Tickets
MILWAUKEE, Wis. -- For the second season in a row, the University of Cincinnati lacrosse team dropped a hard-fought, one-goal game to Marquette in the season finale. This time, it was an 8-7 decision at MU's Valley Fields that saw the hosts go on a late-three goal run to overcome a Cincinnati lead with 11:44 remaining.
The Bearcats got a hat trick from Sam Mlkvy (Berlin, N.J./Eastern Regional) and two goals from Brooke Kovinsky (Monkton, Md./Hereford), while Meg Gulmi (Syosset, N.Y./Syosset) made nine saves in the effort. UC had a good look at a goal with 16 seconds remaining, but an Abby Lord shot from in front was blocked and the Golden Eagles came up with the ground ball to run out the clock.
// KEY PLAYERS
CINCINNATI (4-13, 0-7 BIG EAST)
Sam Mlvky - 3 goals | 1 draw control
Brooke Kovinsky - 2 goals | 1 assist | 1 ground ball | 2 caused turnovers
Courtney Curtis (Mason, Ohio/Mason) - 1 goal
Megan Bell (Parkton, Md./Hereford) - 4 draw controls
MARQUETTE (7-10, 4-3 BIG EAST)
Riley Hill - 2 goals | 1 assists | 1 ground ball | 1 draw control
Allison Lane - 2 goals | 1 assist | 4 ground balls | 1 draw control | 4 caused turnovers
Julianna Shearer - 2 goals | 4 ground balls | 2 draw controls | 1 caused turnover
// IN THE CAGE
CIN Meg Gulmi - 8 goals allowed | 9 saves | Loss
MU Sarah Priem - 1 save | 2 goals allowed | Win
MU Emma Salter - 1 save | 5 goals allowed
// KEY GOALS
4:57 1st - CIN Sam Mlkvy
The Golden Eagles got on the scoreboard early thanks to a free position goal from Shearer, but the Bearcats then slowed the pace down. Mlkvy equalized the game just past the five-minute mark.
0:27 1st - MU Riley Hill (free position)
Hill took advantage of a man-up situation to put Marquette up, 3-1, at the half.
11:44 2nd - CIN Brooke Kovinsky (free position)
Kovinsky gave the Bearcats their only lead of the day with just under 12 minutes remaining. It was a two-goal run by Kovinsky, who scored a free position goal five minutes earlier to tie the game.
10:35 2nd - MU Allison Lane (Riley Hill)
Marquette re-took the lead just over a minute later when Lane scored her first goal of the day on a pass from Hill. Lane scored MU's final goal with 6:44 to play, making it 8-6 MU and neutralizing a late goal from Mlkvy to provide the final margin.
// GAME NOTES
- It was the second consecutive year Cincinnati and Marquette played a one-goal game, with MU taking an 8-7 decision in the Queen City last year thanks to a game-winning goal with 14 seconds left.
- It was the final game for six seniors on the UC roster - Curtis, Bell, Gulmi, Kyara Byner (Franklin, Tenn./Ensworth), Sarah Del Bene (Timonium, Md./Dulaney) and Sydney Smith (Hagerstown, Md./Smithsburg/Mount Olive).
- Bell leaves as UC's all-time leader in draw controls with 204, while she ranks fourth all-time in points (118), third all-time in goals (91) and third all-time in assists (27).
- Curtis caps her career ranked third all-time with 127 points, as well as second in goals at 104 and seventh in assists with 23.
- Gulmi is the program's all-times wins leader and career ground balls leader (177).
- Byner departs as the program's all-time leader in caused turnovers (98).
- Gulmi and Curtis started all 67 games of their career, a school best.