TicketsCINCINNATI - Despite intermittent downpours and a slick surface, the University of Cincinnati lacrosse team managed to handle the adversity well as the Bearcats jumped out a 7-1 lead before holding on to defeat UConn, 11-9, in the inaugural American Athletic Conference game that was played Saturday at Gettler Stadium in Cincinnati. Monica Borzillo and Kylie Nause each recorded hat tricks while Giuliana Durso stopped 11 shots in goal to help UC to its third win in a row as the Bearcats improved to 6-5 overall and 1-0 in the AAC while the Huskies fell to 2-9 overall and 0-1 in the league.
// QUICK NOTES
• Cincinnati improved to 6-5 overall and 1-0 in AAC play while UConn fell to 2-9 overall and 0-1 in league action
• The win marked the first time the Bearcats have won their first conference game of a season
• The Bearcats also picked up their first win in the series with UConn, halting the Huskies' 10-game winning streak
• UC also is 1-1 all-time against UConn in the Bearcats' first game in a new conference after falling to the host Huskies, ironically enough, 11-9, in 2009 when the Bearcats played their first game as members of the Big East
• The Bearcats are 6-1 at home this year, breaking the record for home wins in a season (5 in 2013 and 2018)
• Today marked the 10th time UC has allowed nine or fewer goals to a conference foe and the lowest total in a conference game at Gettler Stadium while also ranking as the eighth-lowest total allowed in a conference game as well
• The Bearcats caused 15 turnovers, tying for the sixth-highest amount in a single game in program history
• Borzillo and Nause brought UC's single-season record for individual hat tricks to 27 this year
• Borzillo bagged her 20th career hat trick while adding one assist, which keeps her school record of consecutive games in a row with at least one assist going at 12 games
• Nause recorded her sixth hat trick in a row and now has 22 goals on the year with 20 coming in those last six contests
• Amanda Donovan scored one goal to keep her consecutive game streak alive at nine in a row
• Durso recorded 11 saves in the win
// HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bearcats won the opening draw control, but were unable to score with UConn racing the other way and Caitlin Leary scoring her first of six on the day for the visitors for a 1-0 score at 28:07. From there, however, the first half of play was vastly different as the Bearcats dominated possession and scored seven in a row to close out the half with a 7-1 lead. Borzillo got the scoring started before Gianna Napoletano and Nause added to the lead. Then, Borzillo scored her second before Sam Mlkvy got on the board and Nause tallied her second. Borzillo collected her hat trick at 8:30 to close out the first half scoring.
The second half was quite the opposite from the first. Donovan scored her goal at 27:33 to make it eight in a row for UC and an 8-1 lead for the hosts, but UConn started chipping away at the lead as the Huskies scored three in a row to make it 9-4 at the 17:41 mark. Alyssa Adams scored to halt a three-goal run for the visitors with Leary scoring before Jayde Sains nabbed a goal to make it 11-5 at 8:18. From there, the Huskies would go on to score the final four goals of the game, including three more form Leary, but it was not enough as UC was able to hang on for the win.
// FIRST
The Bearcats recorded several milestones today, including their first win in AAC play, the first win by any school in the AAC (the UC-UConn game finished ahead of Florida at Temple) and the first time UC has won its conference opener in a season. When it comes to opening play in a new conference, the Bearcats are now 1-1 all time and exacted some revenge today as they not only defeated UConn for the first time (1-10 now), they downed the Huskies after the Bearcats lost on the road in 2009, 11-9, at UConn in UC's first game as a member of the Big East.
// GOING LOW
Today's nine goals allowed marked the fewest conceded to a conference opponent in a game played at Gettler Stadium and the first time UC has not allowed double-digit goals to a conference foe at home since April 22, 2017, a 10-9 win over Vanderbilt at Sheakley Athletic Center. All told, the Bearcats have held a conference opponent to nine or fewer goals in a game 10 times.
// MIGHTY MONICA
Borzillo continued her solid play as she scored three goals and added one assist while causing a team-high five turnovers and collection a team-high six ground balls. The junior has been tough to beat as of late as she scored a hat trick in each of the last three games, has seven hat tricks for the year (in 11 games) and has scored at least two points in every game for UC so far this year. She currently leads the team with 36 goals and 27 assists for 63 points, marking the third time in her career she scored 60+ points in a season, all three of which are the best in program history.
// KYLIE KEEPS COMING
Nause has not showed signs of slowing down as she recorded three goals today to keep her hat trick streak going at six in a row. Nause, the reigning AAC Freshman of the Week, scored twice in the first half before adding her third at the start of the second half of play. She now has 22 goals on the year with 20 coming in her last six games. She also is the current scoring leader among freshman in the AAC.
// HAT TRICKS UPDATE
Although the team broke the record last game, the Bearcats continued to pile on the hat tricks record as UC players have recorded 27 this year, three more than any other season with six regular season games to go. For their careers, Borzillo now has 20, the second-most in UC history (30, Laura Simanski, 2009-12) while Nause moved into the Top 10 with six for her career.
// CAUSING PROBLEMS
The Bearcats caused 15 turnovers on the day with nine different players adding to the total. Borzillo led the way five while Nause and Alexandra Fess each registered two. Durso, along with her 11 saves, added a caused turnover by picking off a pass from behind the cage, to go along with three ground balls.
// NEXT UP
The Bearcats return to action Tuesday at noon with Butler coming to town.
// 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 improved to 6-5 overall and 1-0 in AAC play while UConn fell to 2-9 overall and 0-1 in league action
• The win marked the first time the Bearcats have won their first conference game of a season
• The Bearcats also picked up their first win in the series with UConn, halting the Huskies' 10-game winning streak
• UC also is 1-1 all-time against UConn in the Bearcats' first game in a new conference after falling to the host Huskies, ironically enough, 11-9, in 2009 when the Bearcats played their first game as members of the Big East
• The Bearcats are 6-1 at home this year, breaking the record for home wins in a season (5 in 2013 and 2018)
• Today marked the 10th time UC has allowed nine or fewer goals to a conference foe and the lowest total in a conference game at Gettler Stadium while also ranking as the eighth-lowest total allowed in a conference game as well
• The Bearcats caused 15 turnovers, tying for the sixth-highest amount in a single game in program history
• Borzillo and Nause brought UC's single-season record for individual hat tricks to 27 this year
• Borzillo bagged her 20th career hat trick while adding one assist, which keeps her school record of consecutive games in a row with at least one assist going at 12 games
• Nause recorded her sixth hat trick in a row and now has 22 goals on the year with 20 coming in those last six contests
• Amanda Donovan scored one goal to keep her consecutive game streak alive at nine in a row
• Durso recorded 11 saves in the win
// HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bearcats won the opening draw control, but were unable to score with UConn racing the other way and Caitlin Leary scoring her first of six on the day for the visitors for a 1-0 score at 28:07. From there, however, the first half of play was vastly different as the Bearcats dominated possession and scored seven in a row to close out the half with a 7-1 lead. Borzillo got the scoring started before Gianna Napoletano and Nause added to the lead. Then, Borzillo scored her second before Sam Mlkvy got on the board and Nause tallied her second. Borzillo collected her hat trick at 8:30 to close out the first half scoring.
The second half was quite the opposite from the first. Donovan scored her goal at 27:33 to make it eight in a row for UC and an 8-1 lead for the hosts, but UConn started chipping away at the lead as the Huskies scored three in a row to make it 9-4 at the 17:41 mark. Alyssa Adams scored to halt a three-goal run for the visitors with Leary scoring before Jayde Sains nabbed a goal to make it 11-5 at 8:18. From there, the Huskies would go on to score the final four goals of the game, including three more form Leary, but it was not enough as UC was able to hang on for the win.
// FIRST
The Bearcats recorded several milestones today, including their first win in AAC play, the first win by any school in the AAC (the UC-UConn game finished ahead of Florida at Temple) and the first time UC has won its conference opener in a season. When it comes to opening play in a new conference, the Bearcats are now 1-1 all time and exacted some revenge today as they not only defeated UConn for the first time (1-10 now), they downed the Huskies after the Bearcats lost on the road in 2009, 11-9, at UConn in UC's first game as a member of the Big East.
// GOING LOW
Today's nine goals allowed marked the fewest conceded to a conference opponent in a game played at Gettler Stadium and the first time UC has not allowed double-digit goals to a conference foe at home since April 22, 2017, a 10-9 win over Vanderbilt at Sheakley Athletic Center. All told, the Bearcats have held a conference opponent to nine or fewer goals in a game 10 times.
// MIGHTY MONICA
Borzillo continued her solid play as she scored three goals and added one assist while causing a team-high five turnovers and collection a team-high six ground balls. The junior has been tough to beat as of late as she scored a hat trick in each of the last three games, has seven hat tricks for the year (in 11 games) and has scored at least two points in every game for UC so far this year. She currently leads the team with 36 goals and 27 assists for 63 points, marking the third time in her career she scored 60+ points in a season, all three of which are the best in program history.
// KYLIE KEEPS COMING
Nause has not showed signs of slowing down as she recorded three goals today to keep her hat trick streak going at six in a row. Nause, the reigning AAC Freshman of the Week, scored twice in the first half before adding her third at the start of the second half of play. She now has 22 goals on the year with 20 coming in her last six games. She also is the current scoring leader among freshman in the AAC.
// HAT TRICKS UPDATE
Although the team broke the record last game, the Bearcats continued to pile on the hat tricks record as UC players have recorded 27 this year, three more than any other season with six regular season games to go. For their careers, Borzillo now has 20, the second-most in UC history (30, Laura Simanski, 2009-12) while Nause moved into the Top 10 with six for her career.
// CAUSING PROBLEMS
The Bearcats caused 15 turnovers on the day with nine different players adding to the total. Borzillo led the way five while Nause and Alexandra Fess each registered two. Durso, along with her 11 saves, added a caused turnover by picking off a pass from behind the cage, to go along with three ground balls.
// NEXT UP
The Bearcats return to action Tuesday at noon with Butler coming to town.
// 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.