The Tulsa women’s soccer team dropped a 3-2 decision to 21^st-ranked Cincinnati on Thursday night at Gettler Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.  TU fell to 3-11-3 on the season and 1-5-1 in American Athletic Conference play, while UC moved to 11-1-2 overall and 4-0-1 in the league.

 

“We told the team we had to hold possession and we did, but more on our defensive half of the field,” Head Coach Kyle Cussen said.  “In the second half we made a conscious effort to get forward more and we were able to do that.  Cincinnati is a good, solid team, but there were times within the game we felt like we were as good, if not better.  I was proud of the effort, but we have to do a better job of playing for 90 minutes.  We can still be in the hunt for a conference tournament bid so we need to use tonight to propel us through the remainder of the regular season.”

 

Jill Vetere put Cincinnati on the board at 23:21 mark off a cross from Sophie Gorman and then Gorman scored her own goal as she headed in a cross from Karli Royer in the 50^th minute.

 

Rachel Thun-Blankenship got one back for the Golden Hurricane as she drilled in a penalty kick at the 71:56 mark, but Sydney Goins put the Bearcats back up by two, 3-1, in the 75^th minute.

 

Just 23 seconds later, Addyson Guthrie drilled in a score for Tulsa at the 75:15 mark, but TU was unable to get the equalizer.

 

The Bearcats had a 36-3 lead in shots, including a 14-2 advantage in shots on goal, and a 12-1 lead in corner kicks.

 

Thun-Blankenship had a team-best two shots, while Guthrie had TU’s other attempt.  Courtney McKeon logged all 90 minutes in goal and picked up 10 saves.

 

“Courtney was unbelievable tonight,” Cussen said.  “I was proud of her effort.  She kept us in the game and made some big saves.”

 

Tulsa will return to action on Sunday, Oct. 15 against ECU.  Game time is set for 12 noon in Greenville, N.C.

 

Scoring Summary

Tulsa               0          2          -           2

Cincinnati        1          2          -           3

 

Individual Scoring

Jill Vetere (Cincinnati) at 23:21 (Sophie Gorman)

Sophie Gorman (Cincinnati) at 49:21 (Karli Royer)

Rachel Thun-Blankenship (Tulsa) at 71:56 (penalty kick)

Sydney Goins (Cincinnati) at 74:52 (Tiffany Huber / Julie Gavorski)

Addyson Guthrie (Tulsa) at 75:15 (Christina Holmes)

 

Goalkeeper Saves

Courtney McKeon (Tulsa) – 10

Tulsa Team – 1

Madison Less (Cincinnati) – 0

 

-TulsaHurricane.com-