TicketsVILLANOVA, Pa. - The University of Cincinnati lacrosse team scored the final four goals of the game but could not complete the comeback, falling 16-10 at Villanova University on Sunday afternoon in Villanova, Pennsylvania. Freshman Monica Borzillo (Devon, Pa./Conestoga), who grew up five miles from the VU campus, scored a career-high five goals in her homecoming to tie the Bearcats single-season record with 52 points through 10 games of the 2017 season.
The freshman's final goal of the game at the 4:54 mark was her 52nd point of the season, tying her with Laura Simanski who recorded 52 points on 47 goals and five assists in 2009, also as a freshman. Borzillo has seven regular-season games left on the 2017 schedule to continue her impressive run in the record book.
UC dominated on the draw against Villanova, collecting 18 draw controls to the Wildcats' eight, but was stopped in its offensive third by a stingy VU defense that included 14 saves from goalie Julia Michaels.
After Villanova opened a 10-goal lead at 16-6 with over 10-minutes remaining in the game, the Bearcats immediately gained control of the ball with a draw control by freshman Adrianna Fess (Fayetteville, N.Y./Christian Brothers) and pushed the tempo. UC scored the next four goals, including three by Borzillo, but ultimately ran out of time to complete the comeback, falling by 16-10 margin.
// NOTABLES
- With the loss, Cincinnati falls to 4-6 on the season and 0-2 in the BIG EAST while Villanova moves to 3-6 and 1-1.
- After scoring a career-high four goals vs. Winthrop on Friday, Borzillo topped that with a five-goal performance against Villanova.
- Borzillo has scored in each game of her collegiate career.
- In addition to tying the points record, Borzillo is on track to smash the UC single-season records for points per game (currently first with 5.20), assists (second with 24), assists per game (first with 2.40), goals (eighth with 28), goals per game (first with 2.80), shots (fifth with 71), shots per game (first with 7.10), shots on goal (sixth with 54) and shots on goal per game (first with 5.40).
- Prior to both games this weekend, Borzillo ranked sixth in the NCAA in assists per game (2.63), seventh in total assists (21), ninth in points per game (5.00) and 14th in total points (40). She concluded action this weekend with nine goals and three assists.
- UC topped VU 18-10 on the draw, led by hometown product Schuyler Nissen (Philadelphia, Pa./Germantown Friends School) with four and Skylar DeLemos (Cranbury, N.J./West Windsor-Plainsboro) with three.
- Cincinnati topped Villanova in shots (31-30) and draw controls (18-8) while the Wildcats led in ground balls (24-17), free position goals (3-1), saves (14-6) and caused turnovers (11-10).
// OLIVER'S OPINION
"Fundamentals held us back today" said head coach Gina Oliver. "We gave Villanova way too many opportunities and they took advantage of them."
// KEY PLAYERS
Cincinnati
Monica Borzillo | 5 goals | 3 ground balls l 1 draw control | 1 caused turnover
Schuyler Nissen | 4 draw controls | 2 ground balls | 1 goal
Villanova
Jillian Swikart | 4 goals | 1 assist | 2 ground balls
Katie Comerford | 5 goals | 1 assist | 2 ground balls | 2 draw controls | 1 caused turnover
// IN THE CAGE
CIN | Alex MacAffer | 14 goals against | 6 saves | 57:36 minutes
CIN | Madison Foery | 2 goals against | 0 saves | 2:24 minutes
VU | Julia Michaels | 10 goals against | 14 saves | 60:00 minutes
// KEY GOALS
19:46 1st | CIN | Monica Borzillo
The freshman rolled from the left side of the arc on a restart and sent a low bouncing shot past Michaels to get UC within 3-2 in the early going.
15:22 1st | VU | Katie Comerford
The Bearcats had been pressing for the tying goal for nearly four minutes before the Wildcats scored against the run of play to go ahead 4-2. Grainger Rosati gained possession in the VU defensive third and sprinted all the way down the field, finding Comerford for an immediate goal to halt the UC momentum. The goal started a string of four straight for Villanova to seize control of the game from Cincinnati.
10:35 2nd | VU | Katie Comerford
The Wildcats took a 16-6 advantage with just over 10 minutes remaining in the game when Comerford received a pass from Devin Hassinger for her fifth tally of the day. It would be the final goal of the match for Villanova as the Bearcats defense held the home team scoreless the rest of the way.
4:54 2nd | CIN | Monica Borzillo
Borzillo capped off a four-goal UC rally (in which she scored three times) with her historic goal with just under five minutes left in the game. It marked her 52nd point of the season, tying a program single-season record.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats return to Cincinnati for a BIG EAST game against Butler on Saturday, April 1. The first draw is scheduled for noon at UC's Sheakley Athletic Center.
// 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.