Tickets// THE OPENING DRAW
Currently riding a two-game winning streak, the University of Cincinnati lacrosse team will play host to UConn this weekend as the two teams will meet in the inaugural American Athletic Conference game with the opening draw set for 11 a.m. Saturday at Gettler Stadium in Cincinnati. The Bearcats (5-5) and Huskies (2-8) will be the first AAC game started in the history of the league with Florida at Temple starting their contest at noon Saturday in Philadelphia.
// JOINING IN
Saturday's game will be the first for the Bearcats as members of the American Athletic Conference, which was formed last fall and began play this year with members including UC, UConn, ECU, Temple, Florida and Vanderbilt. With its inclusion into the conference, all 19 varsity teams at UC are now members of the AAC.
// 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 (@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 2019, 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
• Cincinnati, in the midst of a four-game home stand, is 5-5 overall and after winning the last two games played, including a 17-11 win over San Diego State and a 22-9 win over Gardner-Webb last weekend
• Following the weekend, Monica Borzillo (attacker of the week), Kylie Nause (freshman) and Alyssa Adams (Honor Roll) were all recognized by the American Athletic Conference for their play
• UC is averaging 14.40 goals per game this year and have scored 17 or more goals in all five of its wins
• The 39 goals scored last weekend are the second-most tallied in back-to-back games in program history after the Bearcats scored 41 earlier this year (19 vs. Kent State & 22 vs. Marquette)
• UC is set to play its first AAC contest this weekend, joining the rest of the Bearcats' varsity teams in the AAC
• The last time UC opened play in a new conference was March 27, 2009, an 11-9 loss at UConn in UC's first game as a member of the Big East
• UC has a 5-1 home record this year which ties the program record for season home victories
• UC tallied seven hat tricks over the weekend to bring its total to 25 on the year, the most in a single season in program history with seven regular season contests remaining
// NEW BEGINNING
Saturday is shaping up to be a historically day. With an 11 a.m. start time (Florida at Temple starts at noon), the Bearcats and Huskies have the chance to record many firsts in the history of the AAC, such as first goal, assist, point, etc., in conference play.
// SCOUTING: UCONN
The Huskies enter the weekend with a 2-8 record after defeating visiting Bryant, 15-8, Tuesday night and are 0-4 on the road in 2019. UConn is led in scoring by Sydney Watson, who has 33 points on 24 goals and nine assists while Olivia Miles (21) and Caitlin Leary (14) have each scored double-digit goal totals. Defensively, Grace Beshlian has played the most minutes of the two goalies and holds a 13.55 goals against average and a .461 save percentage after allowing 90 goals and stopping 77 shots in her eight games played.
// SERIES HISTORY: BEARCATS vs. HUSKIES
UConn holds a 10-0 lead in the all-time series with 5-0 records in games played in Cincinnati and Storrs. The last time the two teams met, the Huskies won, 20-8, on their home turf (4/13/18). The last time the series was held in Cincinnati, the Bearcats fell, 18-11 (4/15/17).
// IT'S YOU AGAIN!
Not only have the Bearcats and Huskies met 10 times previously, but Saturday's game will mark the second time the two teams have met in UC's first game as a member of a conference. The first meeting between the two sides came March 27, 2009, with UConn handing UC an 11-9 loss in Storrs, Conn., in the Bearcats' first game as a member of the Big East (UC was an independent in 2008).
// QUICK RECAP: HOME SWEEPING
• Cincinnati swept both games it played last week, winning 17-11 over San Diego State and 22-9 over Gardner-Webb with both games played at home
• Against the Aztecs, Adams (4), Borzillo (4) and Nause (3) each scored hat tricks to power UC to a win and just the second loss of the year for SDSU
• Jennie Finotti added two goals for her first mulitple-goal game at UC
• Amanda Fess earned a spot in the starting lineup, marking the first time all three Fess Triplets earned a spot in the starting lineup at the same time at UC
• Against the Runnin' Bulldogs, UC tied a school-record with 22 goals as four tallied hat tricks, including Borzillo (6), Nause (4), Napoletano (3) and Adams (3)
• The Bearcats recorded 32 points, the second-highest total in a single game in program history
• Three freshmen saw their first playing time, including Brooke Holmstrom, Isabelle LeJeune and Anna Platou
// THREE AWARDS
Following the weekend, a trio of Bearcats received recognition from the AAC, including Monica Borzillo being named the AAC Attacker of the Week; Kylie Nause being named the AAC Freshman of the Week; and Alyssa Adams earning a spot on the Honor Roll.
// DOUBLE-TRIPLE
Borzillo, who tallied 14 points on 10 goals and four assists in the two games, earned her third attacker of the week accolade from the AAC this year, tying her with Florida's Lindsey Ronbeck for the most attacker awards earned this season. Additionally, Borzillo has now earned three attacker awards in two conferences after she earned a trio of recognitions last year in the Big East.
// TALE OF TWO FIVES
Nause, who earned the rookie award for the second week in a row and the third time in four weeks, posted a pair of hat tricks over the weekend, including three goals against San Diego State and four against Gardner-Webb while adding one assist each game, the first of her career. Looking at her first 10 college games, it has been a tale two fives: she scored two goals in her first five games before scoring 17 in the last five, including five hat tricks in a row.
// AMONG THE TOP ROOKIES
With Nause finding her scoring touch recently, she not only has climbed the ranks to third on the team in goals (19), but she also is currently one of the top scorers among rookies in the AAC. Overall, her 19 goals is the most among freshmen in the league (Camryn Pennypacker of ECU is second with 15) while ranking second in points with 21 (ECU's Hannah Rzempoluch leads with 23).
// RUNNING TOTAL
With the two awards this week, the Bearcats have earned a total of eight accolades so far this year and have had at least one honoree each week the team has played. Along with the double awards for Borzillo, Gysin and Nause, two others have earned one award each as Alyssa Adams was named the midfielder of the week (Feb. 19) and Sam Mlkvy earned a spot on the Honor Roll (Feb. 12).
// BACK-TO-BACK SCORING
Over the weekend, the Bearcats scored 17 against San Diego State and 22 against Gardner-Webb, totaling a combined 39 goals for the back-to-back contests. That total is the second-highest back-to-back scoring output in program history behind only the 41 scored earlier this year in wins over Kent State (19) and Marquette (22). Additionally, the 39 goals scored mark just the fifth time in program history the Bearcats have scored 30+ in back-to-back games and the fourth time in the last three years. The first time it happened was in 2012 before UC making it happen once each in 2017 and 2018 before the two occurrences this season.
// GOOOOOOOOOOOAL!
With their 22 goals scored Sunday against the Runnin' Bulldogs, the Bearcats have now scored 20 or more goals in a game twice this year after also scoring 22 against Marquette earlier. While both goal totals tied the program record for goals in a game, Sunday's output marked the seventh time in UC history the team has tallied 20 or more in a contest. Additionally, UC has only scored 20 or more in two games in the same season twice: this year and in 2017 when it tallied a pair of 21-goal games.
// MOST WINS • PART I
With the two wins over the weekend, UC now stands 5-5 this year with seven more regular season games to be played. With five wins already, the Bearcats have won five or more games in a season for the seventh time in 12 years while posting five or more for the third year in a row, a first for the program. Since the start of the 2017 season, the Bearcats have won six, a program record eight, and now five.
// MOST WINS • PART II
The five wins, all of which have come at home in 2019, also adds a bit of history as the Bearcats have tied the program record for home wins in a season and four more regular season games on the slate. Combined with the five won last year, UC has won 10 home games in a two-year span for the first time in program history with those wins surpassing the previous best two-year stretch of nine wins accumulated in the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
// TRY THESE HATS ON FOR SIZE
Over the weekend, the Bearcats recorded seven individual hat tricks, including three against the Aztecs and four against the Runnin' Bulldogs, to bring the team's season total to 25, the most in a single season in program history. The previous record was 24, which was recorded in 2017. The 25 also marks just the fourth time in UC history that 20 or more hat tricks have been tallied.
// TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADERS!
Heading into the weekend, Monica Borzillo continues to lead the AAC in both assists (2.60 per game) and points (5.90 per game) while sitting second in goals (3.30 per game) to rank fourth, ninth and 21st, respectively, in the NCAA as well. Morgan Dukes is the other individual statistical leader for the Bearcats in the AAC as she leads the way with 3.70 ground balls per contest. As a team, the Bearcats rank first in the AAC in ground balls (29.40), draw controls (14.70) and shot percentage (.446) while ranking second in goals (14.40), assists (5.90), points (20.30) and caused turnovers (13.00) per game. On a national level, UC leads the NCAA in ground balls while sitting fourth in caused turnovers, 21st in goals and draw controls, 23rd in points and 25th in shot percentage.
// GETTING GOALS
Last year, the Bearcats scored 201 goals to break a single-season record and become the first UC team to score 200 or more in a single campaign. This year, it doesn't appear the offense is letting off the gas as the team is averaging 14.4 goals per game in 2019 and have scored 18 or more goals in a game four times. To put that in context, the team entered the season having scored 18 or more goals in a game just seven times in the previous 11 seasons.
PREVIOUSLY NOTED
// QUICK SCORES
In the Michigan game, Nause scored the first goal of the game just 40 seconds into the contest, a goal that ties for the 10th-fastest scored to open a game in program history and the third this year at or under 40 seconds scored by the Bearcats. Previously, Monica Borzillo scored 20 seconds into the game at #23 Virginia Tech for the third-fastest goal in UC history before Alyssa Adams scored at 39 seconds against Detroit Mercy for the seventh-fastest (tied) in program history.
// LOTS OF HELPING
In the Michigan game, Borzillo dished out six assists, tying her career high and program single-game record that she had set twice before with both games coming in her freshman season of 2017. Along with those records, her six assists now also rank as the single-game record in the American Athletic Conference, her second such record after setting the single-game points record earlier this year against Kent State with 11.
// HISTORIC GAME
Previously, the Bearcats scored a 22-18 victory over visiting Marquette, leading to several historical statistics in the process including the most points recorded in a single game with 34 (was 32), tying for the most goals scored in a game with 22 and seeing the most combined goals scored in a game with 40 (was 36). On top of that, the team recorded 12 assists to posted the third-highest single game total (record is 13) as well. Individually, several players recorded career highs in various categories with a trio of sophomores (Adams, Carney and Gysin) collecting several all-time Top 10 marks as well.
// ADAMS ADDS UP
Against the Golden Eagles, Adams scored five goals on seven shots while also collecting seven ground balls to set a trio of career-bests. Her five goals and five points surpass her previous bests of three goals and three points which she tallied twice in her career, most recently last year (April 23) against ECU. One of her goals was a free-position goal, which tied her career-best for the sixth time. In the game, Adams opened the scoring for the Bearcats as she found the back of the cage at 27:38 to stake UC to a 1-0 lead. She scored three times in the second half, including her fifth of the day with 3:51 remaining in the game to push the Bearcats to a five-goal advantage.
// GYSIN GOT GOALS
Similar to Adams, Gysin's day rewrote many of her single-game bests, including points (eight), goals (six), assists (two), shots (six) and caused turnovers (two). Her eight points rank tied for sixth in the program's single-game Top 10 while her six goals tied for the fifth-most in a contest. Gysin's first goal pushed UC to a 2-0 lead with her second snapping a 3-3 tie early on and started a run of seven in a row for the Bearcats with Gysin collecting the seventh in that streak to bring UC to a 10-3 lead. In the second half, she added her fifth at the 22:37 mark to put the Bearcats ahead by eight one again before saving her final goal for the 1:28 mark to push the Bearcats ahead by four late in the game.
// CLASSY
Adams and Gysin combined with fellow sophomore Kate Carney to have a huge day for the Bearcats against Marquette. The three scored 13 of the team's record 22 goals, recorded have of the assists (6-of-12) and tallied 19 of the team's record 34 points. Additionally, they added four ground balls, seven draw controls and two caused turnovers. Along with Gysin's all-time Top 10 single game marks in goals and points, Carney added her name to the assist ledger once again as she helped on four goals, tying for the eighth-most in a game in UC history.
// GAME RECORDS
On a single game level, Borzillo posted four and Sam Mlkvy two marks that landed on the all-time Top 10 as well in the opening weekend. Borzillo's 11 points are the most in a single game, surpassing the 10 she recorded twice previously. Her seven goals tied for second and is one off her own record while her four assists tied her for eighth with all of those coming in the game against KSU. She also added five caused turnovers against the Golden Flashes, tying for the fifth spot all time. Mlkvy's 11 draw controls against Ohio State ranks second all-time in a single game while her 10 shots against KSU tied for the 10th.
// DEBUTANTES
Four players made their Bearcats debuts over opening weekend including a trio of freshmen and one sophomore transfer. Kylie Nause tallied her first collegiate goal in the opener with Ohio State while fellow rookies Zoe Antona and Kate Brocato also saw action, including Brocato halting three shots and allowing two goals in the second half of play against Kent State. Lauren Harrison, who played last year at Mount St. Mary's, also saw her first action with Cincinnati.
// NEW LEAGUE
This year, the Bearcats will play as members of the American Athletic Conference after playing in the BIG EAST the past 10 seasons (UC was an independent in 2008). UC will be joined by fellow full members ECU, Temple and UConn with Florida and Vanderbilt also joining to give the AAC six teams. With lacrosse moving to the AAC, every sport at UC is now a member of the same conference.
// PRESEASON PROGNOSTICATIONS
Ahead of the inaugural season, the AAC announced the results of the coaches' poll with the Bearcats selected to finish fifth. According to the coaches, the predicted finish is Florida (25 points), Vanderbilt (18), UConn (17), Temple (16), UC (9) and ECU (5). In the IWLCA Division I Preseason Poll (January 28), Florida enters the season ranked #6 nationally, the only member of the AAC in the Top 25.
// FEELING HONORED
Ahead of the season, the league coaches also voted for individual honors with three Bearcats being selected to the 2019 Preseason AAC All-Conference Team. That trio includes Monica Borzillo, who was unanimously selected to the list, Amanda Donovan and Sam Mlkvy. The honors are the first preseason awards in each players career with Borzillo (twice) and Donovan (once) previously being selected as BIG EAST All-Conference Second Team with Borzillo's honors coming in 2017 and 2018 and Donovan being selected in 2017.
// FIRST TIME AWARDS
Not only were the selections for those three players the first preseason awards of their careers, they also marked the first preseason awards earned by any Bearcats player in program history. Previously, no UC player had been named to a preseason list in the BIG EAST with Borzillo and Donovan standing as two of just five players to earn postseason accolades.
// CROWNING A CHAMP IN THE QUEEN CITY
The 2019 American Athletic Conference Lacrosse Tournament will be coming to Cincinnati in May with three games being played at the Sheakley Athletics Center on the UC campus. The Top 4 teams in the final regular season standings will play for the postseason crown and a spot in the NCAA Tournament with the AAC semifinals taking place Thursday, May 2, and the final Saturday, May 4. Game times and ticket pricing will be made available closer to the start of the tournament.
// PLAYING HOST
While the Bearcats will playing host to their first lacrosse conference tournament in 2019, the University of Cincinnati is no stranger to welcoming the American to town for a conference event as this year's event will mark the third-consecutive academic year UC has held an AAC championship event. It began in the 2016-17 academic year with the 2016 AAC Cross Country Championships being contested at Voice of America MetroPark in West Chester. One academic year later, Gettler Stadium served as the site of the 2018 AAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
// GETTING DEFENSIVE
Another reason the Bearcats fared well in 2018 was the play of Giuliana Durso in goal. The then junior posted 161 saves, averaging 9.47 per contest to not only lead the BIG EAST, but also rank first in UC's single season history, tying her with Katherine Russo (2009 and 2010 seasons). Durso, who took the season victories record from Russo (7) with eight in 2018, finished the year with 12.95 goals against average and a 44.7 save percentage, the #5 and #4 marks, respectively, in single season history at UC.
// HELLO! MY NAME IS...
The team added nine newcomers to the roster prior to this season with eight freshmen and one sophomore transfer. The rookies include Zoe Antona (Roswell, Ga.), Kate Brocato (Baltimore, Md.), Brooke Holmstrom (Canton, Ga.), Camille Johnston (West Chester, Ohio), Isabelle LeJeune (Williamsburg, Va.), Kylie Nause (Phoenix, Md.) and Anna Platou (Naperville, Ill.). The final newcomer to the group is Lauren Harrison, who will be a sophomore this season after playing her freshman season with Mount St. Mary's before transferring to UC.
// NEW TO THE CREW
The players are not the only newcomers to the program this year as Caitlin Prince has joined the Bearcats as an assistant coach. Prince, who played collegiately at Duquesne, including her first two years under then assistant coach Gina Thomas, comes to Cincinnati after serving as an assistant at her Alma Mater from 2017 to 2018. Prior to that, she served as an assistant at Robert Morris (2015-16).
// LAST GO AROUND
As with every season, several Bearcats will be suiting up for the final time in 2019 as four players are entering their senior seasons. The Class of 2019 includes Maria Collacchi (Parkton, Md.), Amanda Donovan (Ellicott City, Md.), Giuliana Durso (Mendham, N.J.) and Jayde Sains (East Islip, N.Y.). The group will be honored at Senior Day April 20 when the Bearcats play host to Vanderbilt.
// MAKING THE GRADE
Following the fall semester, the grades were tabulated and the Bearcats recorded a cumulative team grade-point average of 3.466 as 23 of the players posted at least a 3.0 GPA. To top that off, 15 players held GPAs of 3.4 or better in the semester to be named to the Dean's List while five of those players - Alyssa Adams, Monica Borzillo, Kate Brocato, Maria Collacchi and Alexandra Fess - each were named TopCats as they all posted perfect 4.0 GPAs.
// NEXT TIME
It will be a quick turnaround for the Bearcats after Saturday's game with the Huskies as the Bulldogs of Butler will come to town Tuesday for a noon start at Gettler Stadium to close out UC's four-game home stand. The game with Butler will be the first of two games next week as the Bearcats also will travel to Greenville, N.C., on Saturday, April 6, for a meeting with ECU at noon for UC's first road contest in AAC play.
Currently riding a two-game winning streak, the University of Cincinnati lacrosse team will play host to UConn this weekend as the two teams will meet in the inaugural American Athletic Conference game with the opening draw set for 11 a.m. Saturday at Gettler Stadium in Cincinnati. The Bearcats (5-5) and Huskies (2-8) will be the first AAC game started in the history of the league with Florida at Temple starting their contest at noon Saturday in Philadelphia.
// JOINING IN
Saturday's game will be the first for the Bearcats as members of the American Athletic Conference, which was formed last fall and began play this year with members including UC, UConn, ECU, Temple, Florida and Vanderbilt. With its inclusion into the conference, all 19 varsity teams at UC are now members of the AAC.
Saturday, the #Bearcats will play @UConnWLAX in the first @American_WLax game in league history! We hope to see you at Gettler Stadium at 11 a.m. for the first draw in #AmericanWLAX history! pic.twitter.com/VGAsSRMr76
— Cincinnati Lacrosse (@GoBearcatsLAX) March 27, 2019
// 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 (@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 2019, 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
• Cincinnati, in the midst of a four-game home stand, is 5-5 overall and after winning the last two games played, including a 17-11 win over San Diego State and a 22-9 win over Gardner-Webb last weekend
• Following the weekend, Monica Borzillo (attacker of the week), Kylie Nause (freshman) and Alyssa Adams (Honor Roll) were all recognized by the American Athletic Conference for their play
• UC is averaging 14.40 goals per game this year and have scored 17 or more goals in all five of its wins
• The 39 goals scored last weekend are the second-most tallied in back-to-back games in program history after the Bearcats scored 41 earlier this year (19 vs. Kent State & 22 vs. Marquette)
• UC is set to play its first AAC contest this weekend, joining the rest of the Bearcats' varsity teams in the AAC
• The last time UC opened play in a new conference was March 27, 2009, an 11-9 loss at UConn in UC's first game as a member of the Big East
• UC has a 5-1 home record this year which ties the program record for season home victories
• UC tallied seven hat tricks over the weekend to bring its total to 25 on the year, the most in a single season in program history with seven regular season contests remaining
// NEW BEGINNING
Saturday is shaping up to be a historically day. With an 11 a.m. start time (Florida at Temple starts at noon), the Bearcats and Huskies have the chance to record many firsts in the history of the AAC, such as first goal, assist, point, etc., in conference play.
// SCOUTING: UCONN
The Huskies enter the weekend with a 2-8 record after defeating visiting Bryant, 15-8, Tuesday night and are 0-4 on the road in 2019. UConn is led in scoring by Sydney Watson, who has 33 points on 24 goals and nine assists while Olivia Miles (21) and Caitlin Leary (14) have each scored double-digit goal totals. Defensively, Grace Beshlian has played the most minutes of the two goalies and holds a 13.55 goals against average and a .461 save percentage after allowing 90 goals and stopping 77 shots in her eight games played.
// SERIES HISTORY: BEARCATS vs. HUSKIES
UConn holds a 10-0 lead in the all-time series with 5-0 records in games played in Cincinnati and Storrs. The last time the two teams met, the Huskies won, 20-8, on their home turf (4/13/18). The last time the series was held in Cincinnati, the Bearcats fell, 18-11 (4/15/17).
// IT'S YOU AGAIN!
Not only have the Bearcats and Huskies met 10 times previously, but Saturday's game will mark the second time the two teams have met in UC's first game as a member of a conference. The first meeting between the two sides came March 27, 2009, with UConn handing UC an 11-9 loss in Storrs, Conn., in the Bearcats' first game as a member of the Big East (UC was an independent in 2008).
// QUICK RECAP: HOME SWEEPING
• Cincinnati swept both games it played last week, winning 17-11 over San Diego State and 22-9 over Gardner-Webb with both games played at home
• Against the Aztecs, Adams (4), Borzillo (4) and Nause (3) each scored hat tricks to power UC to a win and just the second loss of the year for SDSU
• Jennie Finotti added two goals for her first mulitple-goal game at UC
• Amanda Fess earned a spot in the starting lineup, marking the first time all three Fess Triplets earned a spot in the starting lineup at the same time at UC
• Against the Runnin' Bulldogs, UC tied a school-record with 22 goals as four tallied hat tricks, including Borzillo (6), Nause (4), Napoletano (3) and Adams (3)
• The Bearcats recorded 32 points, the second-highest total in a single game in program history
• Three freshmen saw their first playing time, including Brooke Holmstrom, Isabelle LeJeune and Anna Platou
Following a big weekend at home, 3⃣ #Bearcats 🥍 players were honored with weekly awards by @American_WLax!
— Cincinnati Lacrosse (@GoBearcatsLAX) March 26, 2019
💥 Attacker: Monica Borzillo
🆕 Freshman: Kylie Nause
📜 Honor Roll: Alyssa Adams
Read more here: https://t.co/oIPQ48rwqI pic.twitter.com/PSerrPjO82
// THREE AWARDS
Following the weekend, a trio of Bearcats received recognition from the AAC, including Monica Borzillo being named the AAC Attacker of the Week; Kylie Nause being named the AAC Freshman of the Week; and Alyssa Adams earning a spot on the Honor Roll.
// DOUBLE-TRIPLE
Borzillo, who tallied 14 points on 10 goals and four assists in the two games, earned her third attacker of the week accolade from the AAC this year, tying her with Florida's Lindsey Ronbeck for the most attacker awards earned this season. Additionally, Borzillo has now earned three attacker awards in two conferences after she earned a trio of recognitions last year in the Big East.
// TALE OF TWO FIVES
Nause, who earned the rookie award for the second week in a row and the third time in four weeks, posted a pair of hat tricks over the weekend, including three goals against San Diego State and four against Gardner-Webb while adding one assist each game, the first of her career. Looking at her first 10 college games, it has been a tale two fives: she scored two goals in her first five games before scoring 17 in the last five, including five hat tricks in a row.
// AMONG THE TOP ROOKIES
With Nause finding her scoring touch recently, she not only has climbed the ranks to third on the team in goals (19), but she also is currently one of the top scorers among rookies in the AAC. Overall, her 19 goals is the most among freshmen in the league (Camryn Pennypacker of ECU is second with 15) while ranking second in points with 21 (ECU's Hannah Rzempoluch leads with 23).
// RUNNING TOTAL
With the two awards this week, the Bearcats have earned a total of eight accolades so far this year and have had at least one honoree each week the team has played. Along with the double awards for Borzillo, Gysin and Nause, two others have earned one award each as Alyssa Adams was named the midfielder of the week (Feb. 19) and Sam Mlkvy earned a spot on the Honor Roll (Feb. 12).
// BACK-TO-BACK SCORING
Over the weekend, the Bearcats scored 17 against San Diego State and 22 against Gardner-Webb, totaling a combined 39 goals for the back-to-back contests. That total is the second-highest back-to-back scoring output in program history behind only the 41 scored earlier this year in wins over Kent State (19) and Marquette (22). Additionally, the 39 goals scored mark just the fifth time in program history the Bearcats have scored 30+ in back-to-back games and the fourth time in the last three years. The first time it happened was in 2012 before UC making it happen once each in 2017 and 2018 before the two occurrences this season.
// GOOOOOOOOOOOAL!
With their 22 goals scored Sunday against the Runnin' Bulldogs, the Bearcats have now scored 20 or more goals in a game twice this year after also scoring 22 against Marquette earlier. While both goal totals tied the program record for goals in a game, Sunday's output marked the seventh time in UC history the team has tallied 20 or more in a contest. Additionally, UC has only scored 20 or more in two games in the same season twice: this year and in 2017 when it tallied a pair of 21-goal games.
// MOST WINS • PART I
With the two wins over the weekend, UC now stands 5-5 this year with seven more regular season games to be played. With five wins already, the Bearcats have won five or more games in a season for the seventh time in 12 years while posting five or more for the third year in a row, a first for the program. Since the start of the 2017 season, the Bearcats have won six, a program record eight, and now five.
// MOST WINS • PART II
The five wins, all of which have come at home in 2019, also adds a bit of history as the Bearcats have tied the program record for home wins in a season and four more regular season games on the slate. Combined with the five won last year, UC has won 10 home games in a two-year span for the first time in program history with those wins surpassing the previous best two-year stretch of nine wins accumulated in the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
// TRY THESE HATS ON FOR SIZE
Over the weekend, the Bearcats recorded seven individual hat tricks, including three against the Aztecs and four against the Runnin' Bulldogs, to bring the team's season total to 25, the most in a single season in program history. The previous record was 24, which was recorded in 2017. The 25 also marks just the fourth time in UC history that 20 or more hat tricks have been tallied.
// TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADERS!
Heading into the weekend, Monica Borzillo continues to lead the AAC in both assists (2.60 per game) and points (5.90 per game) while sitting second in goals (3.30 per game) to rank fourth, ninth and 21st, respectively, in the NCAA as well. Morgan Dukes is the other individual statistical leader for the Bearcats in the AAC as she leads the way with 3.70 ground balls per contest. As a team, the Bearcats rank first in the AAC in ground balls (29.40), draw controls (14.70) and shot percentage (.446) while ranking second in goals (14.40), assists (5.90), points (20.30) and caused turnovers (13.00) per game. On a national level, UC leads the NCAA in ground balls while sitting fourth in caused turnovers, 21st in goals and draw controls, 23rd in points and 25th in shot percentage.
// GETTING GOALS
Last year, the Bearcats scored 201 goals to break a single-season record and become the first UC team to score 200 or more in a single campaign. This year, it doesn't appear the offense is letting off the gas as the team is averaging 14.4 goals per game in 2019 and have scored 18 or more goals in a game four times. To put that in context, the team entered the season having scored 18 or more goals in a game just seven times in the previous 11 seasons.
PREVIOUSLY NOTED
// QUICK SCORES
In the Michigan game, Nause scored the first goal of the game just 40 seconds into the contest, a goal that ties for the 10th-fastest scored to open a game in program history and the third this year at or under 40 seconds scored by the Bearcats. Previously, Monica Borzillo scored 20 seconds into the game at #23 Virginia Tech for the third-fastest goal in UC history before Alyssa Adams scored at 39 seconds against Detroit Mercy for the seventh-fastest (tied) in program history.
// LOTS OF HELPING
In the Michigan game, Borzillo dished out six assists, tying her career high and program single-game record that she had set twice before with both games coming in her freshman season of 2017. Along with those records, her six assists now also rank as the single-game record in the American Athletic Conference, her second such record after setting the single-game points record earlier this year against Kent State with 11.
// HISTORIC GAME
Previously, the Bearcats scored a 22-18 victory over visiting Marquette, leading to several historical statistics in the process including the most points recorded in a single game with 34 (was 32), tying for the most goals scored in a game with 22 and seeing the most combined goals scored in a game with 40 (was 36). On top of that, the team recorded 12 assists to posted the third-highest single game total (record is 13) as well. Individually, several players recorded career highs in various categories with a trio of sophomores (Adams, Carney and Gysin) collecting several all-time Top 10 marks as well.
// ADAMS ADDS UP
Against the Golden Eagles, Adams scored five goals on seven shots while also collecting seven ground balls to set a trio of career-bests. Her five goals and five points surpass her previous bests of three goals and three points which she tallied twice in her career, most recently last year (April 23) against ECU. One of her goals was a free-position goal, which tied her career-best for the sixth time. In the game, Adams opened the scoring for the Bearcats as she found the back of the cage at 27:38 to stake UC to a 1-0 lead. She scored three times in the second half, including her fifth of the day with 3:51 remaining in the game to push the Bearcats to a five-goal advantage.
// GYSIN GOT GOALS
Similar to Adams, Gysin's day rewrote many of her single-game bests, including points (eight), goals (six), assists (two), shots (six) and caused turnovers (two). Her eight points rank tied for sixth in the program's single-game Top 10 while her six goals tied for the fifth-most in a contest. Gysin's first goal pushed UC to a 2-0 lead with her second snapping a 3-3 tie early on and started a run of seven in a row for the Bearcats with Gysin collecting the seventh in that streak to bring UC to a 10-3 lead. In the second half, she added her fifth at the 22:37 mark to put the Bearcats ahead by eight one again before saving her final goal for the 1:28 mark to push the Bearcats ahead by four late in the game.
// CLASSY
Adams and Gysin combined with fellow sophomore Kate Carney to have a huge day for the Bearcats against Marquette. The three scored 13 of the team's record 22 goals, recorded have of the assists (6-of-12) and tallied 19 of the team's record 34 points. Additionally, they added four ground balls, seven draw controls and two caused turnovers. Along with Gysin's all-time Top 10 single game marks in goals and points, Carney added her name to the assist ledger once again as she helped on four goals, tying for the eighth-most in a game in UC history.
// GAME RECORDS
On a single game level, Borzillo posted four and Sam Mlkvy two marks that landed on the all-time Top 10 as well in the opening weekend. Borzillo's 11 points are the most in a single game, surpassing the 10 she recorded twice previously. Her seven goals tied for second and is one off her own record while her four assists tied her for eighth with all of those coming in the game against KSU. She also added five caused turnovers against the Golden Flashes, tying for the fifth spot all time. Mlkvy's 11 draw controls against Ohio State ranks second all-time in a single game while her 10 shots against KSU tied for the 10th.
// DEBUTANTES
Four players made their Bearcats debuts over opening weekend including a trio of freshmen and one sophomore transfer. Kylie Nause tallied her first collegiate goal in the opener with Ohio State while fellow rookies Zoe Antona and Kate Brocato also saw action, including Brocato halting three shots and allowing two goals in the second half of play against Kent State. Lauren Harrison, who played last year at Mount St. Mary's, also saw her first action with Cincinnati.
// NEW LEAGUE
This year, the Bearcats will play as members of the American Athletic Conference after playing in the BIG EAST the past 10 seasons (UC was an independent in 2008). UC will be joined by fellow full members ECU, Temple and UConn with Florida and Vanderbilt also joining to give the AAC six teams. With lacrosse moving to the AAC, every sport at UC is now a member of the same conference.
// PRESEASON PROGNOSTICATIONS
Ahead of the inaugural season, the AAC announced the results of the coaches' poll with the Bearcats selected to finish fifth. According to the coaches, the predicted finish is Florida (25 points), Vanderbilt (18), UConn (17), Temple (16), UC (9) and ECU (5). In the IWLCA Division I Preseason Poll (January 28), Florida enters the season ranked #6 nationally, the only member of the AAC in the Top 25.
// FEELING HONORED
Ahead of the season, the league coaches also voted for individual honors with three Bearcats being selected to the 2019 Preseason AAC All-Conference Team. That trio includes Monica Borzillo, who was unanimously selected to the list, Amanda Donovan and Sam Mlkvy. The honors are the first preseason awards in each players career with Borzillo (twice) and Donovan (once) previously being selected as BIG EAST All-Conference Second Team with Borzillo's honors coming in 2017 and 2018 and Donovan being selected in 2017.
// FIRST TIME AWARDS
Not only were the selections for those three players the first preseason awards of their careers, they also marked the first preseason awards earned by any Bearcats player in program history. Previously, no UC player had been named to a preseason list in the BIG EAST with Borzillo and Donovan standing as two of just five players to earn postseason accolades.
// CROWNING A CHAMP IN THE QUEEN CITY
The 2019 American Athletic Conference Lacrosse Tournament will be coming to Cincinnati in May with three games being played at the Sheakley Athletics Center on the UC campus. The Top 4 teams in the final regular season standings will play for the postseason crown and a spot in the NCAA Tournament with the AAC semifinals taking place Thursday, May 2, and the final Saturday, May 4. Game times and ticket pricing will be made available closer to the start of the tournament.
// PLAYING HOST
While the Bearcats will playing host to their first lacrosse conference tournament in 2019, the University of Cincinnati is no stranger to welcoming the American to town for a conference event as this year's event will mark the third-consecutive academic year UC has held an AAC championship event. It began in the 2016-17 academic year with the 2016 AAC Cross Country Championships being contested at Voice of America MetroPark in West Chester. One academic year later, Gettler Stadium served as the site of the 2018 AAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
// GETTING DEFENSIVE
Another reason the Bearcats fared well in 2018 was the play of Giuliana Durso in goal. The then junior posted 161 saves, averaging 9.47 per contest to not only lead the BIG EAST, but also rank first in UC's single season history, tying her with Katherine Russo (2009 and 2010 seasons). Durso, who took the season victories record from Russo (7) with eight in 2018, finished the year with 12.95 goals against average and a 44.7 save percentage, the #5 and #4 marks, respectively, in single season history at UC.
// HELLO! MY NAME IS...
The team added nine newcomers to the roster prior to this season with eight freshmen and one sophomore transfer. The rookies include Zoe Antona (Roswell, Ga.), Kate Brocato (Baltimore, Md.), Brooke Holmstrom (Canton, Ga.), Camille Johnston (West Chester, Ohio), Isabelle LeJeune (Williamsburg, Va.), Kylie Nause (Phoenix, Md.) and Anna Platou (Naperville, Ill.). The final newcomer to the group is Lauren Harrison, who will be a sophomore this season after playing her freshman season with Mount St. Mary's before transferring to UC.
// NEW TO THE CREW
The players are not the only newcomers to the program this year as Caitlin Prince has joined the Bearcats as an assistant coach. Prince, who played collegiately at Duquesne, including her first two years under then assistant coach Gina Thomas, comes to Cincinnati after serving as an assistant at her Alma Mater from 2017 to 2018. Prior to that, she served as an assistant at Robert Morris (2015-16).
// LAST GO AROUND
As with every season, several Bearcats will be suiting up for the final time in 2019 as four players are entering their senior seasons. The Class of 2019 includes Maria Collacchi (Parkton, Md.), Amanda Donovan (Ellicott City, Md.), Giuliana Durso (Mendham, N.J.) and Jayde Sains (East Islip, N.Y.). The group will be honored at Senior Day April 20 when the Bearcats play host to Vanderbilt.
// MAKING THE GRADE
Following the fall semester, the grades were tabulated and the Bearcats recorded a cumulative team grade-point average of 3.466 as 23 of the players posted at least a 3.0 GPA. To top that off, 15 players held GPAs of 3.4 or better in the semester to be named to the Dean's List while five of those players - Alyssa Adams, Monica Borzillo, Kate Brocato, Maria Collacchi and Alexandra Fess - each were named TopCats as they all posted perfect 4.0 GPAs.
// NEXT TIME
It will be a quick turnaround for the Bearcats after Saturday's game with the Huskies as the Bulldogs of Butler will come to town Tuesday for a noon start at Gettler Stadium to close out UC's four-game home stand. The game with Butler will be the first of two games next week as the Bearcats also will travel to Greenville, N.C., on Saturday, April 6, for a meeting with ECU at noon for UC's first road contest in AAC play.