TicketsFeb. 18, 2012
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The University of Cincinnati lacrosse team (0-1) was defeated by San Diego State (1-1), 14-9, in its season opener on Friday evening at Aztec Lacrosse Field. Junior captain Katie Kiriazoglou (Abingdon, Md./John Carroll) led the Bearcats with five points (3g, 2a), while freshman Megan Bell (Baltimore, Md./Hereford) scored two goals in her first collegiate game.
The Bearcats took the early 2-0 lead on a pair of goals by Marissa Pierson (Sykesville, Md./Century) and Kylie Ramsland (Catonsville, Md./Chapelgate Christian Academy). But after a scoreless four minutes of play, Ramsland was issued a yellow card, which allowed the Aztecs to capitalized on a man-up situation to make the score 2-1.
Kiriazoglou netted her first of the night with 13:25 remaining, but SDSU got hot and scored three goals in a span of two minutes to take the 4-3 lead with just less than 11 minutes remaining. Cincinnati got right back in it on back-to-back goals from Rachel Mercier (Catonsville, Md./Chapelgate Christian Academy) and Kiriazoglou, but the two teams exchanged one goal apiece to even the score, 5-5, heading into the break.
Bell scored her first career goal to start the scoring in the second half, but then it was all San Diego State, who netted six-in-a-row to extend the Aztec's lead, 11-6, with 14:10 remaining. Kiriazoglou narrowed the deficit with 13:48 remaining, but SDSU responded once again to make it 12-7.
Cincinnati began to stage a last-minute comeback with goals by Jenn Doran (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) and Bell nearly one minute apart, but a back-to-back SDSU goals in the final two minutes sealed the Aztec's victory.
Sophomore goalkeeper Jen Walsh finished with eight saves, while SDSU's goalie Sammy Slattery had seven. The Aztecs outshot UC, 24-18.
SDSU was led by Bailey Ewing (4g, 1a) and Sophie Koubek (4g) in the Aztec's first-ever home game.
The Bearcats will remain in San Diego to take on Fresno State on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 12 p.m.