TicketsApril 11, 2014
VILLANOVA, Pa. - The University of Cincinnati lacrosse team's strong second half was unable to overcome a slow start as the Bearcats dropped at 12-7 decision to BIG EAST foe Villanova on Friday afternoon.
The Bearcats (6-7, 0-3 BIG EAST) got a pair of goals each from Courtney Curtis (Mason, Ohio/Mason) and Torrie Zarella (Great Falls, Va./Langley). Dani Tunnell (Frederick, Md./Oakdale) and Taylor Young (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore) each registered a goal and an assist, while Ashley Helmrath (Ellicott City, Md./Maryvale Prep) rounded out the scoring for UC.
Villanova (7-5, 2-1 BIG EAST) saw Chelsey Henderson, Jessica Mucci, Meghan Breen and Kelsey Denihan each net a pair of goals. Henderson added a pair of assists for a four-point afternoon, while Mucci and Breen each had an assist, as well. The Wildcats got single goals from Shannon, Galvin, Ali Judge, Hannah Goforth and Caroline Guidera.
Cincinnati struggled to get started early, falling down 5-0 before Zarella scored on a feed from Young midway through the opening half. That would be the only score of the opening 30 minutes for UC, who saw Villanova hold a 9-2 advantage in draw controls in the opening frame to help the Wildcats carry a 9-1 lead into the break.
The Bearcats finally started to click in the second half, with Zarella scoring 1:58 into the frame. After Galvin pushed the Villanova lead to 10-2, UC scored four of the game's final six goals, but could only get as close as 12-7.
UC played better in almost every aspect of the game in the second half. The Bearcats and Wildcats were even on draw controls, 5-5, while Cincinnati cut its turnover number in half from the first period and generated all three free-position attempts in the second frame.
Meg Gulmi (Syosset, N.Y./Syosset) made nine saves in the effort while taking the loss. Villanova's Jaclyn Fraum got the victory, while Julia Todd spelled her in the second half and made three saves.
The Bearcats remain in the Philadelphia area for their next contest, facing Temple for the first time in program history on Sunday, April 13. Opening draw is set for Noon at Temple's Feasey Field. The game can be seen free-of-charge on OwlSports.com.