Tickets// THE OPENING DRAW
The University of Cincinnati lacrosse team, winners of five in a row, will look to keep its winning ways rolling as the Bearcats are set to play host to Temple Saturday at noon at Gettler Stadium in an American Athletic Conference game. The Bearcats (8-5, 2-0 AAC) are currently tied atop the AAC standings with #17 Florida and will look to remain perfect in the newly formed league when the Owls (4-8, 1-1 AAC) come 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 (@GinaOliverUC) also can be followed on Twitter.
// DRESS CODE: WEAR WHITE!
Fans are encouraged to join with the Bearcats in wearing WHITE for Sunday's game against Temple.
// 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.
// WELCOME BACK!
This weekend, several alumni will be back on campus and will be recognized at halftime of the game. The list of returning Bearcats includes (at this time): Megan Bell Neal, Bridget Cleary, Kelsey Conway, Courtney Curtis, Lauren Hudson, Megan Knoop, Abby Lord, Jillian Magnotta and Schuyler Nissen.
// QUICK SHOTS
• Cincinnati enters the game with an 8-5 overall record and stands 2-0 in the American
• The Bearcats have won 5 in a row, the second-longest streak in program history, after winning their first road game of the year last week at ECU
• UC is off to its best start in conference play in program history at 2-0, tied for first place with #17 Florida
• The two league wins ties a program season record while the one road win in conference also ties a record
• UC has held its last four foes to 9 or fewer goals, a record for the program
• The Bearcats held ECU to 5 goals, the fewest allowed in two years (W, 21-3, vs. Butler, 4/1/17)
• Kylie Nause was named the AAC Freshman of the Week for the 5th time this season and Sam Mlkvy was named to the Honor Roll following UC's 2-0 week
// A WIN SATURDAY WOULD MEAN...
• Setting the single-season record for wins at 9 (currently tied with the 2018 team with 8 wins)
• Setting the single-season record for conference wins at 3 (currently tied with the 2017 team with 2 wins)
• Tying a program record for home conference wins in a season with 2 (record is 2 from the 2017 season)
• Tying the longest winning streak in program history (six in a row last year is the record)
• Secure the first win over Temple in program history (0-5 all-time against the Owls)
• Guarantee a regular season winning record for first time in program history (8-9 in 2018 was the closest)
// SCOUTING: TEMPLE
The Owls enter the contest with a 4-8 overall record and stand 1-1 in the American after defeating UConn on the road, 17-13, last weekend. That win also snapped a four-game skid for Temple. Maddie Gebert, last week's AAC Attacker of the Week, leads the way for the Owls with 26 points on 24 goals and two assists while four of her teammates have also scored 10+ goals on the year, including Olivia Thompson, who has 21. Defensively, Maryn Lowell has seen most of the action for Temple as she holds a 13.00 goals against average and a .378 save percentage after allowing 107 goals and saving 65 shots on the year.
// SERIES HISTORY: BEARCATS vs. OWLS
Saturday will mark the sixth meeting in the series with Temple holding a 5-0 lead all-time, including a 2-0 lead when the game is played in Cincinnati. Last year, the Bearcats nearly grabbed their first win over the Owls, falling in double overtime in Philadelphia, 9-8. Two years ago, the last time the two sides met in the Queen City, saw Temple take an 11-9 win.
// QUICK RECAP: TWO MORE WINS
• Cincinnati won both its games last week, downing visiting Butler, 19-6, before winning, 14-5, at ECU
• Borzillo led the way with 12 points on seven goals and five assists, including back-to-back hat tricks
• UC held its foes to 9 or fewer goals for the third and fourth game in a row, respectively
• UC also limited ECU to just 5 goals, the fewest allowed by a UC team in over two years
// TWO MORE AWARDS
Following their play last week, Kylie Nause was named the AAC Freshman of the Week for the fifth time (fourth week in a row) while Sam Mlkvy was selected to the weekly Honor Roll for the second time this year.
// RUNNING TOTAL
With those two awards, the Bearcats have earned a total of 16 conference honors this year. That list includes three attacker (Borzillo), one midfield (Adams), one defensive (Durso), five freshman (Nause) and six Honor Rolls (Gysin 2x, Adams, Borzillo and Mlkvy 2x).
// NAUSE KEEPS ROLLING
Although she saw her hat trick streak come to an end at seven in a row, Nause continued to find the back of the cage last week as she scored four goals (2-of-2 on free-position shots) against Butler before scoring three points on two goals and one assist at ECU, giving her seven points on six goals and one assist. Nause currently ranks fourth overall in goals in the AAC with 2.15 per contest and tied for 10th in points with 2.38.
// HISTORICAL AWARD
With her fifth selection as the AAC Freshman of the Week, Nause has now tied Monica Borzillo for the program's record for most rookie awards earned in a season. Borzillo earned the Big East's rookie honor five timed during the 2017 season. With three more weeks remaining in the regular season, Nause could break the record and hold the mark on her own.
// TOP OF HER CLASS
Following Saturday's game at ECU, Nause has now scored 28 goals and added three assists for 31 points. She continues to lead all rookies in the AAC in scoring with 28 goals and 31 points. In fact, her goal and point totals are 10 and 5, respectively, ahead of the next freshman in the league. She is currently third on the team in points with 31 and second in goals with 28.
// MLKVY IN CONTROL
Mlkvy has been a workhorse for the Bearcats as she scored three goals and added one assist for four points in both games played last week (vs. Butler, at ECU). On top of that, Mlkvy secured 11 draw controls (6 vs. Butler and 5 at ECU) while setting up the Bearcats for other draws won as UC secured 27-of-46 draws in the two games (57%). Mlkvy currently ranks second in the AAC in both draw controls (5.00) and caused turnovers (2.15) and rose to the #2 position in season draw controls at UC with 65, making her the first player in Bearcats history to have 60+ draws in multiple seasons.
// BORZILLO CLIMBING RANKS
Monica Borzillo continues to be one of the top point producers in the AAC and for UC as she leads the league in both points per game (5.77) and assists per game (2.46) while sitting second in goals per game (3.31). For the season, Borzillo has 75 points on 43 goals and 32 assists. Her point total surpassed her own school record of 73 points set in 2017 while her goal total leaves her four shy of Laura Simanski (47 in 2009) and two assists shy of her own record for assists at 34 in 2017. In fact, Borzillo currently ranks #1, #2 and #3 in single-season points at UC, #1, #2 and tied for #3 in season assists and is #2, #3 and tied for #4 in season goals. In the ECU game, she scored the eventual game-winner, giving her three for the year, which ties Kylie Ramsland (2013) for the record.
// STREAKING
The Bearcats are currently on a five-game winning streak, which ties for the second-longest in program history. With a win Saturday over Temple, the Bearcats would tie the program record for longest winning streak with the 2018 squad that won six in a row as well.
// ANOTHER FIRST WIN
Over the weekend, the Bearcats defeated ECU on the road, a victory that captured several firsts. The win was UC's first on the road this year after dropping their first four of the 2019 season. The win also is its first road win in AAC play and ties the program record for road conference victories in a season after UC defeated Butler last year.
// CHASING WINS
The Bearcats sit at 8-5 heading into this weekend's game with Temple and are in a tie with the 2018 squad for the most wins in program history. With a win Saturday, the 2019 team would hold the record all on its own and would still have three regular season games remaining to build upon the record.
// MOST WINS
The seven wins at home this year also adds a bit of history as the Bearcats have shattered the home wins record in a season that was previously five. Combined with those five wins from 2018, 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.
// DURSO WINS
Speaking of wins, Giuliana Durso holds an 8-3 record this year in goal, tying her own record for wins in a season that she set last year. Prior to last year, the most wins a goalie had recorded in a single season at UC was Katherine Russo, who was 7-7 in the 2009 campaign.
// LOOKING FOR MORE
With an 8-5 record, a win Saturday (or in any of the final four regular season games of 2019) would secure the Bearcats' first winning season (above .500) in program history. The closest UC has come was last year with an 8-9 record (.471). Should UC win Saturday, it also would break the program record for conference wins in a season (currently tied with the 2017 team with two wins) and also would tie the program record for home conference wins in a season (with 2017 again).
// 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 14.46 goals per game in 2019 and have scored 18 or more goals in a game five 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.
// BICENTENNI-GOAL
This year, the University is celebrating its bicentennial after being founded in 1819. Oddly enough, the Bearcats entered the season with 1,626 goals scored in their history, leaving them 193 goals away from scoring 1,819 goals. Fittingly, the team is rapidly approaching that mark after scoring their 1,800th goal Tuesday against Butler and 14 more against ECU. Heading into the game with Temple, the Bearcats will need just five goals to score the 1,819th goal in program history.
// NOT GETTING GOALS
While the Bearcats have been scoring well this year, their opponents have been limited, especially lately as the Bearcats have allowed nine or fewer goals to be scored in each of the last four games. With five such games this year, the 2019 squad ranks tied for second for the most nine or fewer goals scored games in a season with the 2013 team while the eight recorded by the 2016 team is the record. Additionally, the five goals UC allowed to ECU Saturday were the fewest allowed this year and the lowest total in the past two years after winning 21-3 over Butler April 1, 2017. In fact, the five goals allowed is tied for the eighth-lowest in a game for UC with four games of allowing three, three games of allowing four and six other games allowing five in program history.
PREVIOUSLY NOTED
// BACK-TO-BACK SCORING
Two weeks ago, 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 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.
// 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 UC 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.
// 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. The semifinal games will be played at 4:30 p.m. and 45 minutes after the first game concludes with the final taking place Saturday at 1 p.m.
// 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.
// 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
Cincinnati will return to action next Saturday for its final home game of the 2019 regular season as the Commodores of Vanderbilt come to town for a 1 p.m. game at Gettler Stadium. The program will honor its four seniors - Maria Collacchi, Amanda Donovan, Giuliana Durso and Jayde Sains - ahead of the game with its annual Senior Day festivities.
The University of Cincinnati lacrosse team, winners of five in a row, will look to keep its winning ways rolling as the Bearcats are set to play host to Temple Saturday at noon at Gettler Stadium in an American Athletic Conference game. The Bearcats (8-5, 2-0 AAC) are currently tied atop the AAC standings with #17 Florida and will look to remain perfect in the newly formed league when the Owls (4-8, 1-1 AAC) come 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 (@GinaOliverUC) also can be followed on Twitter.
// DRESS CODE: WEAR WHITE!
Fans are encouraged to join with the Bearcats in wearing WHITE for Sunday's game against Temple.
// 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.
// WELCOME BACK!
This weekend, several alumni will be back on campus and will be recognized at halftime of the game. The list of returning Bearcats includes (at this time): Megan Bell Neal, Bridget Cleary, Kelsey Conway, Courtney Curtis, Lauren Hudson, Megan Knoop, Abby Lord, Jillian Magnotta and Schuyler Nissen.
// QUICK SHOTS
• Cincinnati enters the game with an 8-5 overall record and stands 2-0 in the American
• The Bearcats have won 5 in a row, the second-longest streak in program history, after winning their first road game of the year last week at ECU
• UC is off to its best start in conference play in program history at 2-0, tied for first place with #17 Florida
• The two league wins ties a program season record while the one road win in conference also ties a record
• UC has held its last four foes to 9 or fewer goals, a record for the program
• The Bearcats held ECU to 5 goals, the fewest allowed in two years (W, 21-3, vs. Butler, 4/1/17)
• Kylie Nause was named the AAC Freshman of the Week for the 5th time this season and Sam Mlkvy was named to the Honor Roll following UC's 2-0 week
// A WIN SATURDAY WOULD MEAN...
• Setting the single-season record for wins at 9 (currently tied with the 2018 team with 8 wins)
• Setting the single-season record for conference wins at 3 (currently tied with the 2017 team with 2 wins)
• Tying a program record for home conference wins in a season with 2 (record is 2 from the 2017 season)
• Tying the longest winning streak in program history (six in a row last year is the record)
• Secure the first win over Temple in program history (0-5 all-time against the Owls)
• Guarantee a regular season winning record for first time in program history (8-9 in 2018 was the closest)
// SCOUTING: TEMPLE
The Owls enter the contest with a 4-8 overall record and stand 1-1 in the American after defeating UConn on the road, 17-13, last weekend. That win also snapped a four-game skid for Temple. Maddie Gebert, last week's AAC Attacker of the Week, leads the way for the Owls with 26 points on 24 goals and two assists while four of her teammates have also scored 10+ goals on the year, including Olivia Thompson, who has 21. Defensively, Maryn Lowell has seen most of the action for Temple as she holds a 13.00 goals against average and a .378 save percentage after allowing 107 goals and saving 65 shots on the year.
// SERIES HISTORY: BEARCATS vs. OWLS
Saturday will mark the sixth meeting in the series with Temple holding a 5-0 lead all-time, including a 2-0 lead when the game is played in Cincinnati. Last year, the Bearcats nearly grabbed their first win over the Owls, falling in double overtime in Philadelphia, 9-8. Two years ago, the last time the two sides met in the Queen City, saw Temple take an 11-9 win.
// QUICK RECAP: TWO MORE WINS
• Cincinnati won both its games last week, downing visiting Butler, 19-6, before winning, 14-5, at ECU
• Borzillo led the way with 12 points on seven goals and five assists, including back-to-back hat tricks
• UC held its foes to 9 or fewer goals for the third and fourth game in a row, respectively
• UC also limited ECU to just 5 goals, the fewest allowed by a UC team in over two years
// TWO MORE AWARDS
Following their play last week, Kylie Nause was named the AAC Freshman of the Week for the fifth time (fourth week in a row) while Sam Mlkvy was selected to the weekly Honor Roll for the second time this year.
// RUNNING TOTAL
With those two awards, the Bearcats have earned a total of 16 conference honors this year. That list includes three attacker (Borzillo), one midfield (Adams), one defensive (Durso), five freshman (Nause) and six Honor Rolls (Gysin 2x, Adams, Borzillo and Mlkvy 2x).
// NAUSE KEEPS ROLLING
Although she saw her hat trick streak come to an end at seven in a row, Nause continued to find the back of the cage last week as she scored four goals (2-of-2 on free-position shots) against Butler before scoring three points on two goals and one assist at ECU, giving her seven points on six goals and one assist. Nause currently ranks fourth overall in goals in the AAC with 2.15 per contest and tied for 10th in points with 2.38.
// HISTORICAL AWARD
With her fifth selection as the AAC Freshman of the Week, Nause has now tied Monica Borzillo for the program's record for most rookie awards earned in a season. Borzillo earned the Big East's rookie honor five timed during the 2017 season. With three more weeks remaining in the regular season, Nause could break the record and hold the mark on her own.
// TOP OF HER CLASS
Following Saturday's game at ECU, Nause has now scored 28 goals and added three assists for 31 points. She continues to lead all rookies in the AAC in scoring with 28 goals and 31 points. In fact, her goal and point totals are 10 and 5, respectively, ahead of the next freshman in the league. She is currently third on the team in points with 31 and second in goals with 28.
// MLKVY IN CONTROL
Mlkvy has been a workhorse for the Bearcats as she scored three goals and added one assist for four points in both games played last week (vs. Butler, at ECU). On top of that, Mlkvy secured 11 draw controls (6 vs. Butler and 5 at ECU) while setting up the Bearcats for other draws won as UC secured 27-of-46 draws in the two games (57%). Mlkvy currently ranks second in the AAC in both draw controls (5.00) and caused turnovers (2.15) and rose to the #2 position in season draw controls at UC with 65, making her the first player in Bearcats history to have 60+ draws in multiple seasons.
// BORZILLO CLIMBING RANKS
Monica Borzillo continues to be one of the top point producers in the AAC and for UC as she leads the league in both points per game (5.77) and assists per game (2.46) while sitting second in goals per game (3.31). For the season, Borzillo has 75 points on 43 goals and 32 assists. Her point total surpassed her own school record of 73 points set in 2017 while her goal total leaves her four shy of Laura Simanski (47 in 2009) and two assists shy of her own record for assists at 34 in 2017. In fact, Borzillo currently ranks #1, #2 and #3 in single-season points at UC, #1, #2 and tied for #3 in season assists and is #2, #3 and tied for #4 in season goals. In the ECU game, she scored the eventual game-winner, giving her three for the year, which ties Kylie Ramsland (2013) for the record.
// STREAKING
The Bearcats are currently on a five-game winning streak, which ties for the second-longest in program history. With a win Saturday over Temple, the Bearcats would tie the program record for longest winning streak with the 2018 squad that won six in a row as well.
// ANOTHER FIRST WIN
Over the weekend, the Bearcats defeated ECU on the road, a victory that captured several firsts. The win was UC's first on the road this year after dropping their first four of the 2019 season. The win also is its first road win in AAC play and ties the program record for road conference victories in a season after UC defeated Butler last year.
// CHASING WINS
The Bearcats sit at 8-5 heading into this weekend's game with Temple and are in a tie with the 2018 squad for the most wins in program history. With a win Saturday, the 2019 team would hold the record all on its own and would still have three regular season games remaining to build upon the record.
// MOST WINS
The seven wins at home this year also adds a bit of history as the Bearcats have shattered the home wins record in a season that was previously five. Combined with those five wins from 2018, 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.
// DURSO WINS
Speaking of wins, Giuliana Durso holds an 8-3 record this year in goal, tying her own record for wins in a season that she set last year. Prior to last year, the most wins a goalie had recorded in a single season at UC was Katherine Russo, who was 7-7 in the 2009 campaign.
// LOOKING FOR MORE
With an 8-5 record, a win Saturday (or in any of the final four regular season games of 2019) would secure the Bearcats' first winning season (above .500) in program history. The closest UC has come was last year with an 8-9 record (.471). Should UC win Saturday, it also would break the program record for conference wins in a season (currently tied with the 2017 team with two wins) and also would tie the program record for home conference wins in a season (with 2017 again).
// 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 14.46 goals per game in 2019 and have scored 18 or more goals in a game five 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.
// BICENTENNI-GOAL
This year, the University is celebrating its bicentennial after being founded in 1819. Oddly enough, the Bearcats entered the season with 1,626 goals scored in their history, leaving them 193 goals away from scoring 1,819 goals. Fittingly, the team is rapidly approaching that mark after scoring their 1,800th goal Tuesday against Butler and 14 more against ECU. Heading into the game with Temple, the Bearcats will need just five goals to score the 1,819th goal in program history.
// NOT GETTING GOALS
While the Bearcats have been scoring well this year, their opponents have been limited, especially lately as the Bearcats have allowed nine or fewer goals to be scored in each of the last four games. With five such games this year, the 2019 squad ranks tied for second for the most nine or fewer goals scored games in a season with the 2013 team while the eight recorded by the 2016 team is the record. Additionally, the five goals UC allowed to ECU Saturday were the fewest allowed this year and the lowest total in the past two years after winning 21-3 over Butler April 1, 2017. In fact, the five goals allowed is tied for the eighth-lowest in a game for UC with four games of allowing three, three games of allowing four and six other games allowing five in program history.
PREVIOUSLY NOTED
// BACK-TO-BACK SCORING
Two weeks ago, 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 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.
// 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 UC 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.
// 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. The semifinal games will be played at 4:30 p.m. and 45 minutes after the first game concludes with the final taking place Saturday at 1 p.m.
// 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.
// 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
Cincinnati will return to action next Saturday for its final home game of the 2019 regular season as the Commodores of Vanderbilt come to town for a 1 p.m. game at Gettler Stadium. The program will honor its four seniors - Maria Collacchi, Amanda Donovan, Giuliana Durso and Jayde Sains - ahead of the game with its annual Senior Day festivities.