TicketsMarch 29, 2010
Complete Release in PDF Format
THE MATCH-UP
The University of Cincinnati lacrosse team returns home after a four-game road swing that included victories over Fresno State and Saint Mary's. The Bearcats started the trip with losses at Oregon and No. 9 Stanford, but rebounded with the wins, giving them a 4-3 overall record. Louisville comes to UC after a close loss to No. 8 Notre Dame, 11-9. The Cardinals are also 4-3 overall and will serve as UC's first BIG EAST opponent in 2010.
LAST TIME OUT
Laura Simanski scored four goals and Katie Liberatore added three to lead UC to a 12-7 win over Saint Mary's (CA). The Bearcats scored three goals before the Gaels got on the scoreboard. Simanski, Liberatore, and Maddie Fink each took a feed from Katie Kiriazoglou. Natalie Starvaggi took a pass from Liberatore to give UC its fourth goal. SMC posted another goal before Simanski scored on a free position attempt and Liberatore took a pass from Starvaggi to give UC a 6-2 advantage at the end of the first half. MacKenzie Parsons started the scoring in the second half, assisted by Starvaggi. The two teams traded six goals with Liberatore scoring from Simanski, and Simanski scoring on a free position attempt. With the score 9-5, the Bearcats collected an unassisted goal. SMC scored two goals before Simanski scored again on a free position attempt and Kiriazoglou scored an unassisted goal with 19 seconds remaining.
NATIONALLY RANKED
In UC's games through March 21, Cincinnati was ranked No. 1 in the nation for its ground balls per game average (33.0). UC currently has a 25.9 ground balls per game average as a team and is ranked third nationally. Sophomore goalkeeper Katherine Russo was ranked No. 1 in the country (out of 300) for her .605 save percentage. She currently has a .534 save percentage and is ranked ninth.
STREAKIN'
Junior tri-captain Natalie Starvaggi snapped a 13-game streak of recording at least one point in a game in UC's 19-4 loss at No. 9 Standford. Sophomore Laura Simanski now has the team's longest point-streak, 11. Simanski recorded a point in every game her freshman year until the Bearcats played Loyola. She started her streak with two goals against Louisville and has a point in every game this season. Freshmen Katie Kiriazoglou and Katie Liberatore each had a point a game this season until UC's loss at No. 9 Stanford.
CAS SCHOLAR ATHLETE
Senior Patty Kelly was named the College of Applied Science Scholar Athlete of the Month for the month of March. Kelly, a tri-captain, has a 3.60 grade point average in electronic media.
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
Laura Simanski totaled 12 points, including 11 goals in a 2-1 road trip; had five points, including four goals in a 12-7 win at St. Mary's (Calif.) and earned BIG EAST Honor Roll plaudit. Katie Kiriazoglou recorded a school-record eight points and a school-record five assists in UC's victory over Presbyterian and earned BIG EAST Honor Roll status as a result. 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.
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, became the school leader in career ground balls in UC's win over Presbyterian. She now has 60 career ground balls, passing Lindsey Marshall's previous record of 59 ground balls. She needs to cause nine turnovers to become the school leader in career caused turnovers.
SMOOTH SIMANSKI
Sophomore attack Laura Simanski became the school's leader in career goals against Saint Mary's. She has 19 goals in 2010 and 66 career goals, passing Lindsey Marshall's previous record of 64 career goals.
DROPPIN' DIMES
Freshman attack Katie Kiriazoglou has twice handed out five assists in a game -- a UC record -- and has a team-high 16 assists through seven games. She is the school leader in career assists, passing the previous school record of 11, against Fresno State. She leads the team with 26 points on the year.
FAB FRESHMAN
Freshman attack Katie Liberatore is second on the team with 11 goals and has recorded 20 points so far this season.
WELCOME RETURN
Kylie Ramsland and Tiffany Smith both returned to the roster after suffering season-ending injuries in 2009. Smith has played in two games while Ramsland has played in one, scoring on her only shot, at Fresno State.