Box Score BOX SCORE

CINCINNATI – Cincinnati scored a pair of goals early in the first half and held off the University of Evansville men's soccer team the rest of the way, as the Purple Aces fell to the Bearcats, 2-0, on the final day of the Bearcat Soccer Classic in Cincinnati.
 
"I warned our group about the perils of playing a host team that is desperate for a result," head coach Mike Jacobs said.  "I give a lot of credit to (Cincinnati head coach) Hylton Dayes and his staff for getting his team so committed right from the get-go."
 
Evansville (1-2-1) outshot Cincinnati (1-3-0), 17-9, but could not overcome the early goals scored by Alan Rovira and Ashani Walker in the opening 14 minutes of the match.  The Aces' defense allowed only one other shot on goal, but Bearcat goalkeeper Alex Gill recorded the shutout by making six saves.
 
"We didn't come out strong and focused enough to rise to the challenge, which is unfortunate," Jacobs said.  "Other than a four-minute span in the first half, we really dictated the game.  They only had one other shot on goal after the 14th minute, but you can't spot teams leads at this level and hope to get positive results."
 
Rovira recorded UC's first goal in the 11th minute, when he redirected a corner kick service from Jonathan Cottrell, and Walker added the insurance goal in the 14th minute by beating UE goalkeeper Eric Teppen inside the right post, following a give-and-go at the top of the box with Will Diebold.
 
Evansville regrouped and controlled possession for much of the second half, posting a 12-4 shot advantage and putting four shots on goal, but Gill was equal to the task.
 
Sophomore Faik Hajderovic led all players with four shots, putting two on goal, while junior Dylan Terry added three shots, including two on goal.
 
Rovira and Peter Jannelli each attempted two shots for Cincinnati to lead the Bearcat offense.
 
"What was encouraging was how our guys responded and dug in the rest of the way," Jacobs said.  "We absolutely battered them with shots and had the majority of possession, but it was too little, too late.  There was some positive lessons that we'll be able to draw from this one for sure, and put it to the test against a very strong St. Louis team on Wednesday."
 
Following the end of the match, Hadjerovic and freshman Jared Robinson were named to the Bearcat Soccer Classic All-Tournament Team.  Both players finished with three points for the event by scoring a goal and adding an assist in Evansville's win over Northern Illinois on Friday.
 
UE will be at home for its next six contests, beginning Wednesday night at 7 p.m., when it welcomes nationally-ranked St. Louis to Arad McCutchan Stadium.