[Women's Soccer] UC Clermont tops Lady Bearcats 1-0

The Brescia women's soccer team battled a full 90 minutes against last years USCAA national champions, but ended up on the short end of a 1-0 game at Kamuf Park. A handball called with under a minute remaining in the first half allowed Cincinnati - Clermont's Lauren Gilbert to put away a direct kick with 23 seconds left in the first half to give the Cougars all they needed for the win.

Brescia, however, had many opportunities and several excellent scoring chances.  22 minutes into the first half, Mya Hawkins (FR, Radcliff, Ky.) got free, only to have her shot skirt wide.  Kassi Gilbert (SR, Lebanon Junction, Ky.) had shots in both halves that seemed destined for the back of the net, but narrowly missed.  Erin McGuire (SO, Erskine, Scotland) got free with four minutes remaining in front of the goal and unfortunately saw her shot go just high. 

"I will be honest in that I did not like the call, but, in saying that, I do not want it to detract in any way from the performance of our ladies tonight.  Allison Chappell (SR, Owensboro, Ky.) and McGuire controlled so much of the tone of the midfield that it allowed others to be more agressive all over the field.  We stepped hard to the ball all night long.  Brooke Stiles (FR, Bethel, OH) had an excellent game tonight, our back four on defense never wavered through the entire evening.  The best example was with 31 minutes remaining in the match. UCC had the ball so tight that I do not know how we kept it out, except that we had an entire team effort to deny a goal," said Head Coach David Ralph.

The back four of Maddy Zoeller (FR, Independence, Ky.), Ruthie Barth (JR, Fort Thomas, Ky.), Hawkins and Natalie Poynter (SO, Hardyville, Ky.) just held it together in a very chaotic sequence. I will admit that I was even excited with how we played defensively.

Brescia was able to get off 9 shots to the Cougars 15 total. Stiles finished with 9 saves.

Next up for the Bearcats is their River States Conference opener at home on September 28 against Ohio Christian University at 1 p.m.