TicketsROCK HILL, S.C. - McKenna Rushford put a new twist on an old song Sunday: it was her birthday and she could do what she wanted. The sophomore celebrated her birthday in style as she posted career numbers in three offensive categories to lead the University of Cincinnati lacrosse to a hard-fought 12-10 victory at Winthrop Sunday afternoon. McKenna led the offensive charge as she tallied a career-high nine points on career-high totals for goals (six) and assists (three) to help the Bearcats (2-1) down the Eagles (1-1) on their home turf.
UC took a very quick 1-0 lead before the hosts pulled even as the score stood, 1-1, just 27 seconds into the contest. From there, the Bearcats would score twice, first off the stick of Monica Borzillo and then Amanda Donovan. The Eagles pulled to within one twice (3-2, 4-3, before Rushford scored twice in a row, first to make it 5-3 at halftime and then 6-3 in the early minutes of the second half.
Leading 7-4, the Bearcats surrendered four goals in a row as WU took its first lead, 8-7, with 18:06 remaining, but the Bearcats fought back immediately as Taylor Gysin scored less than one minute later to tie the game before Rushford added her fourth of the game for a 9-8 lead, a lead the visitors would not surrender. Borzillo added a goal before the Eagles countered to make it 10-9, but Rushford came through once again, scoring two in a row for a 12-9 lead before a late goal made it the final two-goal margin, 12-10.
// ONE OF THE BEST STARTS
In their 11th varsity season, the Bearcats are now off to a 2-1 start following their weekend sweep through the Carolinas. That start ties for the second-best in program history with the 2013, 2012 and 2010 squads that also posted 2-1 starts to their respective seasons. The best start for any Bearcats team came in 2009 when the squad started 3-0.
// RUSHFORD ROLLING
Rushford's day saw her open the scoring just 10 seconds into the contest before adding her second of the game with 3:21 remaining in the first half. The only player on either team score more than once in the first half, Rushford went back to work immediately after the intermission and netted her third of the contest with just 36 seconds removed from the second half clock. With UC trailing for the first time, 8-7, at the 18:06 mark, Rushford would lead the way with three of UC's final five goals to put the game away and give the visitors the win.
Overall, Rushford surpassed her previous career marks with her offensive performance today, which also included four draw controls won. Entering the game, her four points and four goals scored against Butler (April 1, 2017) and four points and two assists against Louisville in this year's season opener (February 9) were her career highs. Not only did she better all of those categories, she also added her name to a trio of individual game record lists as her nine points and six goals both are tied for the second-most in a single UC game. Monica Borzillo holds the points record with 10 (vs. Butler, 4/1/17) while Kylie Ramsland holds the goals record at seven (at Villanova, 4/30/10). Rushford also was 3-for-3 on free-position goals, which ties the record with five other players, most recently Courtney Curtis (3/15/15).
// DURSO MAKES SAVES
Giuliana Durso had a big day in goal as she faced 21 shots and turned away 11 to pick up the victory, her second in a row. Her save total is a career high and marks the second time she has done so this year after recording a then-career-high eight saves against Louisville in the opener. For her career, Durso entered the contest with 18 career saves and nearly reached that in today's contest alone.
// NEXT UP
Cincinnati returns home Monday, February 26, as the Bearcats will play host to intrastate rival Ohio State in a 5 p.m. contest at Gettler Stadium. At halftime, the Department of Athletics will honor all student-athletes that earned a 3.0 GPA or better in the fall semester.
// EXPERIENCE UC
Once again in 2018, all home games will be part of the Experience UC initiative, which is geared toward inviting the community to campus to see firsthand the great things about and surrounding the university. Experience UC includes complimentary admission for patrons attending women's basketball, lacrosse, volleyball, women's tennis, men's and women's soccer, swimming and diving and track and field home events.
// FOLLOW US
GoBearcats.com is your one-stop destination for all things UC Athletics. Socially, the team can also be followed on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with all using the handle GoBearcatsLAX. Head Coach Gina Oliver (@GinaOliverUC) also can be followed on Twitter.
UC took a very quick 1-0 lead before the hosts pulled even as the score stood, 1-1, just 27 seconds into the contest. From there, the Bearcats would score twice, first off the stick of Monica Borzillo and then Amanda Donovan. The Eagles pulled to within one twice (3-2, 4-3, before Rushford scored twice in a row, first to make it 5-3 at halftime and then 6-3 in the early minutes of the second half.
Leading 7-4, the Bearcats surrendered four goals in a row as WU took its first lead, 8-7, with 18:06 remaining, but the Bearcats fought back immediately as Taylor Gysin scored less than one minute later to tie the game before Rushford added her fourth of the game for a 9-8 lead, a lead the visitors would not surrender. Borzillo added a goal before the Eagles countered to make it 10-9, but Rushford came through once again, scoring two in a row for a 12-9 lead before a late goal made it the final two-goal margin, 12-10.
// ONE OF THE BEST STARTS
In their 11th varsity season, the Bearcats are now off to a 2-1 start following their weekend sweep through the Carolinas. That start ties for the second-best in program history with the 2013, 2012 and 2010 squads that also posted 2-1 starts to their respective seasons. The best start for any Bearcats team came in 2009 when the squad started 3-0.
// RUSHFORD ROLLING
Rushford's day saw her open the scoring just 10 seconds into the contest before adding her second of the game with 3:21 remaining in the first half. The only player on either team score more than once in the first half, Rushford went back to work immediately after the intermission and netted her third of the contest with just 36 seconds removed from the second half clock. With UC trailing for the first time, 8-7, at the 18:06 mark, Rushford would lead the way with three of UC's final five goals to put the game away and give the visitors the win.
Overall, Rushford surpassed her previous career marks with her offensive performance today, which also included four draw controls won. Entering the game, her four points and four goals scored against Butler (April 1, 2017) and four points and two assists against Louisville in this year's season opener (February 9) were her career highs. Not only did she better all of those categories, she also added her name to a trio of individual game record lists as her nine points and six goals both are tied for the second-most in a single UC game. Monica Borzillo holds the points record with 10 (vs. Butler, 4/1/17) while Kylie Ramsland holds the goals record at seven (at Villanova, 4/30/10). Rushford also was 3-for-3 on free-position goals, which ties the record with five other players, most recently Courtney Curtis (3/15/15).
// DURSO MAKES SAVES
Giuliana Durso had a big day in goal as she faced 21 shots and turned away 11 to pick up the victory, her second in a row. Her save total is a career high and marks the second time she has done so this year after recording a then-career-high eight saves against Louisville in the opener. For her career, Durso entered the contest with 18 career saves and nearly reached that in today's contest alone.
// NEXT UP
Cincinnati returns home Monday, February 26, as the Bearcats will play host to intrastate rival Ohio State in a 5 p.m. contest at Gettler Stadium. At halftime, the Department of Athletics will honor all student-athletes that earned a 3.0 GPA or better in the fall semester.
// EXPERIENCE UC
Once again in 2018, all home games will be part of the Experience UC initiative, which is geared toward inviting the community to campus to see firsthand the great things about and surrounding the university. Experience UC includes complimentary admission for patrons attending women's basketball, lacrosse, volleyball, women's tennis, men's and women's soccer, swimming and diving and track and field home events.
// FOLLOW US
GoBearcats.com is your one-stop destination for all things UC Athletics. Socially, the team can also be followed on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with all using the handle GoBearcatsLAX. Head Coach Gina Oliver (@GinaOliverUC) also can be followed on Twitter.