Tickets// THE OPENING DRAW
The University of Cincinnati lacrosse team returns to the road this weekend as the Bearcats will travel to Temple Saturday for a noon game in Philadelphia. The Bearcats sport a 6-2 overall record and stand 0-1 in the BIG EAST after seeing their six-game winning streak snapped last week on the road at Marquette while the Owls are 6-3 overall and 1-0 in the league after upsetting #22 Denver last week in their BIG EAST opener.
// 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.
// QUICK SHOTS
• UC leads the NCAA in ground balls per game, averaging 27.25 per contest so far this year
• The Bearcats rank in the national Top 20 in ground balls, draw controls and caused turnovers per game
• Monica Borzillo and McKenna Rushford are ranked in the BIG EAST Top 10 in three offensive categories
• UC's loss at Marquette last week ended a six-game winning streak, the longest in program history
• The Bearcats have 6 wins in their first 8 games this year, leaving them one shy of tying the season record for wins in a campaign (7)
// AMONG THE BEST - TEAM
Through last week's games, the Bearcats rank among the Top 20 nationally in three categories according to the latest NCAA statistics update, including leading the entire nation in ground balls per game average with 27.25 per contest. The Bearcats also rank 11th nationally with an average of 11.38 caused turnovers per game while sitting 19th overall with an average of 14.75 draw controls won per contest.
// AMONG THE BEST - INDIVIDUAL
The team is not the only Bearcats ranking among the national Top 20 this week as both Monica Borzillo and McKenna Rushford also find their names on individual lists. Borzillo is currently ranked 11th in the nation with 41 points and ranks 13th overall with 5.13 points per game. Rushford is 13th in the nation win shot percentage, scoring on 62.5 percent of her shots so far this year.
// IN THE LEAGUE
Staying with individual rankings, both Borzillo and Rushford are ranked in the Top 10 of all three scoring categories in the BIG EAST currently with Borzillo ranking in the Top 4 in all three. Borzillo is tied for fourth overall with 3.29 goals per game while sitting second in assists per game (2.14) and points per game (5.43). Rushford is averaging 4.57 points per game (tied for fifth) while her 3.14 goals per game and 1.43 assists per contest rank her eighth and 10th, respectively. One other Bearcats player is ranked in the Top 10 in a category with freshman Morgan Dukes sitting fifth overall with 3.00 ground balls per game.
// RECAP: OPENER AT MARQUETTE
Last week, the Bearcats played one game as they hit the road to open BIG EAST play at Marquette on Sunday. The Bearcats held two-goal leads in the first half before the Eagles closed out the opening period of play with a four-goal run to take a two-goal advantage into the break. In the second half, UC was only able to close the gap briefly before the hosts pulled away and took a 19-15 victory, snapping UC's program-record six-game winning streak.
// CAREER DAY FOR MLKVY
The Eagles seem to bring out the best in Sam Mlkvy as she once again recorded a career day against Marquette. In 2016, her freshman year, she scored her first collegiate hat-trick with three goals at MU and surpassed that Sunday with four goals. Mlkvy added two more career-highs as she picked-up seven ground balls on the day and caused four turnovers. Those totals also rank among the program's all-time Top 10 for a single game, placing her tied for seventh and tied for ninth, respectively.
// STREAK OVER
The loss at Marquette snapped the Bearcats' six-game winning streak that began after a season-opening loss to Louisville. The streak was the longest in program history, surpassing the five-game streak the Bearcats put together in 2014 when they handed defeats to Winthrop, Presbyterian, Coastal Carolina, Iona and Detroit Mercy.
// CLOSING IN
Through eight games, UC has already tied for the third-best win total in program history. In the 11 years the program has competed at the varsity level, UC has won six games three times (2014, 2017, 2018) and seven games twice (2009, 2013).
// BORZILLO MOVING UP
With one assist Sunday at Marquette, Borzillo now has 50 for her career, making her just the second Bearcats player to do so. She is now 14 away from tying for the all-time record just eight games into her sophomore season. Borzillo added two goals on the day for three points, giving her 41 for the season to tie for the sixth-most in a single UC season. After breaking the single-season record last year with 73 points, Borzillo joined Laura Simanski (52 in 2009 and 44 in both 2010 and 2012) as the only Bearcats to record 40 or more points in more than one season during her playing career.
// HUDSON TO THE GROUND
Lauren Hudson secured five ground balls in the contest at MU to lift her career total to 105, moving her into third on the program's all-time Top 10 ledger. She is now just two shy of the #2 position currently held by Paige Stratton's (2008-11) 107.
// NISSEN DRAWING CLOSER
Schuyler Nissen recorded four draw controls in the game to bring her career total to 93 tying her with Ali Mattingly (2009-12) for the sixth-most in a career at UC. Nissen also is just the sixth UC player to record 90 or more draw controls in a career.
// SINGLE SEASON SUCCESS
Through eight games, several Bearcats are already adding their names to single-season Top 10 charts in program history. McKenna Rushford recently moved into the Top 10 in both points in a season (37) and free-position goals scored (9), in which she ranks 10th and 8th, respectively, while also sitting just outside the Top 10 with 12 assists (13 is 10th). Monica Borzillo is back on two lists once again, this time currently ranking sixth in points (41) and fifth in assists (16). Goalie Giuliana Durso is currently ranked fourth in season goals-against average, allowing just 11.61 goals per contest.
// SCOUTING: TEMPLE
The Owls are coming off a big upset as they downed visiting and #22 Denver, 10-9, last week in Philadelphia. Temple is 6-3 on the year and 1-0 in the BIG EAST while sporting records of 4-3 and 1-0 in league when playing at home. Winners of three in a row, TU's last loss came March 2 with a 19-7 home loss to #7 James Madison. The Owls have a balanced scoring attack with three individuals tied for the team lead with 19 points on the season, including Maddie Gebert, Olivia Thompson and Nicole Barretta. Five other players also have recorded 10 or more points so far in 2018. Maryn Lowell leads the defense as the net minder has stopped 49.5 percent of the shots she has faced, including 12 stops in the upset of Denver that not only earned her BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week and IWLCA National Defensive Player of the Week honors.
// SERIES HISTORY
The Bearcats and Owls have met four times previously with Temple winning all four games with two each being played at each team's home field. Last year, the Bearcats hosted the game and came their closest yet to knocking off the Owls, falling, 11-9. The last time the two teams met in Philadelphia came in 2016 with the hosts securing a 10-4 victory.
// GOING TO EUROPE
This summer, the Bearcats will be going international as they will travel to both the Netherlands and Greece where they will play against some top international competition. The team is currently accepting gifts that will go toward the UC Athletics Women's Excellence Fund in support of the lacrosse program and their June trip across the pond. For more information and to give your gift, visit: http://bit.ly/CinLAXGreece.
// NEXT TIME
With a two-game road trip completed, the Bearcats will return home for one game to being alternating home and away contests for much of the rest of the season. The next contest will take place Saturday, March 31, at 12:15 p.m. as the Bearcats will play host to Georgetown. The game, which will be part of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, will take place at Nippert Stadium and will be one of four events on campus that day with track and field hosting their annual Oliver Nikoloff Open at Gettler Stadium (all day), baseball playing host to Houston (noon) and women's soccer holding a spring exhibition at Nippert against Bowling Green (4 p.m.).
The University of Cincinnati lacrosse team returns to the road this weekend as the Bearcats will travel to Temple Saturday for a noon game in Philadelphia. The Bearcats sport a 6-2 overall record and stand 0-1 in the BIG EAST after seeing their six-game winning streak snapped last week on the road at Marquette while the Owls are 6-3 overall and 1-0 in the league after upsetting #22 Denver last week in their BIG EAST opener.
// 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.
// QUICK SHOTS
• UC leads the NCAA in ground balls per game, averaging 27.25 per contest so far this year
• The Bearcats rank in the national Top 20 in ground balls, draw controls and caused turnovers per game
• Monica Borzillo and McKenna Rushford are ranked in the BIG EAST Top 10 in three offensive categories
• UC's loss at Marquette last week ended a six-game winning streak, the longest in program history
• The Bearcats have 6 wins in their first 8 games this year, leaving them one shy of tying the season record for wins in a campaign (7)
// AMONG THE BEST - TEAM
Through last week's games, the Bearcats rank among the Top 20 nationally in three categories according to the latest NCAA statistics update, including leading the entire nation in ground balls per game average with 27.25 per contest. The Bearcats also rank 11th nationally with an average of 11.38 caused turnovers per game while sitting 19th overall with an average of 14.75 draw controls won per contest.
// AMONG THE BEST - INDIVIDUAL
The team is not the only Bearcats ranking among the national Top 20 this week as both Monica Borzillo and McKenna Rushford also find their names on individual lists. Borzillo is currently ranked 11th in the nation with 41 points and ranks 13th overall with 5.13 points per game. Rushford is 13th in the nation win shot percentage, scoring on 62.5 percent of her shots so far this year.
// IN THE LEAGUE
Staying with individual rankings, both Borzillo and Rushford are ranked in the Top 10 of all three scoring categories in the BIG EAST currently with Borzillo ranking in the Top 4 in all three. Borzillo is tied for fourth overall with 3.29 goals per game while sitting second in assists per game (2.14) and points per game (5.43). Rushford is averaging 4.57 points per game (tied for fifth) while her 3.14 goals per game and 1.43 assists per contest rank her eighth and 10th, respectively. One other Bearcats player is ranked in the Top 10 in a category with freshman Morgan Dukes sitting fifth overall with 3.00 ground balls per game.
// RECAP: OPENER AT MARQUETTE
Last week, the Bearcats played one game as they hit the road to open BIG EAST play at Marquette on Sunday. The Bearcats held two-goal leads in the first half before the Eagles closed out the opening period of play with a four-goal run to take a two-goal advantage into the break. In the second half, UC was only able to close the gap briefly before the hosts pulled away and took a 19-15 victory, snapping UC's program-record six-game winning streak.
// CAREER DAY FOR MLKVY
The Eagles seem to bring out the best in Sam Mlkvy as she once again recorded a career day against Marquette. In 2016, her freshman year, she scored her first collegiate hat-trick with three goals at MU and surpassed that Sunday with four goals. Mlkvy added two more career-highs as she picked-up seven ground balls on the day and caused four turnovers. Those totals also rank among the program's all-time Top 10 for a single game, placing her tied for seventh and tied for ninth, respectively.
// STREAK OVER
The loss at Marquette snapped the Bearcats' six-game winning streak that began after a season-opening loss to Louisville. The streak was the longest in program history, surpassing the five-game streak the Bearcats put together in 2014 when they handed defeats to Winthrop, Presbyterian, Coastal Carolina, Iona and Detroit Mercy.
// CLOSING IN
Through eight games, UC has already tied for the third-best win total in program history. In the 11 years the program has competed at the varsity level, UC has won six games three times (2014, 2017, 2018) and seven games twice (2009, 2013).
// BORZILLO MOVING UP
With one assist Sunday at Marquette, Borzillo now has 50 for her career, making her just the second Bearcats player to do so. She is now 14 away from tying for the all-time record just eight games into her sophomore season. Borzillo added two goals on the day for three points, giving her 41 for the season to tie for the sixth-most in a single UC season. After breaking the single-season record last year with 73 points, Borzillo joined Laura Simanski (52 in 2009 and 44 in both 2010 and 2012) as the only Bearcats to record 40 or more points in more than one season during her playing career.
// HUDSON TO THE GROUND
Lauren Hudson secured five ground balls in the contest at MU to lift her career total to 105, moving her into third on the program's all-time Top 10 ledger. She is now just two shy of the #2 position currently held by Paige Stratton's (2008-11) 107.
// NISSEN DRAWING CLOSER
Schuyler Nissen recorded four draw controls in the game to bring her career total to 93 tying her with Ali Mattingly (2009-12) for the sixth-most in a career at UC. Nissen also is just the sixth UC player to record 90 or more draw controls in a career.
// SINGLE SEASON SUCCESS
Through eight games, several Bearcats are already adding their names to single-season Top 10 charts in program history. McKenna Rushford recently moved into the Top 10 in both points in a season (37) and free-position goals scored (9), in which she ranks 10th and 8th, respectively, while also sitting just outside the Top 10 with 12 assists (13 is 10th). Monica Borzillo is back on two lists once again, this time currently ranking sixth in points (41) and fifth in assists (16). Goalie Giuliana Durso is currently ranked fourth in season goals-against average, allowing just 11.61 goals per contest.
// SCOUTING: TEMPLE
The Owls are coming off a big upset as they downed visiting and #22 Denver, 10-9, last week in Philadelphia. Temple is 6-3 on the year and 1-0 in the BIG EAST while sporting records of 4-3 and 1-0 in league when playing at home. Winners of three in a row, TU's last loss came March 2 with a 19-7 home loss to #7 James Madison. The Owls have a balanced scoring attack with three individuals tied for the team lead with 19 points on the season, including Maddie Gebert, Olivia Thompson and Nicole Barretta. Five other players also have recorded 10 or more points so far in 2018. Maryn Lowell leads the defense as the net minder has stopped 49.5 percent of the shots she has faced, including 12 stops in the upset of Denver that not only earned her BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week and IWLCA National Defensive Player of the Week honors.
// SERIES HISTORY
The Bearcats and Owls have met four times previously with Temple winning all four games with two each being played at each team's home field. Last year, the Bearcats hosted the game and came their closest yet to knocking off the Owls, falling, 11-9. The last time the two teams met in Philadelphia came in 2016 with the hosts securing a 10-4 victory.
// GOING TO EUROPE
This summer, the Bearcats will be going international as they will travel to both the Netherlands and Greece where they will play against some top international competition. The team is currently accepting gifts that will go toward the UC Athletics Women's Excellence Fund in support of the lacrosse program and their June trip across the pond. For more information and to give your gift, visit: http://bit.ly/CinLAXGreece.
// NEXT TIME
With a two-game road trip completed, the Bearcats will return home for one game to being alternating home and away contests for much of the rest of the season. The next contest will take place Saturday, March 31, at 12:15 p.m. as the Bearcats will play host to Georgetown. The game, which will be part of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, will take place at Nippert Stadium and will be one of four events on campus that day with track and field hosting their annual Oliver Nikoloff Open at Gettler Stadium (all day), baseball playing host to Houston (noon) and women's soccer holding a spring exhibition at Nippert against Bowling Green (4 p.m.).