ranks third with a .833 save percentage. She is one of 37 goalkeepers in the nation with three shutouts this season.
COMPARED TO THE CONFERENCE
Cincinnati is tied for first in the AAC with two goals allowed and three shutouts through the first five matches. Cincinnati is the only unbeaten AAC program that has played five matches and is one of three remaining undefeated AAC teams, joined by SMU and UCF. The Bearcats also rank top three in shots (68), points (26), goals (10) and assists (6).
OFFENSE MOVING FAST
The Bearcats' final two goals, scored within 1:19 of each other, on Thursday (Paige Miller - 86:59; Megan Smith - 88:18) were the seventh fastest in program history. The five goals scored today matches the most since a 9-0 win against Eastern Kentucky on Sept. 5, 2014. The Bearcats also scored five against Eastern Illinois (5-0 win on Sept. 5, 2021) and Saint Francis (PA) (5-0 win on Sept. 7, 2014). The 22 shots are the most in a game for Cincinnati since the Bearcats recorded 26 against Temple on Sept. 23, 2021.
IT FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME
Freshman Megan Smith and Sarah Kate Rath recorded their first collegiate goals against Stony Brook on Thursday. Smith found the back of the net for her first two collegiate goals in the 73rd and 89th minute, while Rath headed in her first collegiate goal in the 18th minute. Mackenzie Tucker recorded her first two assists as a Bearcat, assisting on the first two goals of the afternoon to Flower and Rath.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati women's soccer, please visit GoBEARCATS.com and follow @GoBearcatsWSOC on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.