TicketsMarch 8, 2013
Cincinnati Game Notes Live Stats
CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati's lacrosse team (2-1) travels to New Rochelle, N.Y. to take on the Iona College Gaels in a noonday match.
The Bearcats are coming off a thrilling, last-second victory in their home opener against Niagara University on Tuesday. Taylor Young scored the game winner with 3.2 seconds left, which was also her third goal of the game. Kylie Ramsland led UC with a match-high four goals. Megan Bell and Young followed with three goals, while Ashley Helmrath and Katie Kiriazoglou each chipped in one goal. Freshman goalkeeper Meg Gulmi faced 22 shots and had six saves with 11 goals against her.
After defeating Sacred Heart in its season opener, Iona is on a three-match skid with losses to Connecticut, Massachusetts and Quinnipiac. The Gaels' 13-12 loss to Quinnipiac came in double-overtime.
THE MATCHUP
The Bearcats (2-1) travel to New Rochelle, N.Y. to face the Iona College Gaels (1-3). Opening draw is set for 12 p.m. sSaturday, March 9, 2013.
THE BEARCATS-GAELS SERIES
The Gaels lead the all time series 1-0; they defeated the Bearcats 21-13 in Cincinnati on March 17, 2012.
THE GAEL FORCE: SCOUTING IONA
-This is head coach Michelle Mason's fifth year with the program.
-Goalkeeper Maria Ortiz has 43 goals scored against her and has snatched 34 saves.
-The Gaels return their top goal scorer from last year, Kylie Gregory, who had 42 goals last season and has 12 goals through four matches this season.
-Nina Veneziale and Mary Kate McCormick lead Iona with 12 and 11 draw controls, respectively.
-Iona is 1-3 this season. They defeated Sacred Heart 8-6, then lost to Connecticut and Massachusetts. -In their most recent contest, they lost 13-12 in a double overtime match to Quinnipiac.
-Three out of Iona's first five games are home, followed by three straight on the road.
-The Gaels have been out-shot 118-81 while being outscored 79-39 in four games.
CATS REBOUND
The Bearcats defeated Niagara University 12-11 in a thrilling match. Taylor Young scored the game winner with 3.2 seconds left, which was also her third goal of the game. Kylie Ramsland led the Bearcats with four goals. Meg Bell and Young each schored three goals while four other Bearcats tallied one goal each to lift the Bearcats to a 2-1 record.
"I think coming into this game we had a really rough week and I think you could tell that by how we struggled in the first half and a little bit early on in the second half," said head coach Gina Oliver. After a tough road loss to Oregon and a rough week of practice, the Bearcats were able to dig in and pull themselves out of a hole to get the win. While the win improved the Bearcats' record to 2-1, Oliver saw something else in the Bearcats home opening win - the ability to find a way to win.
GULMI THE GOALIE
Freshman Meg Gulmi has started every game in the cage this season for the Bearcats. She has anchored the defense with 27 total saves including six saves against Niagara- one late in the game that resulted in a much-needed defensive stop for the Bearcats. Though she's only a freshman, she is earning her stripes and has become a consistent force on the backend for the Bearcats.
NO NEED FOR CAPTAIN KIRK- BEARCATS HAVE CAPTAIN KYLIE
Kylie Ramsland scored five goals against Niagara and now leads the team with seven total goals.
"Kylie did it in the beginning and kind of manhandled them and Taylor (Young) did it at the end. Both of their performances were big for us today," said Oliver after the win over Niagara.
STEADY IMPROVEMENT
Through three games last year, the Bearcat defense allowed 42 goals. This year, the defense has only allowed 35 through three games. Through the Bearcats' first three games last year they allowed an average of 14 goals per game; this season they have cut that average to 11.6 goals allowed per game. A win Saturday would give UC three wins, tying the number of wins from last season.