TicketsApril 2, 2010
Complete Release in PDF Format
THE MATCH-UP
The University of Cincinnati lacrosse team seeks its first victory in BIG EAST play against No. 15 Loyola at the Ridley Athletic Complex after coming up short in its conference opener against Louisville. The Bearcats, now 4-4 on the season, will look to continue its road win-streak of two games and snap the Greyhound's five-game win streak. Cincinnati averages 11.38 goals per game but Loyola has not allowed its opponents to score 10 goals in each of the last five victories. The Bearcats have never defeated the Greyhounds, falling 17-4 last season.
LAST TIME OUT
Natalie Starvaggi scored three goals but UC lost, 13-9, to the University of Louisville.The Bearcats fell behind in the first half, 9-5, and was unable to gain on the Cardinals in the second half. Louisville scored the first five goals of the game before UC put two goals in the back of the net, one from Laura Simanski and one from Maddie Fink, assisted by MacKenzie Parsons. The Cardinals rattled off three more goals before Katie Liberatore took a feed from Rachel Mercier and Fink scored on a free position attempt. The teams traded goals to end the half with Starvaggi recording her first goal with 1:13 remaining. Starvaggi scored another unassisted goal to start the second half scoring. The Cardinals responded and Katie Liberatore scored off a pass from Simanski, making the score 10-7. Louisville knocked in two goals before UC got a goal from Katie Kiriazoglou on a free position attempt and Starvaggi scored her third and final goal. Louisville recorded the last goal of the game with 1:35 left to play.
NATIONALLY RANKED
In UC's games through March 28, Cincinnati was ranked No. 3 in the nation for its ground balls per game average (25.9). Sophomore goalkeeper Katherine Russo was ranked No. 9 in the country (out of 300) for her .534 save percentage.
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 Stanford. Sophomore Laura Simanski now has the team's longest point-streak, 12. 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 was named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll. 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 61 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 20 goals in 2010 and 67 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 27 points on the year.
FAB FRESHMAN
Freshman attack Katie Liberatore is second on the team with 13 goals and has recorded 22 points so far this season.
STAR SHINING
Junior Natalie Starvaggi recorded three unassisted goals against Louisville and has nine goals and seven assists on the year. The tri-captain has a team-high 24 ground balls this season.
MAC ATTACK
Sophomore MacKenzie Parsons has scored six times this season and has controlled a team-high 12 draws. She has picked up 16 ground balls and caused a team-high 10 turnovers.
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.