Freshman Grause scores first-career goal

CINCINNATI – Freshman midfielder Mackenzie Grause (Ft. Thomas, Ky./Highlands) scored her first career goal, but it was not enough as the University of Cincinnati women’s soccer team fell to California Polytechnic State University 2-1 Friday in the 2011 season opener at Gettler Stadium.

In the sixth minute of the match, senior midfielder Logan Ballinger (Cincinnati, Ohio/Seton) served a pass from the left side to Grause on the right corner of the box. Grause took the pass and whipped a shot past Cal-Poly goalkeeper Booke Gauvin that hit the bottom-left corner of the net. Grause’s first career goal gave Cincinnati an early 1-0 lead.

The Bearcats held possession for the majority of the game, outshooting the Mustangs 17-6; however, they could not take advantage of their opportunities to put the game away early.

In its first shot attempt of the match, Cal-Poly tied the score in the 33rd minute when Julie McKee came off the bench and scored from the left baseline after juking past a defender and connecting on a cross-goal shot that hit the right side of the net.

Heading into halftime, Cincinnati built a 5-2 advantage in both shot attempts and corner kicks.

The Bearcats turned up the pressure in the second half, outshooting the Mustangs 12-4, but they could not strike a shot past Gauvin.

In the 71st and 72nd minutes, senior outside back Kelli Pawelko (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) attempted a shot that was saved, Ballinger then took the ensuing rebound and launched another shot on goal before trying again on a the rebound, but sailed it high.

Later in the second half, Cincinnati had additional breakaway chances from sophomore forwards Katie Buczek (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota East) and Jazmine Rhodes (Long Beach, Calif./Long Beach Polytechnic), but both were stopped by aggressive goalkeeping from Gauvin.

In the 87th minute, a defensive mishap allowed Cal-Poly freshman forward Sara Lancaster to sneak a shot past UC freshman goalkeeper Kristina Utley (Castro Valley, Calif./Castro Valley) and give the Mustangs a 2-1 advantage they ultimately held onto for the win.

Cincinnati plays cross-town rival Xavier University at 1 p.m. Sunday at Gettler Stadium.