TicketsCINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati lacrosse team opened its first road game of the year on fire, scoring the first four goals, including two from Monica Borzillo. But, #23 Virginia Tech (2-2) responded to take a 9-7 lead at halftime before using a big run in the second half to hand the Bearcats (2-2) their second loss of the season, 19-8, at a game played inside the Beamer-Lawson Indoor Practice Facility in Blacksburg, Va., Wednesday afternoon.
// QUICK NOTES
• Cincinnati slipped to 2-2 on the year while Virginia Tech leveled its record at 2-2
• Today's game was the first meeting between the two programs
• With the loss, UC is now 4-8 all-time in its first road game of the year with three of those losses coming to nationally ranked foes
• Borzillo scored her third hat trick of the year and in as many games while making it four games in a row this year that she has scored at least two goals and added at least one assist
• Borzillo, already the program's all-time assist leader (70), is now just two points shy of tying the career points record of 169
• Giuliana Durso posted 10 saves in the game, tying for her season-best total
• All three goalies saw action in the game with Kate Brocato making her second appearance of the year and Madison Foery her first
// HOW IT HAPPENED
To say UC came out on fire in the opening minutes might be an understatement as Sam Mlkvy won the draw control and sent the ball ahead with Borzillo getting the ball and moving inside for a shot and goal with just 20 seconds elapsed. The Bearcats would double their advantage just under two minutes later as the defense stood tall and cleared the zone and a pass ahead came to Kate Carney, who moved forward and past the goalie who came way out to try and stop the pass, leaving the cage wide open for Carney and a 2-0 UC lead. After that, Alyssa Adams won the draw control and sprinted toward the cage, adding the third goal of the game for UC just 11 seconds after Carney's strike. After another draw control win, the Bearcats went back to work on offense and saw Borzillo drive in and shoot low into the cage for a 4-0 lead at the 27:18 mark. Following three goals for UC in a span of 29 seconds, VT called time out.
The Hokies climbed back into the game as they scored the next three in a row before Borzillo completed her hat trick at the 19:33 mark for a 5-3 lead. After both teams traded goals, including Gianna Napoletano scoring her first of the game, the hosts would begin to turn the tide on the Bearcats as they scored five in a row for a 9-6 lead late in the half. Amanda Donovan scored with 4:35 remaining to cut into the Hokies' lead, making it 9-7 at the break.
The second half was nothing like the first for the Bearcats as they were unable to find a goal for nearly 15 minutes of play as Borzillo converted a free-position chance with 5:39 remaining in the game. Unfortunately for UC, the Hokies scored the first eight goals of the second half, bringing the score to 17-8 when Borzillo scored her fourth of the day. VT would tack on two more goals in the final four minutes to bring about the final margin. Paige Petty led the way for the hosts as she netted six goals on the day while Mary Clair Byrne added three.
// BIG NUMBERS FROM BORZILLO
With four goals and one assist to tally five points, Borzillo collected half of UC's goals in the game to keep alive several streaks. She is currently on a 12-game goal scoring streak dating back to last year, a streak that ties her for the fourth-longest streak in program history. With her one assist, she has now helped on at least one goal in six straight (tied for fourth-longest) while she also extended her career-best point streak to 21-consecutive games, the second-longest streak in UC history.
The junior, who already has 25 points on 16 goals and nine assists through four games this year, continues to climb the program's career ledgers as well. Already the career assist leader (70), Borzillo now has 97 goals, the third-most in program history and just three shy of reaching the 100-goal plateau. Combined, she now has 167 points, which leaves her two shy of Laura Simanski's all-time record of 169 points (153-16) from 2009-12.
// ANOTHER STREAK
Mlkvy also kept a streak alive today as she assisted on one goal to bring her current helper streak to 10 games in a row, which ties her for the 17th-longest streak in program history. The team's second-leading goal scorer (7) and tops among draw controls won (25), Mlkvy has now posted two, 10-game assist streaks in her career.
// DURSO STOPS
In the first half, Durso recorded six saves before finishing the game with 10 in total. That total marks the second time this season she has recorded 10 saves with the first coming against Ohio State in the opener. With those saves, Durso now has 199 for her career, leaving her one shy of becoming the fourth UC goalie to record 200 or more saves in a career.
// NEXT UP
Cincinnati returns to action Sunday at noon as the Bearcats will play host to Detroit Mercy (1-2) at Gettler Stadium.
// 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 Thomas (Oliver)(@GinaOliverUC) also can be followed on Twitter.
// QUICK NOTES
• Cincinnati slipped to 2-2 on the year while Virginia Tech leveled its record at 2-2
• Today's game was the first meeting between the two programs
• With the loss, UC is now 4-8 all-time in its first road game of the year with three of those losses coming to nationally ranked foes
• Borzillo scored her third hat trick of the year and in as many games while making it four games in a row this year that she has scored at least two goals and added at least one assist
• Borzillo, already the program's all-time assist leader (70), is now just two points shy of tying the career points record of 169
• Giuliana Durso posted 10 saves in the game, tying for her season-best total
• All three goalies saw action in the game with Kate Brocato making her second appearance of the year and Madison Foery her first
// HOW IT HAPPENED
To say UC came out on fire in the opening minutes might be an understatement as Sam Mlkvy won the draw control and sent the ball ahead with Borzillo getting the ball and moving inside for a shot and goal with just 20 seconds elapsed. The Bearcats would double their advantage just under two minutes later as the defense stood tall and cleared the zone and a pass ahead came to Kate Carney, who moved forward and past the goalie who came way out to try and stop the pass, leaving the cage wide open for Carney and a 2-0 UC lead. After that, Alyssa Adams won the draw control and sprinted toward the cage, adding the third goal of the game for UC just 11 seconds after Carney's strike. After another draw control win, the Bearcats went back to work on offense and saw Borzillo drive in and shoot low into the cage for a 4-0 lead at the 27:18 mark. Following three goals for UC in a span of 29 seconds, VT called time out.
The Hokies climbed back into the game as they scored the next three in a row before Borzillo completed her hat trick at the 19:33 mark for a 5-3 lead. After both teams traded goals, including Gianna Napoletano scoring her first of the game, the hosts would begin to turn the tide on the Bearcats as they scored five in a row for a 9-6 lead late in the half. Amanda Donovan scored with 4:35 remaining to cut into the Hokies' lead, making it 9-7 at the break.
The second half was nothing like the first for the Bearcats as they were unable to find a goal for nearly 15 minutes of play as Borzillo converted a free-position chance with 5:39 remaining in the game. Unfortunately for UC, the Hokies scored the first eight goals of the second half, bringing the score to 17-8 when Borzillo scored her fourth of the day. VT would tack on two more goals in the final four minutes to bring about the final margin. Paige Petty led the way for the hosts as she netted six goals on the day while Mary Clair Byrne added three.
// BIG NUMBERS FROM BORZILLO
With four goals and one assist to tally five points, Borzillo collected half of UC's goals in the game to keep alive several streaks. She is currently on a 12-game goal scoring streak dating back to last year, a streak that ties her for the fourth-longest streak in program history. With her one assist, she has now helped on at least one goal in six straight (tied for fourth-longest) while she also extended her career-best point streak to 21-consecutive games, the second-longest streak in UC history.
The junior, who already has 25 points on 16 goals and nine assists through four games this year, continues to climb the program's career ledgers as well. Already the career assist leader (70), Borzillo now has 97 goals, the third-most in program history and just three shy of reaching the 100-goal plateau. Combined, she now has 167 points, which leaves her two shy of Laura Simanski's all-time record of 169 points (153-16) from 2009-12.
// ANOTHER STREAK
Mlkvy also kept a streak alive today as she assisted on one goal to bring her current helper streak to 10 games in a row, which ties her for the 17th-longest streak in program history. The team's second-leading goal scorer (7) and tops among draw controls won (25), Mlkvy has now posted two, 10-game assist streaks in her career.
// DURSO STOPS
In the first half, Durso recorded six saves before finishing the game with 10 in total. That total marks the second time this season she has recorded 10 saves with the first coming against Ohio State in the opener. With those saves, Durso now has 199 for her career, leaving her one shy of becoming the fourth UC goalie to record 200 or more saves in a career.
// NEXT UP
Cincinnati returns to action Sunday at noon as the Bearcats will play host to Detroit Mercy (1-2) at Gettler Stadium.
// 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 Thomas (Oliver)(@GinaOliverUC) also can be followed on Twitter.