TicketsMarch 17, 2013
CINCINNATI - Sophomore midfielder Meg Bell and junior midfielder Taylor Young recorded career-highs in goals as the University of Cincinnati women's lacrosse team (4-2) defeated the Presbyterian College Blue Hose (1-8) 22-6 on Sunday. UC's 22 goals against PC also set a new program record for goals in a single match.
After a slow first half, the Bearcats exploded out of the halftime break to dominate and control the. Nine different Bearcats scored while the defense allowed just six goals. Presbyterian jumped out to a 1-0 lead five minutes into the match on a goal by Catherine Ellis. Despite the early deficit, the Bearcats put on the pressure. Bell opened the scoring for the Bearcats seven minutes into the match when her shot flew past Presbyterian goaltender Bridget Hogan.
Just minutes after tying the score at 1-1, Taylor Young scored her first goal of the day to put the Bearcats up for good. Twenty seven seconds later, Maddie Fink scored, but the Blue Hose would not go without a fight. Jamie Beamish's goal would pull Presbyterian within one goal, but that was as close as they would get for the remainder of the contest.
Kylie Ramsland scored her first goal of the day on a free-position shot to push the score to 4-2; she followed with another goal four minutes later on an assist from Marissa Pierson. The Bearcats then held their ground defensively, holding Presbyterian scoreless on three free-position shots in the first half; Meg Gulmi ended the first period with four saves.
Ashley Helmrath scored on a man up situation, and thirty seconds later Ramsland scored her third goal of the game to push the lead to 7-2. Presbyterian would end the first half with a goal by Brianne Ward, making the Bearcats' halftime lead 7-3.
Nine of the next 11 goals were scored by the Bearcats. The barrage of goals to begin the second half was a knockout blow the Blue Hose from which would not recover. Kelsey Rupsch and Liz Davis would both score for Presbyterian, but the Bearcat defense held its ground the rest of the match. The only other Presbyterian goal would be scored on a free-position shot by Lauren Lefeber late in the game.
Individually, Ramsland and Bell led all scorers with a game-high five goals each. For Bell, her five goals mark a career-high. The five scores for Ramsland mark a season-high, and one shy of tying her career-high (six goals). Young chipped in with four goals of her own, tying her career-high. Marissa Pierson, Katie Kiriazoglou, Maddie Fink and Ashley Helmrath each netted one goal for the Bearcats, while Sarah Del Bene and Courtney Curtis each scored twice. Goalie Gulmi faced 15 shots, made four saves and allowed five goals. In the second half, she gave way to Jennifer Walsh who faced five shots, made three saves, and allowed one goal.
The Bearcats outshot Presbyterian 38-20, marking the second most shots in a single game in program history. Cincinnati also dominated in draw controls in the second half, winning 14. On free-position shots, the Bearcats scored on 4-of-7 shots, while holding the Blue Hose to two goals on six chances.
Next up for the Bearcats is a trip to the nation's capital to take on the Georgetown Hoyas in their first BIG EAST contest of the year. The match is set for 4 p.m. Friday, March 22.