TicketsMarch 30, 2014
CINCINNATI - Meg Gulmi made 14 saves, but the University of Cincinnati lacrosse team couldn't generate enough offense and fell to Oregon, 10-5, on a sunny Sunday afternoon at Gettler Stadium.
Gulmi (Syosset, N.Y./Syosset) made 14 saves against the Ducks, after making 13 against Oregon a season ago, to keep the Bearcats in the game. Cincinnati (6-5) got a hat trick from sophomore Courtney Curtis (Mason, Ohio/William Mason), while Ashley Helmrath (Ellicott City, Md./Maryvale Prep) and Taylor Young (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore) each contributed a goal. Helmrath and freshman Dani Tunnell (Frederick, Md./Oakdale) each registered an assist.
The Ducks (5-4) saw Sami Kiser score a hat trick along with an assist. Nikki Puszcz scored a pair of goals, while Carly O'Connell and Devon Frazer each had a goal and an assist. Oregon goalie Caroline Federighi made nine saves in recording the victory.
Cincinnati knew it would have to try and slow a high-powered Oregon offense and did that early. It was nearly seven minutes in before the first goal of the contest came from Curtis. Oregon got the next two goals before Curtis tied things up with 12:45 left in the first half.
The Ducks then used a seven-goal outburst over the final 10:37 of the first half to build a 9-2 lead at the break. Oregon held a 21-10 advantage in shots at the half and a 7-3 edge in draw controls in the opening frame.
The UC defense really stepped things up in the second half, holding Oregon to just one goal. Unfortunately for the hosts, the Bearcats scored just three goals themselves, leading to a final margin of 10-5.
For the game, Oregon out-shot UC, 38-17. The Ducks held a slight edge in ground balls, 29-28, and turnovers, with the Bearcats committing 19 to Oregon's 18.
The Bearcats will look to rebound as the enter BIG EAST Conference play for good on Sunday, April 6, when Louisville visits for a 2:00 p.m. contest.