TicketsMarch 26, 2008
THE DRAW:
The University of Cincinnati lacrosse team will take on a pair of ranked opponents this week as the Bearcats head to Baltimore to battle with No. 17/15 Johns Hopkins on March 27 and return to Nippert Stadium for a March 30 tilt with No. 6/5 Syracuse. Syracuse will mark the third straight ranked opponent for the Bearcats and fourth this season. The Syracuse game will be Breast Cancer Awareness day, as the Bearcats will be wearing special pink jerseys in honor of breast cancer awareness and research. The Susan G. Komen Foundation will be at the game collecting donations and the team will hold a free clinic after the game.
BEARCAT BITES:
UC's lacrosse program is in its first season at the varsity level. The program was officially founded on Nov. 28, 2006. Head coach Lellie Swords was hired on Feb. 16, 2007 and put a team on the field one year later.
Cincinnati will compete as an independent during the 2008 season before transitioning into the BIG EAST Conference in 2009.
The Bearcats will take on four NCAA tournament teams from 2007 and six programs ranked in the final 2007 national polls.
UC's roster features 14 freshmen and six transfers. Only three players on the roster have collegiate experience and only junior Lindsey Marshall has more than one year.
Lynsey Burton scored the first goal in program history at the 22:10 mark of the first half at Vanderbilt.
All 19 Bearcats saw action in the program's first-ever game, a 20-4 loss at No. 10 Vanderbilt on Feb. 17. UC got its first win against St. Mary's on March 7 (12-7).
Lindsey Marshall leads the Bearcats with 12 goals this season. Jamie Desautels leads in assists with five.
A LOT OF FIRSTS:
In the first game in program history at Vanderbilt on Feb. 19, the Bearcats set many firsts. Lynsey Burton scored the first goal at the 22:10 mark of the first period. Natalie Starvaggi tallied the first assist on Steph Cox's goal at the 25:46 mark of the second period. The Bearcats picked up their first win on March 7 against St. Mary's, a 12-7 decision in Annapolis, Md.
OHIO'S LOSS...UC'S GAIN:
Ohio University disbanded its varsity lacrosse program prior to the 2007 season, leaving a roster full of players without a team. The creation of the Cincinnati program - just a few hours away from the Athens campus - afforded those players an opportunity to get back on the field. Five former Bobcats - junior Lindsey Marshall, sophomores Jess Kazaks and Shannon Lynes and freshmen Lynsey Burton and Lauren Kelly - transferred to UC for the 2007-08 academic year.
SISTER, SISTER:
Twin sisters Lauren and Patty Kelly took different paths, but both ended up at Cincinnati to play lacrosse. Lauren attended Ohio University, but transferred after the program was cut. Patty was injured during her first season at Maryland and decided to join her sister at UC when the program was founded. The Timonium, Maryland, natives played together at the Roland Park Country School as preps.
TOUGH SLEDDING:
The Bearcats's schedule does not reflect that of a first-year program. UC will play four 2007 NCAA Tournament teams and six teams ranked in the final 2007 national polls. The season-opener at Vanderbilt pitted the Bearcats against a Top 10 team and NCAA qualifier. At home, UC will take on NCAA participant LeMoyne, Top 10-ranked Syracuse, and a Top 20-ranked Ohio State team.
NEXT UP:
UC will hit the road for a pair of games in the Baltimore/Washington DC area next weekend. The Bearcats will take on Loyola (MD) on Friday, April 4, at 3 p.m. before playing at Howard on Sunday, April 6 at 2 p.m.