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August 30, 2010
WOMEN'S SOCCER

Bearcats Earn No. 19 National Ranking

First national ranking since 2002 season

CINCINNATI - On the heels of its 1-0 upset win at No. 20 Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon, the University of Cincinnati women’s soccer team has moved into the national rankings, earning the No. 19 spot in the Soccer America Women's Top 25 poll.

“We are pleased to be recognized by the soccer community,” said head coach Michelle Salmon. “However, it is still extremely early in the season. Like I said when the BIG EAST Preseason Poll was released, it doesn’t matter where you start, but rather, where you finish. There are 19 steps to our regular season journey and we are focusing on the fifth step, preparing for the College of Charleston on Friday.”

The Bearcats (3-0-1) have not been nationally ranked since the 2002 season when they cracked the Top 25 on two different occasions. That year the Bearcats finished the season with an overall record of 17-4-3, won the Conference USA Tournament, and knocked off Kentucky 1-0 in the NCAA Tournament before bowing out 2-1 to No. 11 Tennessee. UC was ranked as high as No. 21 during that season.

Notre Dame (No. 4), Cincinnati (No. 19), and Louisville (No. 23) are the three BIG EAST Conference schools ranked in the most recent (Aug. 30) Soccer America poll.

Cincinnati will look to continue its unbeaten streak on Friday, Sept. 3 when the Bearcats host the College of Charleston at 7 p.m. in Gettler Stadium.

Soccer America Women's Top 25 (Monday, Aug. 30)

TEAM (W-L-T) LAST WEEK

1. North Carolina (3-0-1) 1
2. Stanford (2-0-2) 2
3. Portland (4-0-0) 3
4. Notre Dame (2-0-0) 4
5. Boston College (2-0-1) 6
6. Florida State (3-0-0) 8
7. Virginia (3-0-1) 7
8. Texas A&M  (3-1-0) 9
9. Santa Clara (2-0-1) 10
10. Maryland (3-0-0) 12
11. Florida (4-0-0) 13
12. BYU (3-0-0) 14
13. Memphis (2-0-0) 18
14. Northwestern (2-0-1) NR
15. UCLA (2-1-0) 5
16. William & Mary (2-0-1) NR
17. Penn State (1-1-1) 11
18. UNC Greensboro (3-0-0) NR
19. Cincinnati (3-0-1) NR
20. Oklahoma State (2-1-0) 19
21. San Diego (3-0-0) 25
22. Duke (3-1-0) 22
23. Louisville (3-0-0) NR
24. Long Beach State (3-1-0) NR
25. Wake Forest (2-1-0) 15
25. Monmouth (2-0-0) NR

(Records through games played Aug. 29.)

August 30, 3010
WOMEN'S SOCCER

Cincinnati's Pawelko Earns Weekly Honor

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Junior defender Kelli Pawelko (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) was named the BIG EAST Conference Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced today. This is her first BIG EAST Player of the Week honor.

“Kelli was a difference maker for us this week,” said head coach Michelle Salmon. “I have said earlier that she is coming into her own, stepping up in key moments and being such a great leader for us in the back. This is a well deserved honor for KP and our team as a whole.”

Pawelko earns BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week honors after helping Cincinnati post a pair of shutouts, including a 1-0 win at then-No. 20/16 Wisconsin on Aug. 29. Pawelko also scored the game-winner against the Badgers on a direct kick to notch her first career goal. Earlier in the week, the junior helped the Bearcats shut out Northwestern 0-0 in double overtime on Aug. 27.

Additionally, UC’s goalkeeper, Rachel Barnette (Peachtree City, Ga./McIntosh), was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll after posting back-to-back shutouts and recording eight saves.

Currently the Bearcats are 3-0-1, marking the first time since the 1996 season that UC has started a season without a loss in the first four games.

UC will host the College of Charleston on Friday, Sept. 3 in a 7 p.m. match at Gettler Stadium.

August 29, 2010
WOMEN'S SOCCER

Cincinnati Upsets No. 20 Wisconsin, 1-0

MADISON, Wis. – Junior defender Kelli Pawelko (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) scored her first career goal, leading the University of Cincinnati women’s soccer team to a 1-0 victory over No. 20 Wisconsin (0-2-0) in the Wisconsin Tournament on Sunday afternoon. With the win, UC (3-0-1) remains unbeaten on the year, the first time since 1996 that UC has been unbeaten through the first four games of the season.

With 32:19 left in the second half Cincinnati obtained the advantage off of a free kick from the right side of the field and Pawelko soared a shot over UW’s goalkeeper and into the upper right corner of the net.

“We had a tremendous team win today,” said head coach Michelle Salmon. “Our focus leading up to this game, from training to the hotel this morning, we were ready to play. The coaching staff did a great job preparing everyone to come out with a high level of intensity and that was the difference today."

Julie Morrissey (Abington, Mass.Tabor Academy) took UC’s first shot at the six minute mark of the match and Kendall Loggins (Naperville, Ill.Naperville North) followed with a shot of her own two minutes later. Cincinnati dominated the first half, taking six shots to the Badgers’ three.

The Badgers turned up the intensity in the second half, owning a 10-6 shot advantage, but the Bearcats clamped down and prevented a UW goal. Pawelko scored the game-winner in the 58th minute.

“For 80 minutes we dominated the game, creating quality after quality chances,” said Salmon. “At the end of the game Wisconsin went from four to five up top and the fact that our defense absorbed and defended their attack says a lot. I’m very pleased with the outcome.”

Rachel Barnette (Peachtree City, Ga./McIntosh) had three saves in goal for UC, earning her second straight shutout.

“Obviously, Rachel (Barnette) played phenomenal today, and against Northwestern,” noted Salmon. “It was a complete team effort. Kelli (Pawelko) played outstanding this weekend and is really coming into her own. She recognized that the keeper was off her line and went for it. We have two good teams coming in this weekend and we will look to duplicate our performance.”

Cincinnati will return home and take on the College of Charleston in non-conference action on Sept. 3 in a 7 p.m. match at Gettler Stadium.

August 27, 2010
WOMEN'S SOCCER

Bearcats’ Hold Wildcats to 0-0 Draw

Cincinnati takes on No. 20 Wisconsin next

MADISON, Wis. – The University of Cincinnati women’s soccer team traveled to Madison, Wis. to participate in the Wisconsin Tournament and finished with a 0-0 draw in double overtime against Northwestern University on Friday evening in the first game of the tournament.

Rachel Barnette (Peachtree City, Ga./McIntosh) had six saves in goal and finished with her second career shutout at UC. Barnette and the Cincinnati defense faced 21 shots from the Wildcats for the match.

“Defensively, we were outstanding tonight,” said head coach Michelle Salmon. “I thought it was our best game thus far in the early stages of the season.”

In the opening half, Cincinnati attacked first with a shot by Sydney Barker (Roswell, Ga./Roswell) off an Emily Hebbeler (Park Hills, Ky./Notre Dame Academy) corner kick. The Wildcats fired right back with three straight shots and finished the first period with a 6-3 shot advantage. Both teams had two saves and NU took two corner kicks to UC’s one. The game was knotted at 0-0 when the teams went into the locker room at halftime.

Freshman Katie Buczek (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota East) took the only shot for the Bearcats in the second half and regulation ended with neither team getting on the scoreboard. Northwestern held a 9-1 shot advantage in the second half and UC managed only two shots the rest of the match, one from senior Kendall Loggins (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North) and the last by junior Kelli Pawelko (Lemont, Ill./Lemont).

“KP (Kelli Pawelko) and Jazmine (Rhodes) were outstanding,” said Salmon. “Jazmine had a great chance in overtime and as she gains experience, she is only going to get better.”

The Bearcats will play host No. 20 Wisconsin on Sunday, Aug. 29, in a 2 p.m. match at the McClimon Soccer Complex in Madison, Wis.

August 27, 2010
MEN'S SOCCER

Bearcats Roll Past Cleveland State in Exhibition Finale

Box Score

CINCINNATI - The Univeristy of Cincinnati men's soccer team wrapped up its exhibition play with a 3-0 win against Cleveland State on Friday (Aug. 27) night in Gettler Stadium.

"It's always encouraging when you score three goals," said head coach Hylton Dayes. "We definitely created enough chances to get a number of goal-scoring opportunities."

Mark Konitsch (Clarence, N.Y./Clarence Senior) got the Bearcats on the board in the 27th minute when he intercepted a pass in stride and fired a low drive past a sprawling Brad Stuver.

The Bearcats carried play through the first half, holding a 9-5 edge in shots and creating the majority of scoring chances.

UC put the match away in a four-minute span in the second half. In the 73rd minute, Matt Bahner (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West) gathered a loose ball at the midfield stripe and dribbled past a defender into the 18-yard box. His right-footed blast beat Stuver low to the left for a 2-0 lead.

Just four minutes later, UC earned a corner kick, taken by Shamar Shelton (Kingston, Jamaica/Lindsey Wilson). Shelton bent the left-footed cross into the box, forcing a clearance attempt by Cleveland State. The ball deflected off the defense for an own goal and a 3-0 lead that the UC defense would not relinquish.

"We worked all week on being more organized and challenging for balls better and I think you saw that tonight," Dayes continued. "Overall, it was a good defensive effort for the team."

Matt Williams (Portland, Maine/Cheverus) made five saves in recording the clean sheet in his first action of the preseason.

UC possessed a 16-7 edge in shots and managed to get half of its tries (eight) on frame.

The Bearcats will open the regular season on Wednesday, Sept. 1, against I-75 rival Dayton at 7 p.m. in Gettler Stadium. Tickets are just $5 for adults, $3 for children 12 and under and $1 per ticket for groups of 10 or more. Call 1-877-CATS-TIX for more information, including season-ticket packages.

August 24, 2010
MEN'S GOLF

Kastelic Wraps Up Play at U.S. Amateur Championship

UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. - University of Cincinnati golfer Joe Kastelic (Newton, N.C./Fred T. Foard) shot rounds of 89-81=170 in the first stage of the 2010 U.S. Amateur Championship on Monday and Tuesday.

Kastelic shot 89 on Monday at Chambers Bay, the longest course in USGA history. At 7,754 yards, it overtakes the South Course at Torrey Pines Golf Club in San Diego, Calif., which measured 7,643 yards for the 2008 U.S. Open, and 2006 U.S. Amateur host Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn., which measured 7,473 yards.

The senior-to-be shaved eight strokes off his second round score at the Home Course, in nearby Dupont, Wash.

The top 64 golfers move on to match play. Jeff Wilson, a 47-year old car dealer from California, shot a 10-under 62 in Monday's first round and leads the pack.

Kastelic led UC in stroke average and was the Bearcats' top finisher at the 2010 BIG EAST Championships, placing 12th.

Cincinnati opens its 2010 fall schedule on Sept. 20-21 at the Cardinal Collegiate in Louisville, Ky.

August 23, 2010
MEN'S SOCCER

Bearcats Drop Exhibition Contest at Evansville

Stelmak tallies in 2-1 loss

EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The University of Cincinnati men's soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision at Evansville on Monday (Aug. 23) evening in exhibition action at McCutchan Stadium.

Evansville opened the scoring in the 30th minute when Mike Luttrull beat UC keeper Joey Barnard from inside the box. Tom Irvin and Justin Sass were credited with assists on the play. The score stayed that way until the 77th minute when the Aces built a 2-0 lead on Tad Kreamalmeyer's blast that glanced off the far post and past Barnard.

The Bearcats got on the board in the 83rd minute when Aces goalkeeper Phil Boerger earned a yellow card for a takedown in the box. Branden Stelmak took the penalty kick and converted to cut the deficit to 2-1.

Cincinnati was unable to draw even and finished the contest with 13 shots, including nine on goal.

"We have given up the first goal now in our two exhibitions," said head coach Hylton Dayes. "We did not play well defensively and both Evansville goals came as a result of breakdowns. We have young guys in the back and they will make mistakes due to inexperience. We can fix that."

UC had some opportunities in the second half, but was unable to capitalize. Barnard made four saves, while his counterpart, Boerger, stopped eight UC shots.

"Offensively, we didn't pass the ball particularly well and only in the second half did we utilize the flanks," Dayes continued. "Overall, we made some progress from the NKU game and will continue to sharpen things up for Cleveland State on Friday."

UC is 0-1-1 in exhibition play and will wrap up its preseason slate against Cleveland State on Aug. 27, at 7 p.m. in Gettler Stadium.

August 22, 2010
WOMEN'S SOCCER

Cincinnati Earns OT Win At Bowling Green

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Logan Ballinger (Cincinnati, Ohio/Seton) netted a goal with 2:18 passed in the second overtime period, giving the University of Cincinnati (2-0-0) women’s soccer team a 2-1 victory over Bowling Green State University (0-1-0) on Sunday afternoon at Cochrane Field.

The overtime win was UC’s first since a 3-2 overtime win at Miami (OH) on Sept. 5, 2008. Ballinger took a pass from Kelli Pawelko (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) and scored on a 20-yard shot after a free kick was deflected by the Bowling Green defense. The goal was Ballinger’s first game-winning goal at UC.

“We played better today than our last game,” said head coach Michelle Salmon. “We still need to be more dangerous in our attack but I am pleased that we came away with a victory on the road.”

The Bearcats scored first after a corner kick by Emily Hebbeler (Park Hills, Ky./Notre Dame Academy) was knocked into the goal by a BGSU defender in the 13th minute. Cincinnati owned a 12-4 shot advantage in the first half and was five minutes away from a shutout when BGSU’s Alyssa Zuccaro scored the tying goal. After a scoreless overtime period, Ballinger gave the Bearcats the win in the second overtime.

Cincinnati finished the match with an 18-8 advantage in shots, identical to the shot production of UC’s first match of the season, and held a 10-4 advantage on corner kicks. It is the first time since 2003 that UC has earned back-to-back wins to start a season.

The Bearcats will play in the Wisconsin Tournament next, taking on Northwestern on Aug. 27 at 4 p.m. and No. 20 Wisconsin on Aug. 29 at 2 p.m.

August 20, 2010
MEN'S SOCCER

Bearcats, Norse Draw in Exhibition Opener

Bahner tallies for UC

Box Score

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Matt Bahner (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West) scored and the University of Cincinnati men's soccer team opened its 2010 exhibition season with a 1-1 draw against Northern Kentucky on Friday (Aug. 20) night at the NKU Soccer Field.

NKU opened the scoring with a Jordan Grant header in the third minute of play. Bahner leveled the contest just a minute later off an assist from Christian Myton (Vandalia, Ohio/Chaminade Julienne).

UC had a goal disallowed due to an offsides, but neither team could muster much more offense throughout the final 85 minutes of the contest.

"Overall, we were encouraged by the performance," head coach Hylton Dayes said. "We were able to play a lot of players and got some good fitness work in. We defended pretty well after giving up the early goal."

Joey Barnard (McKinney, Texas/McKinney) made two saves in goal for the Bearcats.

UC held a 14-9 advantage in shots and took seven corners to the Norse's three.

"I thought we needed to move the ball a little quicker to take advantage of the big field," Dayes said. "We still have a lot of work to do before our regular season opener on Sept. 1."

The Bearcats will travel to Evansville on Monday, Aug. 23 for a 6 p.m. contest against the Purple Aces before closing out exhibition play on Friday, Aug. 27, against Cleveland State in Gettler Stadium. The regular season opener is slated for Sept. 1 against regional rival Dayton in Gettler Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

August 20, 2010
WOMEN"S SOCCER

Cincinnati Wins Season Opener

CINCINNATI – Emily Hebbeler (Park Hills, Ky./Notre Dame Academy) scored a goal in each half of the University of Cincinnati women’s soccer season opener against Morehead State on Friday night at Gettler Stadium, leading the Bearcats to a 2-1 victory.

Hebbeler’s game-winner came in the 84th minute. Teammate Evi Ranson (Golden, Colo./Ralston Valley) headed a shot that Morehead State’s goalkeeper, Lily Meisner, saved and Hebbeler sprinted to pick up the rebound and flick it into the net.

“Obviously, Emily Hebbeler did what she does best, which is finish,” said head coach Michelle Salmon. “Her in and around the goal is really good for us. I’m proud of the way our girls played tonight.”

Morehead State got on the scoreboard first after a miscue on the Cincinnati defense. Erin Adams found the back of the net in the fifth minute, giving the Eagles a 1-0 advantage. Cincinnati continued to apply pressure and scored the equalizer in the 34th minute. Hebbeler picked up a loose ball from a broken play, turned and fired a shot into the left side of the net.

Morehead State held a 4-1 lead on corner kicks at the half and edged the Bearcats in shots, 6-5.

It was a different story in the second half. The Bearcats were aggressive and persistent, finishing with a 13-2 advantage in shots. The Eagles did not take a shot for the first 13 minutes of the half and in the 80th minute Cincinnati nearly scored on a set piece. Kelli Pawelko (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) drilled a shot that Meisner saved and Alexis Scott (Duluth, Ga./Peachtree Ridge) nearly edged the rebound over the goal line.

“After being tied at the half and not really playing that well I thought the second half we came out and had a dominating performance,” said Salmon. “We only let them have two shots in the second half and that is a tribute to how well Erin Kaufman (Wayland, Mass./Wayland) and Kay Young (Doylestown, Ohio/Chippewa) played.

“With all the new faces we have it’s going to take a little while for us to click but I’m glad we fought through this and we’ll have to start preparing for a very good Bowling Green team,” noted Salmon.

Cincinnati’s Rachel Barnette (Peachtree City, Ga./McIntosh) earned the win in goal, saving three.

The Bearcats will play at Bowling Green next, on Sunday, Aug. 22, in a 1 p.m. match.