TicketsMarch 26, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format
The University of Cincinnati lacrosse team hits the road for its first BIG EAST Conference contest in school history and its first away game in 16 days. UC will play at Connecticut on Friday, March 27, in a 4 p.m. game and take on No. 8/7 Syracuse on Sunday, March 29, at Noon.
Cincinnati is coming off an 18-3 victory over Fresno State. The Bearcats are led statistically by freshman Laura Simanski, who has 26 goals in 2009. Simanski scored four goals against the Bulldogs and 11 UC players found the back of the net. Freshman Katherine Russo earned the win in goal against Fresno State and has 74 saves and a 13.22 goals-against average on the year.
Connecticut will serve as Cincinnati's first BIG EAST Conference opponent. The Bearcats played their inaugural lacrosse season as an independent before officially joining the BIG EAST in 2009. The Huskies are led statistically by Kiersten Tupper, who has 16 goals and 34 points on the year. UConn is currently 0-9-0 overall and 0-1-0 in BIG EAST play, falling 14-13 in double overtime to Brown in its last game.
Syracuse is currently ranked No. 8 in the IWLCA/Under Armour Poll and No. 7 by the Inside Lacrosse Poll. The Orange have either won or shared the last two regular-season BIG EAST titles and were the unanimous pick to win the 2009 title in the preseason BIG EAST coaches poll. Syracuse is led by Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Katie Rowan, who has 25 goals and 41 points in 2009.
Syracuse will serve as UC's fourth ranked opponent in 2009. The Bearcats played three ranked opponents in their inaugural season -- one being No. 5 Syracuse -- and are looking for their first win over a ranked opponent.
Katherine Russo, who has started all eight matches for the Bearcats, was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll for the second time this season after her performance against nationally ranked Johns Hopkins and Villanova. Russo gave up 18 goals for the week, but had 22 saves, including two crucial saves with 23 and 17 seconds remaining in the victory over Villanova. She was also named to the Honor Roll for the week of Feb. 23.
MacKenzie Parsons has been consistent offensively over the last five games, scoring seven goals. Parsons has controlled 15 draws in the last five games and has nine goals and a team-high 19 draw controls on the season.
Cincinnati ranked 11th nationally in games through March 22 with 21.29 ground balls per game. Russo was ranked 15th nationally with 10.0 saves per game and had the 37th best save percentage (.453). Marshall was ranked fourth in the nation with 2.67 caused turnovers per game while LB Zinkand was ranked 15th with 3.29 ground balls per game and Simanski was ranked 21st with 3.14 goals per game.
Senior Lindsey Marshall has a team-high 17 caused turnovers and has scored 17 goals this season. Freshman Lauren Houck is UC's assist leader, dishing out an impressive 11 total assists and twice recording 4-assist games in 2009. Freshman Ali Mattingly is second on the squad with 17 controlled draws while classmate LB Zinkand leads the team with 25 ground balls.
Lindsey Marshall, Patty Kelly, Natalie Starvaggi and Paige Stratton are the 2009 captains. The group of leaders provide solid experience for the 2009 squad that includes 15 newcomers.
Cincinnati's game against Detroit on April 29 has been moved to April 27. The Bearcats will play Detroit on April 27 at 7 p.m. at Indian Hills High School in Cincinnati.
The University of Cincinnati's lacrosse team was recently featured in Lacrosse Magazine, where they were praised for their involvement with the community, including raising awareness for breast cancer, service with the Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign, and involvement with the 82nd Engineer Support Company (ESC), in Camp Ramadi, Iraq.