By: Stephen Wagner
CINCINNATI, Ohio (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – Head coach Jeremy Bonomo graced the sidelines of Gettler Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, this evening, a familiar feeling for the first-year Green Bay coach, however, this time it was as a head coach on the opposing team. Bonomo led the Phoenix (1-4-1) against the Cincinnati Bearcats (4-3-0) men's soccer team, a program than Bonomo served as an assistant on from 2010-14. The Green Bay defense did its best to protect its net, but an unyielding Bearcats' offense scored twice on the night to hand Green Bay a 2-0 defeat.
The Green Bay and Cincinnati defenses played well in the first half, allowing only four shots on goal between the two teams. Green Bay was limited to only four shots total in the first half, two of which came from junior Audi Jepson, while the Bearcats managed to fire off ten in the first 45 minutes of play.
The Phoenix defense did a masterful job defending against the Cincinnati shooting barrage in the opening period, but the Bearcats relentlessness paid off in the 32nd minute when Cincinnati's Adam Wilson lined up for a free kick and banged one off the right post, allowing fellow Bearcat striker to capitalize on the rebounded ball and send it into the net to take a 1-0 lead.
The second half began in a similar fashion to the first, with neither team recording a shot on goal in the first ten minutes of play. However, the first opportunity with a chance to strike was not wasted, as the Bearcats' Emmanual Appiah sent a first-touch volley into the Green Bay goal from 25 yards out, garnering a 2-0 advantage for host Cincinnati.
Cincinnati's offense hovered around striking distance for much of the contest, recording 18 shots on the night but only placing 5 on the mark due to the tightly packed Green Bay backline.
Green Bay will now turn its focus to Horizon League play, with its first league contest coming this Saturday in Chicago, Ill., against UIC at 1 p.m.
LIVE STATS at UIC
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