TicketsFeb. 22, 2009
PITTSBURGH - Laura Simanski (Reisterstown, Md./Roland Park) scored six goals to lead the University of Cincinnati lacrosse team to its third straight victory with an 11-10 overtime win against Robert Morris University on Sunday afternoon at Rooney Field on the campus of Duquesne University. The Bearcats, in their first season of BIG EAST play, pushed their win-streak to three while Robert Morris dropped to 0-1 on the year.
The game was moved to Duquesne after wintry field conditions at Robert Morris. It was the first overtime game in UC history.
Robert Morris put the first point on the scoreboard in less than two minutes before Lynsey Burton (Smithtown, N.Y./Ohio) scored UC's first goal, for the third straight game, off an assist from Lauren Houck (Bel Air, Md./CM Wright) at the 27:57 mark. The Colonials reacted with a goal 25 seconds later, which led to a four-goal burst by the Bearcats. Houck scored an unassisted goal, followed by two goals from Simanski and an unassisted goal by Ali Mattingly (Davidsonville, Md./South River). With a 5-2 advantage and 18:37 left in the first period, the Colonials rattled off four unanswered goals to take a 6-5 lead into a shortened halftime period.
Natalie Starvaggi (Loveland, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) took a pass from Lindsey Marshall (Hilliard, Ohio/Ohio) early in the second period, tying the game, 6-6, with 29:11 to go in the game. Simanski gave the Bearcats the lead when she picked up a loose ball off a free position attempt by Starvaggi and found the back of the net through traffic. Robert Morris countered off a UC turnover and tied the game at 13:45 and quickly took the lead with 12:13 to go. The Colonials went up by two, 9-7, at the 11:28 mark. Simanski scored an unassisted goal with 6:30 to go, bringing the Bearcats within one, 9-8. The Bearcats countered off a RMU turnover and went the entire length of the field as Simanski calmly putting the tying goal, and the most goals scored in UC's single-game history, on the scoreboard at the 1:31 mark. The Colonials rushed for a last-second goal but found the back of the net without time on the clock, forcing the game into overtime.
The teams went into overtime, made up of two three-minute periods, and Simanski put the first goal on the scoreboard with a free position goal. Robert Morris scored on a free position attempt with 59 seconds left in the first overtime period and the Bearcats, playing a man down, took an 11-10 lead with 23 seconds remaining when Mattingly found the top of the goal. With a one-goal advantage, the Bearcats stalled the entire final period of overtime and earned the victory.
Katherine Russo (Westminster, Md./Winters Mills) earned the win in goal and recorded nine saves. The Bearcats recorded 33 ground balls and won 15 draw controls.
Cincinnati plays next at Johns Hopkins on March 4 at 4 p.m.