TicketsApril 21, 2013
LOUISVILLE- Freshman goalkeeper Meg Gulmi (Syosset, N.Y./Syosset) recorded a career-high 16 saves Sunday afternoon as the University of Cincinnati women's lacrosse team (6-8, 0-6) fell 18-10 to the University of Louisville Cardinals (9-6, 1-5).
Louisville opened an early 4-0 lead with goals by Nikki Boltja, Cortnee Daley, Colleen O'Malley and Monica Negron.
Sophomore midfielder Megan Bell (Baltimore, Md./Hereford) put the Bearcats on the board at the 18:28 mark. UC locked down on defense over the next eight minutes, but O'Malley extended the Cards' lead to 5-1 on a free-position goal. UofL would add two more goals before the end of the first period.
UC closed the gap just before halftime as redshirt senior midfielder Kylie Ramsland (Catonsville, Md./Chapelgate Christian) and freshman midfielder Courtney Curtis (Mason, Ohio/Mason) netted back-to-back goals to bring the Bearcats within four (7-3) at the half.
Gulmi faced 15 shots and recorded eight saves in the first half. She ended the afternoon with a career-high 16 saves and faced 44 shots, the most UC has faced all season. Gulmi's 16 saves also tie for No. 7 all-time for saves in a single game by an individual and tie for No. 8 all-time for team saves in a single game.
Daley scored again for the Cards 45 seconds into the second half, but Bell responded for the Bearcats, caging her second goal of the afternoon (8-4 UofL). At the 25:52 mark Daley netted her third goal of the afternoon to increase the Cards' lead to 9-4.
Curtis pulled the Bearcats within four (10-6), slashing through the defense to score back-to-back goals. UofL would go on to score three consecutive goals, but midfielder Sarah Del Bene (Timonium, Md./Dulaney) ended the Cards' run, driving down the middle to score her seventh goal of the season. UC then scored two more goals as Bell and junior midfielder Taylor Young (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore) put the ball in the cage to make the score 13-9 in favor of the Cards with 11:55 remaining in regulation.
UofL ended the game on a 4-1 run to secure the victory. The Cardinals were paced by Daley's four goals. Boltja and O'Malley followed with three goals apiece.
Bell led the Bearcats with three goals and a game-high six draw controls; Curtis also ended the game with three goals. Young had a game-high four ground ball pickups. As a team, UC had 23 shots and caused seven UofL turnovers.
UC returns to the Sheakley Athletics Center next weekend to close out the 2013 campaign with BIG EAST games against Villanova Friday, April 26 at 4 p.m. ET and Rutgers Sunday, April 28 at 1 p.m. ET.