TicketsDec. 13, 2013
CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati will play four 2013 NCAA Tournament teams and eight home contests during its seventh lacrosse season as part of a lineup announced by head coach Gina Oliver.
"We have a great set-up for our non-conference segment with games that will challenge us and prepare us for our conference schedule," Oliver said. "We're still a part of the BIG EAST Lacrosse Conference, so it's good to know the coaching staffs and the teams, but every year teams are different and we want to be ready for everyone."
The Bearcats will open the 2014 slate with six road games, starting at 2013 NCAA participant Notre Dame on Wednesday, Feb. 12. That will be followed by a trip to the Sunshine State to face Stetson (Friday, Feb. 21) and 2013 NCAA quarterfinalist Florida (Sunday, Feb. 23).
March will open with a trip to Niagara on Saturday, March 1, before a swing through the Palmetto State for showdowns at Winthrop on Friday, March 7, and Presbyterian on Sunday, March 9.
The home slate opens the weekend of March 14-16, with Coastal Carolina visiting on Friday, March 14, and Iona traveling to Cincinnati on Sunday, March 16. Detroit will visit to cap the three-game homestand on Sunday, March 23.
BIG EAST Conference play begins on Friday, March 28, when UC visits Marquette for the first time. Oregon will visit Cincinnati for the final non-conference game of the year on Sunday, March 30.
April starts with a visit from Louisville on Sunday, April 6, before the Bearcats spend a weekend in Philadelphia to play at Villanova on Friday, April 11, and Temple on Sunday, April 13. The schedule concludes with a three-game homestand that includes visits from Rutgers (Thursday, April 17) and 2013 NCAA tournament teams UConn (Saturday, April 19) and Georgetown (Saturday, April 26). The contest with the Hoyas will also be the team's annual BBQ Bash fundraiser, held in conjunction with UCATS to benefit the lacrosse program.
The top four teams in the conference will qualify for the 2014 BIG EAST Women's Lacrosse Championships in Washington, D.C. The semifinals will be played on Friday, May 2, with the finals on Sunday, May 4, with the winner receiving the league's automatic bid to the 2014 NCAA Tournament.
UC will be led into the season by top returning scorers Megan Bell (Parkton, Md./Hereford) and Taylor Young (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore), as well as senior midfielder Kelsey Conway (Laurel, Md./Our Lady of Good Counsel). Bell played in all 16 games last season, scoring 29 goals, while Young started every game and scored 26 goals. Conway also started all 16 games while ranking third on the team in ground balls (27) and fourth in caused turnovers (10). Meg Gulmi (Syosset, N.Y./Syosset) returns in the cage for the Bearcats. The sophomore started every game in goal, posting a .441 save percentage that ranked fourth in the BIG EAST.