The Cincinnati Bearcats traveled on the road on Sunday to take on the SMU Mustangs. The 14th-ever meeting between the two programs. Cincinnati trails in the all-time series 4-6-3.
The Cincinnati Bearcats ran out a starting 11 of Vanessa Dinardo, Vyviene Spaulding, Brandi Thomsen, Lauren Bastain, Maddie Thiss, Kendall Battle, Ashley Barron, Emma Schmelzer, Maddie Swingle, Paige Miller and Anna Rexford.
SMU ran out a starting 11 of Courtney Sebazco, Sophie King, Payton Doiron, Katina Tsapos, Abby Dermott, Julissa Cisneros, Jewel Boland, Mackenzie Rudden, Sammy Nieves, Mayu Inokawa and Tatum Sutherland.
In the first half, the Bearcats were off to a hot start. The Bearcats got an early opportunity from Brandi Thomsen, but Sutherland converted the quick save. The Bearcats continued the offensive side of things in the first half as Emma Schmelzer took a pass from Lauren Bastian in the corner and snuck a nice header by Sutherland to give the Bearcats an early 1-0 lead. The rest of the first half was very physical as both teams were picking up a lot of fouls getting close to the half. SMU had a costly penalty though that gave the Bearcats their second goal. Maddie Thiss was able to capitalize on a penalty kick and the Bearcats had all the momentum at 2-0. The Bearcats shortly, made a mistake of their own committing a foul deep in their territory to award SMU a penalty kick. SMU would also capitalize as Wayny Balata found the net past Reford to give SMU some life heading into the half 2-1.
Both teams came out in the second half just as physically and committed to their offensive game plans early. SMU had an early opportunity with a corner kick in the 47th minute, but Mackenzie Rudden missed it on top of the woodwork. Cincinnati would then find some opportunities with shots by Emma Schmelzer and Brandi Thomsen, but none would find the back of the net. The Bearcats and Mustangs were exchanging shots in the second half, but none were getting by Rexford or Sutherland. Heading into the last ten minutes the Bearcats looked like they were going to walk out of here with a W. Unfortunately, for the Bearcats they made another crucial mistake. In the 86th minute, Lauren Bastain would commit a foul to give SMu another penalty kick. Courtney Sebazco would bury it and that’s where this game would end. The Bearcats picked up a point, but a disappointing end to a very physical and tough game for the Bearcats.
Cincinnati returns to the pitch next Thursday, Oct. 20 when the Bearcats welcome Houston for a 7 pm match.
