Tickets// THE OPENING DRAW
The University of Cincinnati lacrosse team (6-8, 0-7 BIG EAST) will play a pair of newcomers to the sport this weekend as the Bearcats will first travel to Butler (1-14, 0-7 BIG EAST) for a 2 p.m. conference game Saturday before returning home Monday for a noon start against ECU (2-12) at Gettler Stadium. The Bulldogs are in their second varsity season and will play host to the Saturday tilt at Varsity Field in Indianapolis while the Pirates are in their first season as an independent before joining what will be the newly formed AAC with UC next year.
// 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.
// GOING LIVE
All 10 home games on the schedule this season will be streamed live by BearcatsTV will all airing free of charge. Visit the lacrosse schedule page on GoBearcats.com and click WATCH next to the game you want to view. A link for live stats can be found on the schedule as well.
// 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.
// QUICK SHOTS
• The Bearcats are averaging a nation-leading 27.29 ground balls per contest this season
• With three games remaining in 2018, UC is closing in on several program records, including points, goals, assists, draw controls and caused turnovers (already hold the ground balls record)
• Lily Lance scored her first collegiate point with a goal against #6 Florida earlier this week
• Senior Lauren Hudson is three starts away from tying the school record for career starts
• Morgan Dukes continues to collect ground balls and is moving up the season chart as a rookie
// GROUND LEVEL
The Bearcats continue to lead the nation and the conference in ground balls per game average despite a slight dip in their average from last week. Through 13 games, the Bearcats average collecting 27.31 ground balls per game, down slightly from last week's leading total of 27.75.
// CLIMBING HIGHER
The Bearcats have put themselves in position to challenge for the #1 spots in several statistical categories this year with three games remaining. Here are some of the areas the Bearcats are moving up:
• 234 points: currently #3 all-time and 24 behind the 258 recorded in 2017
• 163 goals scored: currently #4 all-time and 25 behind the 188 scored last year
• 71 assists: currently #2 all-time and just 7 behind the 78 recorded in 2010
• 152 caused turnovers: currently #4 all-time and 17 behind the 169 recorded in 2017
// MAY WE HELP YOU?
The offensive category the Bearcats are the closest to taking the top spot is assists as this year's players have dished out 71 helpers so far with the school record standing at 78 (2010). The 71 assists so far this year marks just the third time a UC team has posted 70 or more in a season and the second year in a row after last year's team recorded 70.
// LANCE LIGHTS THE LAMP
In the loss to Florida Thursday, the Bearcats scored four goals with rookie Lily Lance scoring one of those goals. More importantly, the shot, goal and point recorded all were the first of the freshman's collegiate career and came on her first free-position attempt.
// PUT UP YOUR DUKES
Another rookie is having a solid year defensively as Morgan Dukes has collected 38 ground balls so far. With two more this season, she will not only move up to #7 in single-season history at UC, but also will become just the fifth Bearcats player to record 40 or more in a season. It would also mark the fifth season in a row that a UC player recorded at least 40 ground balls after Lauren Hudson recorded 43 last year and Meg Gulmi picked up 46 (2016), 61 (2015) and 49 (2014) prior to that.
// GETTING STARTED
Hudson has appeared in the starting lineup in 64 career games so far. With three games to go in her collegiate career, should she find her way into the starting lineup in all three, she will bring her career total to 67, which would tie Courtney Curtis (2013-16) for the most in program history.
// SAVINGS PLAN
Despite a couple of tough results in the past two games, goalie Giuliana Durso is on pace to make her mark on the saves ledger in single season history. The BIG EAST leader with 10.21 saves per game, Durso has tallied 143 stops this year, leaving her 18 from tying the season record of 161 that Katherine Russo recorded in both 2009 and 2010. Durso can tie the season record by averaging 6.00 saves per game over the final three contests of the season.
// QUICK CAREER CAPTURE
To say Monica Borzillo has had a stellar career in just under two seasons with the Bearcats would be an understatement. While her name is all over the offensive Top 10 lists for both season and career categories, she is already closing in on a career record: assists. So far, Borzillo has handed out 57 career helpers last year and this year to sit second on the career list. Ahead of her is only Katie Kiriazoglou, who assisted on 64 goals from 2010-13. With seven assists in the final three games of the year, Borzillo can tie the career assists record in just two collegiate seasons.
// FEELING FREE TO SCORE
So far this year, McKenna Rushford has scored 11 free-position goals, the third-most in a single season in UC history. If she scores twice more from the arc this year, she will tie Courtney Curtis (2015) for the most in a season at 13.
// RECAP: UC FALLS TO #6 GATORS
UC got on the board early, but did not sustain the momentum and dropped a 20-4 decision to No. 6 Florida, Wednesday at home. The Bearcats, facing their third nationally-ranked foe in the past five games, dropped their seventh in a row while the Gators (12-3, 7-0), won their fifth-straight game. Monica Borzillo gave UC an early 1-0 lead on a feed from Taylor Gysin with 26:58 to go. It was Borzillo's team-leading 35th goal of the campaign. She needs four goals in UC's last three games to equal her 2017 total of 39 scores. Florida showed why they have been ranked among the Top 10 nationally all season, scoring nine goals over nine-plus minutes to lead 9-1 with 16:45 to go. Gysin scored her 17th of the year moments later on a feed from Borzillo, but UC trailed 14-2 at the break. Lily Lance added her first-career goal on a free-position shot in the second half and Sam Mlkvy tallied her 24th of the season to close out the scoring for UC.
// TEAM RECORD
The 355 ground balls the Bearcats have scooped up so far this season breaks the previous single-season team record of 351 collected by the 2010 squad. The 355 ground balls this year also gives Coach Gina Oliver's teams the #1 and #3 totals in program history after the Bearcats tallied 347 last year. Outside of the Top 3 totals, the previous record came in 2009 with 329 ground balls, 26 fewer than this year's total with the Bearcats still having four more games on the schedule.
// CLOSING IN
Through 13 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).
// SCOUTING: BUTLER
The Bulldogs are 1-14 overall this year and have lost seven in a row in BIG EAST play, including a 20-4 road loss at Villanova earlier this week. Ashley Guerra leads BU with 29 points on 19 goals and 10 assists, both of which are team highs as well. BU has seen two goalies share time on the field with Haley Rayburn seeing more of the action, stopping 91 shots and allowing 143 goals in 518 minutes of play.
// SERIES HISTORY: BUTLER
Cincinnati won the only meeting in the series history with a 21-3 decision at home last year.
// SCOUTING: ECU
The Pirates are 2-12 in their inaugural season and have lost their last two games after winning their second of the year in a 16-2 defeat of Delaware State. Having played their last five at home, ECU's game at UC will be the second of three in a row that will see them travel to Michigan Saturday, UC Monday and finish at Duke on May 6. Ally Stanton leads the way with 25 points on 20 goals and five assists this year. Two goalies have seen action with Abbey Smith stopping a team-high 86 shots and allowing 119 goals in 513 minutes.
// SERIES HISTORY: ECU
Monday's game will be the first in the history of the series.
PREVIOUSLY NOTED
// 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
The Bearcats will close out their 2018 season on Sunday (April 29) with a noon game at Gettler Stadium against visiting Villanova. The game also will serve as Senior Day for a trio of players, including Bridget Cleary, Lauren Hudson and Schuyler Nissen, with all three being honored ahead of the start of the contest.
The University of Cincinnati lacrosse team (6-8, 0-7 BIG EAST) will play a pair of newcomers to the sport this weekend as the Bearcats will first travel to Butler (1-14, 0-7 BIG EAST) for a 2 p.m. conference game Saturday before returning home Monday for a noon start against ECU (2-12) at Gettler Stadium. The Bulldogs are in their second varsity season and will play host to the Saturday tilt at Varsity Field in Indianapolis while the Pirates are in their first season as an independent before joining what will be the newly formed AAC with UC next year.
// 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.
// GOING LIVE
All 10 home games on the schedule this season will be streamed live by BearcatsTV will all airing free of charge. Visit the lacrosse schedule page on GoBearcats.com and click WATCH next to the game you want to view. A link for live stats can be found on the schedule as well.
// 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.
// QUICK SHOTS
• The Bearcats are averaging a nation-leading 27.29 ground balls per contest this season
• With three games remaining in 2018, UC is closing in on several program records, including points, goals, assists, draw controls and caused turnovers (already hold the ground balls record)
• Lily Lance scored her first collegiate point with a goal against #6 Florida earlier this week
• Senior Lauren Hudson is three starts away from tying the school record for career starts
• Morgan Dukes continues to collect ground balls and is moving up the season chart as a rookie
// GROUND LEVEL
The Bearcats continue to lead the nation and the conference in ground balls per game average despite a slight dip in their average from last week. Through 13 games, the Bearcats average collecting 27.31 ground balls per game, down slightly from last week's leading total of 27.75.
// CLIMBING HIGHER
The Bearcats have put themselves in position to challenge for the #1 spots in several statistical categories this year with three games remaining. Here are some of the areas the Bearcats are moving up:
• 234 points: currently #3 all-time and 24 behind the 258 recorded in 2017
• 163 goals scored: currently #4 all-time and 25 behind the 188 scored last year
• 71 assists: currently #2 all-time and just 7 behind the 78 recorded in 2010
• 152 caused turnovers: currently #4 all-time and 17 behind the 169 recorded in 2017
// MAY WE HELP YOU?
The offensive category the Bearcats are the closest to taking the top spot is assists as this year's players have dished out 71 helpers so far with the school record standing at 78 (2010). The 71 assists so far this year marks just the third time a UC team has posted 70 or more in a season and the second year in a row after last year's team recorded 70.
// LANCE LIGHTS THE LAMP
In the loss to Florida Thursday, the Bearcats scored four goals with rookie Lily Lance scoring one of those goals. More importantly, the shot, goal and point recorded all were the first of the freshman's collegiate career and came on her first free-position attempt.
// PUT UP YOUR DUKES
Another rookie is having a solid year defensively as Morgan Dukes has collected 38 ground balls so far. With two more this season, she will not only move up to #7 in single-season history at UC, but also will become just the fifth Bearcats player to record 40 or more in a season. It would also mark the fifth season in a row that a UC player recorded at least 40 ground balls after Lauren Hudson recorded 43 last year and Meg Gulmi picked up 46 (2016), 61 (2015) and 49 (2014) prior to that.
// GETTING STARTED
Hudson has appeared in the starting lineup in 64 career games so far. With three games to go in her collegiate career, should she find her way into the starting lineup in all three, she will bring her career total to 67, which would tie Courtney Curtis (2013-16) for the most in program history.
// SAVINGS PLAN
Despite a couple of tough results in the past two games, goalie Giuliana Durso is on pace to make her mark on the saves ledger in single season history. The BIG EAST leader with 10.21 saves per game, Durso has tallied 143 stops this year, leaving her 18 from tying the season record of 161 that Katherine Russo recorded in both 2009 and 2010. Durso can tie the season record by averaging 6.00 saves per game over the final three contests of the season.
// QUICK CAREER CAPTURE
To say Monica Borzillo has had a stellar career in just under two seasons with the Bearcats would be an understatement. While her name is all over the offensive Top 10 lists for both season and career categories, she is already closing in on a career record: assists. So far, Borzillo has handed out 57 career helpers last year and this year to sit second on the career list. Ahead of her is only Katie Kiriazoglou, who assisted on 64 goals from 2010-13. With seven assists in the final three games of the year, Borzillo can tie the career assists record in just two collegiate seasons.
// FEELING FREE TO SCORE
So far this year, McKenna Rushford has scored 11 free-position goals, the third-most in a single season in UC history. If she scores twice more from the arc this year, she will tie Courtney Curtis (2015) for the most in a season at 13.
// RECAP: UC FALLS TO #6 GATORS
UC got on the board early, but did not sustain the momentum and dropped a 20-4 decision to No. 6 Florida, Wednesday at home. The Bearcats, facing their third nationally-ranked foe in the past five games, dropped their seventh in a row while the Gators (12-3, 7-0), won their fifth-straight game. Monica Borzillo gave UC an early 1-0 lead on a feed from Taylor Gysin with 26:58 to go. It was Borzillo's team-leading 35th goal of the campaign. She needs four goals in UC's last three games to equal her 2017 total of 39 scores. Florida showed why they have been ranked among the Top 10 nationally all season, scoring nine goals over nine-plus minutes to lead 9-1 with 16:45 to go. Gysin scored her 17th of the year moments later on a feed from Borzillo, but UC trailed 14-2 at the break. Lily Lance added her first-career goal on a free-position shot in the second half and Sam Mlkvy tallied her 24th of the season to close out the scoring for UC.
// TEAM RECORD
The 355 ground balls the Bearcats have scooped up so far this season breaks the previous single-season team record of 351 collected by the 2010 squad. The 355 ground balls this year also gives Coach Gina Oliver's teams the #1 and #3 totals in program history after the Bearcats tallied 347 last year. Outside of the Top 3 totals, the previous record came in 2009 with 329 ground balls, 26 fewer than this year's total with the Bearcats still having four more games on the schedule.
// CLOSING IN
Through 13 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).
// SCOUTING: BUTLER
The Bulldogs are 1-14 overall this year and have lost seven in a row in BIG EAST play, including a 20-4 road loss at Villanova earlier this week. Ashley Guerra leads BU with 29 points on 19 goals and 10 assists, both of which are team highs as well. BU has seen two goalies share time on the field with Haley Rayburn seeing more of the action, stopping 91 shots and allowing 143 goals in 518 minutes of play.
// SERIES HISTORY: BUTLER
Cincinnati won the only meeting in the series history with a 21-3 decision at home last year.
// SCOUTING: ECU
The Pirates are 2-12 in their inaugural season and have lost their last two games after winning their second of the year in a 16-2 defeat of Delaware State. Having played their last five at home, ECU's game at UC will be the second of three in a row that will see them travel to Michigan Saturday, UC Monday and finish at Duke on May 6. Ally Stanton leads the way with 25 points on 20 goals and five assists this year. Two goalies have seen action with Abbey Smith stopping a team-high 86 shots and allowing 119 goals in 513 minutes.
// SERIES HISTORY: ECU
Monday's game will be the first in the history of the series.
PREVIOUSLY NOTED
// 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
The Bearcats will close out their 2018 season on Sunday (April 29) with a noon game at Gettler Stadium against visiting Villanova. The game also will serve as Senior Day for a trio of players, including Bridget Cleary, Lauren Hudson and Schuyler Nissen, with all three being honored ahead of the start of the contest.