CINCINNATI | What a difference a year makes.
Last fall, in the second exhibition game of the season in Morehead, Cincinnati defeated the Morehead State women's soccer team 6-0.
On Sunday at Gettler Stadium in Cincinnati, the host Bearcats pulled out a 2-1 victory.
UC scored in the 68th minute for the go-ahead goal.
The Bearcats began the scoring with a strike at 20:09 after Kailey Shannon retrieved a rebound off a shot and converted a 12-yard blast from right of midfield to the left post.
Morehead State got the equalizer at the 50:03 mark, when freshman forward
Jade Walton uncorked a 35-yard rocket from the right side that sailed inside the left post. It was Walton's first action in approximately two years.
The play was set up after a Bearcat turnover on their side of the field. Sophomore forward
BB Bonzheim recovered the ball and it kicked it over the defender. Sophomore forward
Carly Gilbert then headed it to Walton along the sideline as she was making a run downfield. Both Bonzheim and Gilbert were credited with assists on the play.
Cincinnati pulled ahead when Jada Arthurs mirrored the first goal by scoring from 12 yards out with a right-to-left shot.
There were mid-game water breaks halfway between each period to account for the heat.
Just like the first game, MSU was without four players: freshman forward
Joni Bandi, freshman defender
Addison Petry, senior midfielder
Kennedy Baquero and junior defender/midfielder
Molly Tapak.
Despite the final score, MSU coach
Paul Cox was thrilled with his team's performance.
Listen to Cox discuss the game on the MSU YouTube channel.
Cincinnati dominated the offensive statistics, including shots (22-3) and corner kicks (11-1). The Bearcats had the ball in the offensive zone for 65 percent of its possession. The hosts also had all three offside calls and nine of the 13 fouls. The Eagles had the ball in the Bearcat defensive side for 58 percent of their possession time. Both teams had the ball 50 percent of the afternoon.
Walton had two of MSU's shots, with sophomore forward
Ava Peck recording the other. Arthurs, Bryana Gaynor and Laura Zemberyova each had three attempts to lead the hosts.
Sophomore
Claire Cress and redshirt sophomore
Sofia Rodriguez split time in the net. Cress started the game and played the first half, recording five saves. Rodriguez spent the final 45 minutes in goal and registered six saves. She suffered the loss. Both keepers surrendered one goal.
Cincinnati used three goalkeepers. Camryn Miller started the game and made one save in 45 minutes. Amber Brandon (23:17) and Kate Helfen (21:43) split time in the second half. Brandon allowed the goal and Helfen earned the win.
Morehead State completed its exhibition campaign with a 1-1 mark for the second straight season.
The Eagles open the regular season on Thursday, Aug. 14 when it entertains Marshall at 7 p.m. The team remains at home to host Austin Peay on Sunday, Aug. 17 at 1 p.m.
