University of Houston
Cincinnati
Cougars Fall Late in Cincinnati
3/24/2021 1:21:00 PM | Soccer
Overtime goal downs Cougars on the road
CINCINNATI – The Houston soccer team fell 1-0 on a goal in the 95th minute by Cincinnati on Wednesday afternoon at Gettler Stadium.
This marked the squad's third overtime game of the season, and second of its conference slate, after falling to East Carolina and tying UTSA earlier this year.
Houston's first shot on goal came in the 91st minute when Adriana Hutson powered a ball to the right side of the net. Hutson's shot on frame was the only for the team on the day as seven different players made up the Cougars' seven total shots.
Mia Brascia's shot on Wednesday gives her a team-high 10 this season, breaking a tie with Jazmin Grant.
Aside from Hutson's shot, the best Houston opportunity came in the 50th minute. Zionah Browne and Caitlyn Matthews led a counterattack that Cincinnati goalkeeper Anna Rexford narrowly tipped away. The Cougars also put pressure on the Bearcats with four corner kicks.
Salma Ghazal continued her excellent season in net for the Cougars. With six saves, the goalkeeper now has 19 this season. Ghazal has now allowed only five goals in 653 minutes this season, an average of 0.69 goals per 90 minutes.
With less than four minutes remaining in regulation, Ghazal saved a point-blank attempt to maintain the scoreless tie and send require extra soccer.
Emma Clarke and the entire Houston backline played a key role in the match as they consistently stymied the Bearcats and cleared away danger. Of Cincinnati's 17 total shots, only seven ended up on frame.
By playing all 95 minutes this afternoon, Clarke and backline mate Cassidy Formanek passed 600 total minutes this season. Formanek has led the program in minutes played the past two seasons with 1,624 minutes played during the 2019 season and 1,344 in 2018.
Ghazal and Brascia passed 500 minutes on the season today.
With a start today, sophomore Maddie Dichiara made her first start for Houston since transferring from Oklahoma.
UP NEXT
USF comes to Houston for a game on Sunday at Noon CT before the AAC slate continues over the next couple weeks with the Cougars welcoming Temple and SMU to town. The season will end against UCF on April 11 in Orlando.
STAY CONNECTED
Follow Houston Soccer on Twitter and Instagram at @UHCougarSoccer, and "Like" UHCougarSoccer on Facebook.
JOIN THE COUGAR RESERVES
Fans can help support the Houston Soccer program by joining the Cougar Reserves. To find out more information about the Cougar Reserves Club, click here or call Cougar Pride at (713) 743-GoUH.
