Tickets
CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati lacrosse team rallied late before ultimately dropping a heartbreaking 8-7 decision to Marquette in the season finale on Saturday afternoon at the Sheakley Athletics Center.
The Bearcats jumped out to a 4-1 lead before the Golden Eagles cut it to 4-3 at halftime and eventually led by two goals on two occasions in the second half. Cincinnati rallied to tie the game at 7-7 with 1:59 left before MU scored the game-winning goal with 14 seconds to play.
// KEY PLAYERS
Cincinnati (2-5, 0-7 BIG EAST)
Dani Tunnell (Frederick, Md./Oakdale) - 4 goals | 1 ground ball
Michelle Platz (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula) - 1 goal | 1 draw control
Ashley Helmrath (Ellicott City, Md./Maryvale Prep) - 1 goal
Kyara Byner (Franklin, Tenn./Ensworth) - 5 caused turnovers | 1 ground ball
Marquette (5-12, 1-6 BIG EAST)
Nicole Gleason - 2 goals | 1 ground ball | 1 draw control
Riley Hill - 2 goals
Allison Lane - 1 goal | 5 draw controls | 1 ground ball
Elizabeth Goslee - 2 ground balls | 3 caused turnovers | 1 draw control
// IN THE CAGE
Cincinnati
Meg Gulmi (Syosset, N.Y./Syosset) - 3 saves | 8 goals allowed | Loss
Marquette
Sarah Priem - 7 saves | 7 goals allowed
// KEY GOALS
14:15 1st - Ashley Helmrath (CIN)
Helmrath's score spotted the Bearcats to a 4-1 lead midway through the first half. It was the second of two straight goals scored by seniors in their final game, as Platz scored right before Helmrath to put the Bearcats up, 3-1.
1:31 1st - Julianna Shearer (MU)
Shearer's goal late in the first half cut the Cincinnati lead to 4-3 at the break. It came on the second of two late free position attempts by the Golden Eagles.
15:43 2nd - Nicole Gleason (MU)
Gleason's second score of the game spotted Marquette to a 7-5 lead with just over 15 minutes remaining.
1:59 2nd - Brooke Kovinsky (CIN)
Brooke Kovinsky (Monkton, Md./Hereford) looked to be the hero for Cincinnati, as the freshman converted on a free position attempt with just under two minutes remaining to tie the game.
0:14 2nd - Hayley Baas (MU)
After MU's Lane won her fifth draw control of the day, the Golden Eagles called timeout and then held the ball, starting the attack with just under 30 seconds left. Baas took the ball to the left of Gulmi and skipped it past the UC goalie's right leg, just inside the post, to win the game.
// SENIOR DAY
Cincinnati's three departing seniors all contributed on the afternoon. Helmrath scored a goal while Platz scored and added a draw control. Defender Jillian Magnotta (Timonium, Md./Dulaney) contributed two ground balls and a caused turnover.
The group leaves Cincinnati having helped the program earn its first BIG EAST Conference win and record its longest-ever winning streak. Magnotta leaves tied for the school record in games played, while also ranking among the all-time top-10 in ground balls and caused turnovers. Helmrath recorded the second-most assists in program history.
Classmate Megan Bell (Parkton, Md./Hereford) plans on returning for a fifth year after suffering a season-ending knee injury in the second game of the season in 2015.