TicketsMarch 6, 2011
CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati lacrosse team dropped its home opener 16-5 to Oregon, Sunday under cloudy skies at Nippert Stadium.
UC fell to 1-4 on the season while Oregon moved to 3-2.
Maddie Fink, Katie Liberatore, Ali Mattingly, Laura Simanski, and Natalie Starvaggi all found the back of the net for the Bearcats, and Kylie Ramsland picked up an assist.
Down 6-3 at halftime, UC was put in an 8-3 hole five minutes in as the Ducks scored a pair. Simanski's goal off a free position shot at 21:16 made it 8-4. Simanski has scored at least one goal in each of UC's five games this year and has an eight-game scoring streak going, dating back to April 25, 2010.
From there, the Ducks put it away with five goals in a little under five minutes, making the margin nine at 13-4 with 14:49 left. Liberatore added an unassisted score, her fifth of the year, with 10:36 left, and Oregon would add three more goals, including two in the last minute, to make the final 16-5.
Jen Walsh started and made eight saves in the loss. She gave way to Katherine Russo for the final 16 minutes of the game. Russo made five saves.
Oregon's Jana Drummond and Nikki Puszcz tied for the game high with four goals apiece. Alex Breiner and Ashley Inman added two scores each. Salliebeth Finnegan made a pair of saves in the first half, picking up the win while Caroline Federighi made a single save in the second half.
Cincinnati trailed 6-3 at the break. Oregon put the first three goals on the board, before Fink scored from in front at 15:38, her fourth tally of the season.
The Ducks added three more goals over the next seven minutes, holding possession in their end of the field.
The Bearcats got back on the board at 5:07, when Mattingly took the feed from Ramsland for her sixth goal of the season. Starvaggi added a free possession shot with just under a minute left to make the deficit three at the half.
UC continues a three-match homestand on Friday, March 11, taking on Detroit at 3 p.m. inside Nippert Stadium. Admission is free for all fans. Live stats and video will be available at GoBEARCATS.com.