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BIUES CREEK, N.C. - The University of Cincinnati lacrosse team won in dramatic fashion on Sunday afternoon, using a last-second goal by sophomore Katie Stegmann (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy) to beat Campbell 17-16 in Biues Creek, North Carolina. The Bearcats used a dominating second half to come back from four goals down to secure the late victory.
For the third time in as many games this season, freshman Monica Borzillo (Devon, Pa./Conestoga) led the UC offense with three goals and a pair of assists. Classmate Gianna Napoletano (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough) also chipped in three goals for her first-career hat trick.
After a goal by sophomore Amanda Donovan (Ellicott City, Md./Mount de Sales Academy) tied the score at 16-16 with 1:27 remaining, the Bearcats showed a stout defense, pressuring the Camels into a rushed shot that was off the mark with 28 second remaining. UC regained possession and drove the length of the field before Stegmann's shot with one second on the clock won the game for the visitors.
// NOTABLES
- With the victory, Cincinnati improves to 1-2 while Campbell falls to 0-4.
- It was the first-ever matchup between UC and CU.
- Borzillo has recorded at least two goals and two assists in each game this season.
- Nine different players scored for the Bearcats, including Sam Mlkvy (Berlin, N.J./Eastern Regional) and Mackenzie Shoen (Roswell, Ga./Roswell) who each scored their first goals of the season, and Napoletano and Jayde Sains (East Islip, N.Y./LIU-Brooklyn) who recorded their first-ever goals for UC.
- In addition to the hat tricks by Borzillo and Napoletano, Mlkvy, Donovan, Stegmann and freshman McKenna Rushford (Buffalo, N.Y./Amherst Central) all tallied multiple goals.
- Cincinnati topped Campbell in total shots (42-31) while the Camels had more ground balls (12-10) and turnovers (16-11). Each team collected 17 draw controls in the game.
- Senior Skylar DeLemos (Cranbury, N.J./West Windsor-Plainsboro) recorded a career-high seven draw controls to set the tempo for the Bearcats' offense. She also added a pair of ground balls to her effort.
- Stegmann's four draw controls also were a career high. Additionally, the sophomore caused the final Campbell turnover with under 30 seconds left that led to her game-winning goal at the buzzer.
- Donovan tied her career marks with two goals and two assists while adding two caused turnovers, two ground balls and a draw control.
- Rushford finished with two goals, two ground balls and two caused turnovers, all career highs for the freshman.
- Freshman goalie Madison Foery (Washington, D.C./Georgetown Visitation Preparatory) earned her first-career start and win against the Camels, recording six saves while playing all 60 minutes in the cage.
// OLIVER's OPINION
"We figured out a way to win today" said head coach Gina Oliver. "Players stepped up and made plays when we needed them to. We stll have some work to do on both ends of the field, but we are going to enjoy this one."
// KEY PLAYERS
Cincinnati
Monica Borzillo | 3 goals | 2 assists | 1 draw control | 1 caused turnover
Amanda Donovan| 2 goals | 2 assists | 2 ground balls | 2 caused turnovers | 1 draw control
McKenna Rushford | 2 goals | 2 ground balls | 2 caused turnovers
Skylar DeLemos | 7 draw controls | 2 ground balls
Campbell
Sarah Paul | 6 goals | 2 draw controls | 1 ground ball | 1 caused turnover
Mackenzi Koeller | 4 goals | 1 ground ball | 1 draw control
Melissa Placek | 3 assists | 4 draw controls | 2 ground balls
// IN THE CAGE
CIN - Madison Foery | 16 goals against | 6 saves
CU - Merredith Belcher | 17 goals against | 13 saves
// KEY GOALS
6:06 1st | CIN | Monica Borzillo
Borzillo's third goal of the game came just 24 seconds after her second. The freshman attacker got loose on a fast break and sprinted 25 yards up field for an open look on goal which she bounced into the goal to get the Bearcats within 8-6.
15:52 2nd | CIN | McKenna Rushford
After chasing the Camels all game, the Bearcats finally pulled even with the home team on a goal from Rushford. It was the second of three UC goals in a span of two minutes and gave Cincinnati a 14-13 advantage.
5:31 2nd | CU | Kayla Reilly
With the Bearcats nursing a one-goal lead, Reilly intercepted an errant pass from the UC backline and charged straight towards goal, slipping a shot past Foery to tie the game at 15-15. The Camels scored again a minute later on a free position from Koeller to go ahead 16-15 late in the game.
1:27 2nd | CIN | Amanda Donovan
Donovan tried to break free inside the Campbell eight meter arc but momentarily lost the ball in the scuffle. The sophomore picked it up with her back to the goal, turned over a defender and sailed a shot into the cage to level the game at 16-16 with under 90 seconds to go.
0:01 2nd | CIN | Katie Stegmann
After forcing a turnover on the UC defensive end of the field, Stegmann received a cross-field pass from Donovan and raced up the left sideline. She passed back and forth with sophomore Maria Collacchi (Parkton, Md./Hereford) and was forced to shoot the ball as the seconds ticked off the clock. Her powerful shot sailed past the CU goalie with one second remaining and gave Cincinnati the victory.
// UP NEXT
Cincinnati continues its road swing to open the season, traveling down I-71 to Louisville, Kentucky, where the Bearcats will face the RV/20 Cardinals on Wednesday, March 1. The first draw is set for 6 p.m.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all of the latest information on Cincinnati lacrosse, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up to the minute updates, follow Cincinnati lacrosse (@GoBearcatsLAX) and Coach Oliver (@GinaOliverUC) on twitter. You can also find the Bearcats on Facebook and Instagram.