TicketsMarch 12, 2010
Complete Release in PDF Format
THE MATCH-UP
The University of Cincinnati hosts Presbyterian on Saturday, March 13, in a noon game at Nippert Stadium. The Bearcats will look to bounce back after a double-overtime, sudden death loss to Duquesne on Sunday, March 7. Presbyterian is coming off its first victory of the season, defeating Bryant on Tuesday, March 9.
Admission is free for all of UC's home lacrosse games in 2010.
LAST TIME OUT
Katherine Russo set a school record with 23 saves but UC was unable to score the first goal in the sudden death, double overtime game against Duquesne. Cailin Colegrove scored for Duquesne with 1:47 remaining in the fifth period on a free position attempt, giving the Dukes the victory. The Bearcats had five goals from freshman Katie Liberatore, who handed out an assist to classmate Katie Kiriazoglou with five seconds remaining in the second period, sending the game to its first overtime. Laura Simanksi recorded four goals and Kiriazoglou hit the back of the net twice, while Natalie Starvaggi and Ali Mattingly each scored once for UC.
NATIONALLY RANKED
Sophomore goalkeeper Katherine Russo is ranked No. 2 in the country (out of 300) for saves per game (15.0 per game) and save percentage (0.625). Russo recorded seven saves and earned a win in goal in UC's season opener, a 10-6 win at Detroit. In UC's home opener against Duquesne, Russo set a school record with 23 saves. Sophomore attack Laura Simanski leads the nation in ground balls, averaging six per game. She also ranks No. 86 in goals per game (2.5). Junior Natalie Starvaggi, sophomore Rachel Mercier and junior Paige Stratton also rank in the Top 50 in ground balls. Starvaggi is ranked No. 22 with 3.5, and Mercier and Stratton both rank No. 43 with 3.0 ground balls per game. Freshman attack Katie Liberatore leads UC with seven points this season (6 G, 1 A) and is ranked No. 31 in the country with her 3.0 goals per game average.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Katherine Russo was named the BIG EAST Conference Defensive Player of the Week after her outstanding performances in the first two games of the season for the Bearcats. Russo's honor is the second time that a Cincinnati player has earned a weekly conference honor after the first week of play in a season. Last season, Laura Simanski was named the BIG EAST's Offensive Player of the Week after the opening week of play for the Bearcats.
BIG EAST HONOR ROLL
Katie Liberatore was named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll after the first week of play this season. She finished the week with seven points, including five goals against Duquesne. She was the only freshman player named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll for the week.
MISSING MARSHALL
The Bearcats lost one starter from the 2009 season, senior Lindsey Marshall. Marshall finished her career as the school leader in career goals (64), career caused turnovers (39), career ground balls (59) and career points (69).
KELLY KELLY
Senior Patty Kelly is one of the 2010 team captains and her sister, junior Lauren Kelly, is three ground balls away from becoming the school leader in career ground balls. She needs to cause nine turnovers to become the school leader in career caused turnovers.
BURTON BRINGS IT
Junior attack Lynsey Burton scored the first goal in program history at the 22:10 mark on a free position shot at Vanderbilt in 2008. Last season she scored UC's first goal in the first three games of the season, at Presbyterian, at Duquesne, and at Robert Morris. She ranks third in school history with 37 career goals.
AGAINST THE BLUE HOSE
Last season the Bearcats played its season opener at Presbyterian College and won, 16-6. Cincinnati scored 12 goals in the first period and held on for the win, getting four goals from Laura Simanski and three from Natalie Starvaggi.