CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati men's soccer team continued on an offensive tear, scoring four first-half goals and cruising to a 5-0 win against Canisius on Friday (Sept. 4) at Gettler Stadium.

The Bearcats (2-0-0), who defeated Dayton 5-2 on Sept. 1, scored five or more goals in back to back matches for the first time since the 1983 season. That season, UC scored double digits in a 10-2 win against Virginia Tech and followed that with six goals in a 7-6 defeat against Louisville.

UC is 2-0 to start the season for the first time since the 2006, when the Bearcats went on to win the BIG EAST Red Division title and earn an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament.

"The team played well overall against a solid team in Canisius," said head coach Hylton Dayes. "Four goals in the first half was great. We played well at home and put on a good display for our fans. The first goal was critical. Scoring early gave us a lot of confidence."

That first goal came just five minutes into the match. Junior Branden Stelmak (Broadview Heights, Ohio/Brecksville-Broadview Heights) scored his third goal of the young season, a brilliantly-placed drive into the upper right corner off a long pass over the top of the defense from sophomore defender Sam Klosterman (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West).

The 1-0 lead held for 20 minutes until Nick Weightman (Lanark, Scotland/Webber International) gathered a failed clearance by the Canisius defense and blasted home a drive from the top of the 18-yard box.

Junior college transfer Tristan Watson (Brampton, Ontario/Lakeland C.C.) scored his first two goals as a Bearcat within a three and a half-minute span after entering as a sub in the 24th minute. In the 33rd minute, he streaked all the way down the near sideline and shielded his defender with his 6-5 frame, finishing from just inside the box past a diving Adam Miller. In the 36th minute, he struck again, taking a perfectly placed through ball from Judson McKinney (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy) and again beating Miller.

UC held a 13-6 edge in shots during the first half and took two corner kicks to Canisius' one.

UC played 20 players in the match and true freshman Dan Cooperider (Sylvania, Ohio/Sylvania Northview), making his first career appearance, scored in the 85th minute off a corner kick by another true freshman seeing his first action, Peter Jannelli (Springfield, Pa./Springfield).

Miguel Rosales (Aurora, Colo./Smoky Hill) got the start in goal and made three saves for his eighth career shutout.

The 10 Bearcats goals this season are just three shy of the total the squad scored in 19 matches in 2008. The 10 goals in the first 180 minutes of action mark the most a Bearcat squad has scored through the first two matches of a season since 1992, when UC opened with an 11-0 win against Kentucky Wesleyan and followed with a 3-2 win against Miami (OH).

UC is back in action on Sunday, Sept. 6, when they welcome regional rival Wright State to Gettler Stadium for a 5 p.m. kick.