TicketsCINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati women's soccer team travels to take on No. 7-ranked Notre Dame at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Alumni Soccer Stadium in South Bend, Ind.
The Bearcats will then make their way home for a rival match against Xavier on Sunday, Aug. 24 inside Gettler Stadium.
Cincinnati's match versus Notre Dame will be broadcast nationally on ACCNX.
// SERIES HISTORY
Cincinnati and Notre Dame have met 17 times in their history with the Fighting Irish holding a 15-1-1 edge.
The two teams last saw each other at Gettler Stadium in 2020, resulting in a 2-0 win for Notre Dame.
The series started in 1991.
UC's last win against the Fighting Irish was in the 2001 NCAA Championship second round, where the Bearcats won, 3-2, in South Bend, Ind.
// LAST TIME OUT
Cincinnati battled to a 1-1 draw with Toledo in its home opener on Sunday afternoon at Gettler Stadium.
Sophomore forward Rylee Felton picked up right where she left off after her stellar debut season. She broke past her defender in the 19th minute and fired a shot into the top-left corner of the net. The strike marked the eighth of her young career.
Cincinnati finished with a 12-4 edge in total shots, an 8-2 advantage in shots on goal, and outpaced the Rockets 9-1 in corner kicks.
// RETURNING STRENGTH
Cincinnati brings back eight starters from last season, including Emma Gioffre, Faith Broering, and Megan Smith, each of whom started all 19 matches. Twelve of UC’s 17 returners appeared in double-digit games for the Red & Black.
While the Bearcats will miss five-year starting goalkeeper Anna Rexford, they return their entire defensive line, featuring Broering, Oubs, Swingle, and Daveler.
// NEW CATS ON THE BLOCK
The Bearcats welcome four transfers and eight freshmen to the 2025 roster. Cincinnati's freshman class includes Lexi O'Shea, Christa Gibbons, Ava "AJ" Hendrick, Kailey Shannon, Lily DiBernardo, Dru Dorsey and twins Kayla and Bryana Gaynor.
Transfers Camryn Miller (Virginia), Molly Cochran (Louisville), Karson Yon (Minnesota) and Joy Kimwemwe (USF) also join the Bearcats.
// MILESTONE WATCH
Graduate student Ellie Flower is just one appearance shy of reaching 50 career matches. She also needs nine goals to hit the 20-goal milestone.
Sophomore Rylee Felton is two goals away from reaching 10 in her career.
// A WIN WOULD...
Give UC its first win against Notre Dame since 2001.
Snap an 11-match losing streak to the Fighting Irish.
Give the Bearcats their first win against a ranked opponent since 2015 when Cincinnati defeated No. 25-ranked USF in penalty kicks for the AAC Tournament Championship.