Aug. 11, 2008
PODCAST - POST MATCH INTERVIEW WITH HEAD COACH
WCU Women's Soccer vs. Cincinnati Photo Gallery
Cullowhee, N.C. - Just six training sessions into the preseason, Western Carolina hosted Big East foe, Cincinnati, on Monday afternoon at the Catamount Athletic Complex, falling 1-0 in the scrimmage after surrendering a first half marker.
"I expected a little better play defensively today," said fourth-year head coach Tammy DeCesare following her squad's first action of the year. "The way we played the last 20 minutes of the match is what I expected from the start. It is good that it showed up, but it just showed up 65 minutes too late."
"Overall, though, I'm proud of the team in that we hung with a Big East opponent and had a chance to tie it late. Our goalkeepers really did a nice job keeping us in the match early," DeCesare added.
After Cincinnati started the match solid with possession, WCU turned up the intensity around the 15 minute mark with a couple of runs on the Bearcat cage. However, it was the visitors who managed to scratch the scoreboard first.
At the 21:48 mark, Cincinnati freshman Julie Morrissey capitalized on a misplayed through ball that slipped past the Catamount defense in the middle of the pitch. Morrissey and a teammate chased it down, outrunning the WCU defenders before bouncing one into the lower left-hand corner of the goal to beat the Catamount keeper.
Cincinnati carried its one-goal halftime lead late into the second half before the Catamounts were able to put together a handful of golden opportunities inside the final 17 minutes of the match.
With just over 16 minutes remaining in the scrimmage, the Bearcats were whistled with a foul inside their defensive third. On the ensuing direct kick, WCU senior defender Arlan Whittle lifted a cross into the box where junior Bri Cunningham headed it on net where UC back-up goalkeeper, April Gibson, was able to scoop it up and hold on to the lead.
Four minutes later, with the Catamounts continuing to push, Western's best chance came as Cunningham laid out on a slide tackle at the top of the box to push the ball to the right side where classmate Nikki Lombardo uncorked a shot that ricocheted off Gibson. The rebound came to sophomore Erin Hamilton in front of the open cage, but her offering just missed outside the left post.
The Catamounts' last big push came inside the final three minutes. Freshman Samantha Hodge played a through ball where classmate Merritt Rollins, a late substitution into the game, made a run up the field utilizing her fresh legs. However, as Rollins charged, Gibson managed to smother the bouncing ball to thwart the would-be scoring opportunity.
"Playing a scrimmage this early in preseason is very important for us because it allows us to see where we are weak and where we have our shortcomings, but also to see where we are strong and have potential," DeCesare said. "We need to work on our defending and our attack, keeping the ball with creativity while on offense. But, with us only having six true training days under our belts, we have not covered that area yet."
All told, Cincinnati held an 8-to-6 edge in shots, while the Catamounts tallied four corner kicks to the Bearcats' three opportunities, all coming in the second half.
Western Carolina returns to action this Saturday, Aug. 16 as it welcomes home its alum for the annual Alumni Scrimmage. Match time is set for 2:00 pm at the Catamount Athletic Complex.
