Marquette University Athletics
Marquette University
Cincinnati
Cincinnati Defeats MU Women's Soccer, 2-1
11/9/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Nov. 9, 2002
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Second-seeded Cincinnati (16-3-3) defeated fifth-seeded Marquette (13-7-3), 2-1, to capture the 2002 Conference USA Women's Soccer Championship at Charlotte's Transamerica Field on Saturday. It's the Bearcats' second consecutive and fourth overall title and gives them the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament beginning next week.
Cincinnati jumped to an early lead in the 14th minute when Tianna Oliver broke free on a pass from Amy Simonson and chipped the ball over the Marquette goalkeeper's head and into the net.
Marquette's Kate Gordon tied the match in the 40th minute, when she took a pass from Kristen Jensen and dribbled past the Bearcat defense, firing home a shot from 10 yards out.
Tasha Wagner scored the game-winning goal in the 84th minute when she took another Simonson assist and raced down the middle of the field toward the goal. Wagner's shot deflected off the keeper's hand and into left side of the net.
Wagner was named the tournament's offensive MVP and Bearcat teammate Stacey Kyser was named the defensive MVP. Marquette's Kate Gordon, Anne Dalecky and Anne Ioder were on the all-tournament team. Also named to the all-tournament team was Heather Herweh and Amy Mink of Cincinnati, Courtney Crandell and Jennie Leeder of Charlotte, and Amanda Duffy and Krystel Pabey of East Carolina.
This marks the second-straight season that Cincinnati has defeated Marquette in the finals, posting a 1-0 win in last year's contest. The last time UC won back-to-back titles was 1996 and 1997, defeating Marquette both times, 4-2 and 1-0, respectively.
