TicketsMarch 16, 2014
CINCINNATI -The University of Cincinnati lacrosse team found the back of the cage nine times in the second half en route to a 14-5 victory over Iona on a chilly Sunday at Gettler Stadium.
It took a while for the Bearcats (5-3) to heat up, but they turned a 5-3 halftime lead into a 14-5 victory behind four goals from Courtney Curtis (Mason, Ohio/William Mason) and hat tricks from Michelle Platz (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula) and Sarah Del Bene (Timonium, Md./Dulaney).
UC also got two goals from Dani Tunnell (Frederick, Md./Oakdale), a goal and two assists from Ashley Helmrath (Ellicott City, Md./Maryvale Prep), a goal from Taylor Young (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore) and two assists from Torrie Zarella (Great Falls, Va./Langley).
The Gaels (0-5) were led by two goals from Erin Pugh. Meghan Testoni, Nina Veneziale and Nicole Branacaccio. Testoni and Venezaile each added an assist.
Coming off a four-goal performance in Friday's win over Coastal Carolina, Curtis got things started off with the first goal of the game just over five minutes in. Her score was followed 63 seconds later by Del Bene's first on a pass from Zarella.
Pugh netted the first goal for Iona with 22:44 left in the first half and the teams slowly traded goals over the rest of the period, with Platz scoring with 3:10 remaining providing the halftime margin of 5-3.
Del Bene opened the scoring in the second half, pushing the UC lead to 6-4. The teams again proceeded to trade goals with Branaccaio cutting the Bearcats' lead to 7-5 with 23:33 left on the clock.
Cincinnati then turned up the pressure on both ends of the field. The Bearcats scored seven goals over the final 21:55, while not allowing a single goal over that stretch.
Platz started the run on a goal from Helmrath. Goals followed from Curtis, Tunnell, Del Bene, Curtis, Platz and Helmrath to provide the final margin of 14-5.
The UC defense also picked up the pace in the second half. The Bearcats saw Jillian Magnotta (Timonium, Md./Dulaney) finish the game with three caused turnovers and three ground balls, while Kelsey Conway (Laurel, Md./Our Lady of Good Counsel) also caused three turnovers. It capped a stellar weekend for Conway, who in two games held the leading scorers from Iona and Coastal Carolina to a goal and a point.
Meg Gulmi (Syosset, N.Y./Syosset) earned her fifth victory of the season in the cage, making four saves. Iona's Maria Ortiz took the loss, playing 35:36 and making three saves.
The Bearcats play once next week, with Detroit visiting on Sunday, March 23. The contest is set for Noon at Gettler Stadium.