Cincinnati Soccer: Previewing the season opener against Northern Kentucky

The Cincinnati Bearcats are scheduled to start the regular season against Northern Kentucky on Thursday night in what is expected to be another competitive contest between the two rival programs that are separated by less than 10 miles.

After losing to Northern Kentucky in the first ever Riverboat Rivalry in 2011, the Bearcats have won five straight games against their non-conference rival, highlighted by four consecutive clean sheets that could continue later this week.

During the current 5-game win streak, Cincinnati has outscored Northern Kentucky 7-1 including a narrow victory in the 2021 season opener. Lauren Bastian and Vanessa DiNardo both scored first half goals in the 2-1 win on the road last August.

DiNardo earned a spot on the All-AAC preseason club alongside senior teammate Ashley Barron. The graduate student scored a team-high nine goals last season en route to being named to the All-AAC second team for the first time in her career.

Cincinnati Soccer: Previewing the season opener against Northern Kentucky

Barron was voted preseason AAC Defensive Player of the Year and will attempt to win the prestigious award for a third straight year. She joined Paulette Angilecchia as the only players in program history with three All-Conference first team honors.

The Bearcats are coming off an underwhelming campaign, finishing with a 7-7-3 record and seventh place in the AAC standings, but there is reason to believe the team can be much more competitive this year behind an experienced defense.

In addition to Barron, the Bearcats’ defense is led by graduate forward Ally Griffin, senior defenders Kendall Battle and Maddie Thiss, senior midfielders Maddy Pittman and Brandi Thomsen, junior goalkeeper Anna Rexford and several others.

Cincinnati’s scoring attack is headed by Bastian and DiNardo, alongside sophomore forwards Paige Miller and Vyviene Spaulding, plus a pair of transfers including former Xavier forward Mackenzie Tucker and Louisville midfielder Taylor Nuncio.

Following the season-opening matchup against Northern Kentucky, the Bearcats will stay home to host Michigan State on Sunday afternoon at Gettler Stadium before hitting the road for an in-state battle in Bowling Green on Thursday, August 25.

In the annual AAC media poll, Cincinnati was picked to finish tied for fifth place behind preseason favorite Memphis, two-time defending champion South Florida, UCF and SMU. The Bearcats will begin conference play against Memphis in late September.