TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati women's soccer team will play its first match in 14 days when the Bearcats travel to take on Tulsa in their conference road opener on Thursday.
Kickoff from Hurricane Stadium is set for 8:00 p.m. ET and live coverage will air on ESPN+.
THE SERIES
This is the 12th-ever meeting between the two programs. Cincinnati leads the all-time series 9-2-0. The Bearcats are an undefeated 6-0-0 at home, 2-2-0 on the road and 1-0-0 in neutral site matches. Cincinnati is currently on a five-match winning streak over Tulsa, the longest of any team in the series. The two programs last played on Sept. 16, 2021, where Cincinnati defeated Tulsa 1-0 off a game winner from Vanessa DiNardo in the 29th minute at Gettler Stadium. Nine of the 11 matches between the two teams have come in head coach Neil Stafford's tenure.
LAST TIME OUT
Lauren Bastian notched a late equalizing goal in the 83rd minute in a 2-2 draw against Memphis at Gettler Stadium on Sept. 22. The Bearcats are now 3-4-3, 1-2-2 at home in AAC openers under Stafford. Bastian is the 10th different Bearcat to score this season; compared to 12 all of last season. After Memphis got on the scoreboard first in the 2nd minute, the Bearcats were able to even the match when Megan Smith found herself on the receiving end of a set piece from Ashley Barron in the 60th minute. Memphis quickly took the lead back two minutes later in the 62nd minute until Bastian's late equalizing goal. Cincinnati outshot Memphis 12-8, improving to 4-0-2 this season when holding the shot advantage.
LONG AWAITED RETURN
When the Bearcats take the pitch on Thursday, it will be their first match in 14 days. Cincinnati has only played in one contest, hosting Memphis on Sept. 22, in almost a month after a preseason cancellation from Washington and postponement at UCF due to Hurricane Ian. With the postponement of the UCF match from Sept. 29 to Oct. 13, the Bearcats will play seven matches in October, four on the road and three at Gettler Stadium. The four road matches in the final month of the regular season are the most since 2016.
MEGAN SMITH AND LAUREN BASTIAN EARNED AAC WEEKLY HONORS ON SEPT. 26
Smith secured AAC Rookie of the Week distinction for the second time this season, while Bastian was named to the honor roll on Sept. 26. The Bearcats have earned a conference award in four weeks this season, including three straight to open the season. Bastian notched the equalizing goal in the 83rd minute to secure a draw against Memphis on Sept. 22. It was the first goal of the season for Bastian, who logged 86 of the 90 minutes and became the 10th different Bearcat to score this fall. Smith recorded the first tally of the match for Cincinnati, chipping in her third goal of the season over the goalkeeper off a set piece from Ashley Barron in the 60th minute. She totaled 75 minutes in her third straight start. In addition to Smith and Bastian, Vanessa DiNardo was named to honor roll on Sept. 12, Anna Rexford was named Goalkeeper of the Week on Aug. 29 and Ashley Barron was named Defensive Player of the Week on Aug. 22.
COMPARED TO THE CONFERENCE
Cincinnati has the best margin of victory in the AAC at +1.00. At .667, Cincinnati have the second best win percentage, trailing only SMU's .682. Cincinnati ranks first in the AAC in goals per game (1.89) and points per game (5.00) and is tied for second in goals (17) and third in points (45). The Bearcats are second in the conference in home attendance average (576/Game). Cincinnati (4-0-2) and Memphis are the only two teams that remain undefeated at home. Cincinnati has the fewest offside penalties in the conference with 11. Anna Rexford is tied for second in the conference with four shutouts. Vanessa DiNardo is second in goals per game (0.44) and is one of six players with at least four goals on the season. DiNardo is also tied for second in points per game (1.00), third in total points (9), fifth in shots per game (2.33) and is one of three players with at least one point per game.
CONTRIBUTIONS ACROSS THE PITCH - OFFENSE MOVING FAST, DEFENSE HOLDING STRONG
Ten different players have scored a goal through nine matches this season compared to 12 all of last season. Four players have recorded their first collegiate goal this season - Maddie Swingle, Smith, Sarah Kate Rath and Ellie Flower. Eight newcomers (five freshman, three transfers) have recorded at least one start. Nine players have recorded an assist this season. Brandi Thomsen and Mackenzie Tucker are two of 21 AAC players who have tallied at least two assists. Rexford and the defense has recorded four clean sheets this season. Rexford is tied for second in the AAC with four shutouts. Every goal in the Stony Brook match was scored by a player in their first or second collegiate season. The five goals scored against Stony Brook ties the second-most under Stafford. 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 most was a 9-0 win against Eastern Kentucky on Sept. 5, 2014. The 24 shots against Morehead State were the most in a game since the Bearcats recorded 26 against Temple on Sept. 23, 2021.
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 from Hurricane Stadium is set for 8:00 p.m. ET and live coverage will air on ESPN+.
THE SERIES
This is the 12th-ever meeting between the two programs. Cincinnati leads the all-time series 9-2-0. The Bearcats are an undefeated 6-0-0 at home, 2-2-0 on the road and 1-0-0 in neutral site matches. Cincinnati is currently on a five-match winning streak over Tulsa, the longest of any team in the series. The two programs last played on Sept. 16, 2021, where Cincinnati defeated Tulsa 1-0 off a game winner from Vanessa DiNardo in the 29th minute at Gettler Stadium. Nine of the 11 matches between the two teams have come in head coach Neil Stafford's tenure.
LAST TIME OUT
Lauren Bastian notched a late equalizing goal in the 83rd minute in a 2-2 draw against Memphis at Gettler Stadium on Sept. 22. The Bearcats are now 3-4-3, 1-2-2 at home in AAC openers under Stafford. Bastian is the 10th different Bearcat to score this season; compared to 12 all of last season. After Memphis got on the scoreboard first in the 2nd minute, the Bearcats were able to even the match when Megan Smith found herself on the receiving end of a set piece from Ashley Barron in the 60th minute. Memphis quickly took the lead back two minutes later in the 62nd minute until Bastian's late equalizing goal. Cincinnati outshot Memphis 12-8, improving to 4-0-2 this season when holding the shot advantage.
LONG AWAITED RETURN
When the Bearcats take the pitch on Thursday, it will be their first match in 14 days. Cincinnati has only played in one contest, hosting Memphis on Sept. 22, in almost a month after a preseason cancellation from Washington and postponement at UCF due to Hurricane Ian. With the postponement of the UCF match from Sept. 29 to Oct. 13, the Bearcats will play seven matches in October, four on the road and three at Gettler Stadium. The four road matches in the final month of the regular season are the most since 2016.
MEGAN SMITH AND LAUREN BASTIAN EARNED AAC WEEKLY HONORS ON SEPT. 26
Smith secured AAC Rookie of the Week distinction for the second time this season, while Bastian was named to the honor roll on Sept. 26. The Bearcats have earned a conference award in four weeks this season, including three straight to open the season. Bastian notched the equalizing goal in the 83rd minute to secure a draw against Memphis on Sept. 22. It was the first goal of the season for Bastian, who logged 86 of the 90 minutes and became the 10th different Bearcat to score this fall. Smith recorded the first tally of the match for Cincinnati, chipping in her third goal of the season over the goalkeeper off a set piece from Ashley Barron in the 60th minute. She totaled 75 minutes in her third straight start. In addition to Smith and Bastian, Vanessa DiNardo was named to honor roll on Sept. 12, Anna Rexford was named Goalkeeper of the Week on Aug. 29 and Ashley Barron was named Defensive Player of the Week on Aug. 22.
COMPARED TO THE CONFERENCE
Cincinnati has the best margin of victory in the AAC at +1.00. At .667, Cincinnati have the second best win percentage, trailing only SMU's .682. Cincinnati ranks first in the AAC in goals per game (1.89) and points per game (5.00) and is tied for second in goals (17) and third in points (45). The Bearcats are second in the conference in home attendance average (576/Game). Cincinnati (4-0-2) and Memphis are the only two teams that remain undefeated at home. Cincinnati has the fewest offside penalties in the conference with 11. Anna Rexford is tied for second in the conference with four shutouts. Vanessa DiNardo is second in goals per game (0.44) and is one of six players with at least four goals on the season. DiNardo is also tied for second in points per game (1.00), third in total points (9), fifth in shots per game (2.33) and is one of three players with at least one point per game.
CONTRIBUTIONS ACROSS THE PITCH - OFFENSE MOVING FAST, DEFENSE HOLDING STRONG
Ten different players have scored a goal through nine matches this season compared to 12 all of last season. Four players have recorded their first collegiate goal this season - Maddie Swingle, Smith, Sarah Kate Rath and Ellie Flower. Eight newcomers (five freshman, three transfers) have recorded at least one start. Nine players have recorded an assist this season. Brandi Thomsen and Mackenzie Tucker are two of 21 AAC players who have tallied at least two assists. Rexford and the defense has recorded four clean sheets this season. Rexford is tied for second in the AAC with four shutouts. Every goal in the Stony Brook match was scored by a player in their first or second collegiate season. The five goals scored against Stony Brook ties the second-most under Stafford. 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 most was a 9-0 win against Eastern Kentucky on Sept. 5, 2014. The 24 shots against Morehead State were the most in a game since the Bearcats recorded 26 against Temple on Sept. 23, 2021.
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.