Nate Jarret
Assistant Director, Communications and Strategic Brand Engagement
CINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati women’s soccer team looks to get back in the win column when they travel to take on Western Michigan on Thursday in Kalamazoo, Mich.
Kickoff from the WMU Soccer Complex is set for 4:00 PM ET and will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
MEGAN SMITH IS AAC ROCKIE OF THE WEEK FOR SEPTEMBER. 5
Starting striker/midfielder Megan Smith was named AAC Rookie of the Week, announced Monday. This is the first time in her career that she has received this honor.
The Bearcats have won a conference weekly award all three weeks this season. Smith joins Anna Rexfordwho was named CAA Goalkeeper of the Week on August 29 and Ashley Barronwho was honored as the AAC Defensive Player of the Week on Aug. 22. The last time the Bearcats received conference honors in three straight weeks was 2017, when the program won honors in four straight weeks to open the season.
Smith recorded a double-double with her first two collegiate goals in a 5-1 win over Stony Brook last Thursday. The five goals are tied for the second most under the coach Neil Stafford. The Bearcats also scored five goals in wins over Eastern Illinois last season and Saint Francis (PA) in 2014. The freshman forward/midfielder followed up a team-high three-hit performance in Pittsburgh on Sunday. Smith is associated with Brandi Thomsen AND Ellie Flower leads the team with four points and is second on the team with 10 shots, behind only DiNardo’s 12. She has held or tied the team in shots in the last two games.
TV Shows
This is the third meeting between the two programs. This is the first time the Bearcats will travel to Kalamazoo to face the Broncos. The all-time series is tied at 1-1-0, with all games played at Gettler Stadium. The two teams last played on September 1, 2019, with the Bearcats suffering a 1-0 loss. The Bearcats won the first meeting with a 1-0 victory on an 81st minute goal by Julie Morrisey on September 5, 2010.
LAST TIME OUT
Cincinnati dropped its season opener to Pittsburgh 2-0 in a battle of undefeated teams last Sunday afternoon at Ambrose Urbanic Field. Pittsburgh held the advantage in shots and corners at the break, but Anna Rexford recorded four first half saves as the two teams went into the locker room scoreless. Cincinnati has yet to allow a first half goal in six games. The first goal of the game came in the 61st minute when the Panthers’ Samiah Phiri found Leah Pais from close to the goal area and Pais lifted one over the outstretched arms of Rexford for her first goal of the season to take a 1- 0. Pittsburgh added the insurance three minutes later when Keera Melenhorst played a through ball that once again found Pais, who put a shot into the back of the net to record the goal and extend the lead to 2-0. Despite giving up two goals to Pittsburgh, the Bearcats are outscoring opponents 10-4 through the season opener. The four goals allowed in the first six games are the fewest since 2017 (3).
COMPARED TO THE CONFERENCE
Cincinnati ranks second with three shutouts and third in the AAC with four goals allowed in the first six games. Cincinnati is one of three remaining AAC teams that are either undefeated or have just one loss, joined by SMU and UCF. The Bearcats also rank second in goals (10), third in shots (75) and fourth in assists (6).
ACTION SPEEDY MOVEMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF PROPERTY
Eight players have scored a goal in the first six games this season, compared to 12 all of last season. The Bearcats’ last two goals, scored within 1:19 of each other, last Thursday (Paige Miller – 86:59; Megan Smith – 88:18) were the seventh-fastest consecutive goals in program history. Every goal in the Stony Brook game was scored by a player in their first or second collegiate season.
The five goals scored against Stony Brook are tied for the second most under the head coach Neil 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 22 hits are the most in a game for Cincinnati since the Bearcats had 26 against Temple on Sept. 23, 2021.
Newcomers making an early impact in 2022
initial Megan Smith AND Sarah Kate Rath scored their first collegiate goals against Stony Brook last Thursday. Smith found the back of the net for her first two collegiate goals in the 73rd and 89th minutes, while Rath headed in her first collegiate goal in the 18th minute. Smith is associated with Brandi Thomsen AND Ellie Flower leads the team with four points and is second on the team with 10 shots, behind only DiNardo’s 12. Mackenzie Tucker recorded his first two assists as a Bearcat, assisting on the first two goals of the afternoon for Flower and Rath. Eight new players (five freshmen, three transfers) have made at least one start and two have scored a goal.
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.
