Last night Neil Stafford and the Bearcats kicked off their 2022 season when they welcomed in crosstown rival Northen Kentucky University for the annual Riverboat Rivalry. The Bearcats lead the series 4-0 all time, where they have outscored the Norse 5-1 in those 4 contests and recorded three shutouts in those four matches.
The Bearcats were placed 5th in the AAC Preseason polls, as they are coming off a season where they finished 7-7-3 a season ago. The Bearcats are returning starters Ashley Barron and Vanessa DiNardo, both who are back for their senior seasons, Barron entering her 4th season for the Bearcats has been named the AAC Defensive Player of the Year the last two seasons, 2020, 2021, and was named the AAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year earlier this week. Barron was also named to the AAC Preseason All-Conference team, where she was joined by 5th year teammate Vanessa DiNardo, who is coming off a season where she led the team in goals and finished 2nd in the AAC in goals scored.
Starting 11 for the Bearcats included Vanessa DiNardo, Brandi Thomsen, Lauren Bastain, Maddie Thiss, Taylor Nuncio, Kendall Battle, Mackenzie Tucker, Ashley Barron, Ellie Flower, Emma Schmelzer.
Starting 11 for the Norse included, Ashleigh Cronin, Allison King, Lydia Self, Jamie Lehker, Emma Mcswigan, Meghan Carl, Shelby Wall, Meghan Sullivan, Annie Greene, Kaya Vogt.
The Bearcats would look to strike first in the early moments of this one after a beautiful corner kick set up Ellie Flower with a great look on goal early, but just couldn’t finish as Norse goalkeeper Mimi Stines was able to make a great save as the Bearcats looked to try to take an early lead on the Norse in the 6th minute. The Norse would look to respond where they had an open look on goal graduate defender Taylor Nuncio made a beautiful slide tackle to stop the Norse from what would’ve been a great 1-1 look for the Norse.
The Bearcats saw a great look in the 20th minute after a beautiful corner kick from Lauren Bastain that set up Ashley Barron for a header that hit the crossbar that reflected to freshman Meghan Smith who missed the follow up header and the Bearcats left empty handed after 2 great looks on goal. The Bearcats were dominating the front third early as they were able to control the tempo early, after firing 7 early shots on goal, the Bearcats were getting some great looks early but couldn’t capitalize on the early opportunities.
The Bearcats and Norse were tied at the break, but the story of the 1st half was the Bearcats offensive threat, where the finished the first half with 10 shots on goal, compared to the Norse 0 shots on goal. The Bearcats senior Ashley Barron led the way with three early shots on goal, followed by junior Lauren Bastain who had two early shots on goal. Freshman Megan Smith was the first sub off the bench for the Bearcats and the freshman was not shying away from her opportunity late in the first half as she had two shots on goal late in the first half as well as the Bearcats really controlled all the momentum here at Gettler Stadium throughout the first 45 minutes.
The Bearcats came out firing to start the second half as Vyviene Spalding, who is making her Bearcat debut fired an absolute beautiful shot off her right foot in the top left corner of the net that would give the Bearcats a 1-0 lead in the 48th minute. The Bearcats would add to their lead after Brandi Thomsen would find the top right of the goal to give the Bearcats a 2-0 lead late in the 58th minute off an assist from graduate Taylor Nuncio.
