Tickets// THE OPENING DRAW
The University of Cincinnati lacrosse team will play its final two games of the regular season this week with the Bearcats having plenty to play for as they will first take on Stetson at 3 p.m. Thursday in DeLand, Fla., before heading to Gainesville for a noon contest Saturday at #18 Florida in a showdown of the Top 2 teams in the American Athletic Conference. The Bearcats and Hatters will meet for the Bearcats' final non-conference game of the year with UC looking to continue its program-record winning streak at eight games before facing the Gators in a crucial league game that will see the winner claim the inaugural AAC title and the top seed in next week's AAC Tournament in Cincinnati.
// 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
Both games will be streamed live online with Stetson broadcasting via ESPN+ and Florida via YouTube. Links to both streams can be found on the schedule page of GoBearcats.com and each team's respective sites.
// QUICK SHOTS
• Cincinnati enters the week with a 10-5 overall record and is tied for the AAC lead with a 4-0 mark
• The Bearcats have won a program-record seven games in a row and a record nine home games in a row
• The four wins UC has secured in conference play this year equals its total from the previous 10 years
• The field for the AAC Tournament in Cincinnati is set with seeding still needing to be set
• Saturday will see UC play at Florida with the winner claiming the AAC title and the #1 seed in the tourney
• Also Saturday, Vanderbilt will host Temple with the winner earning the #3 seed the losing team the #4
• Following last week's games, the AAC selected Monica Borzillo and Sam Mlkvy to the weekly Honor Roll
• Borzillo reached the 100 assist mark for her career over the weekend while also taking over the single-season program records in goals (49), assists (39) and points (88)
• Mlkvy recorded a hat trick and added two assists while also grabbing 10 draw controls, her second-best total this season, while reaching the 100 points and 100 ground balls club as well
• Amanda Donovan also reached the 100 club in points (102) and draw controls (100)
• Kylie Nause picked up another hat trick and now ranks among the Top 5 in several UC freshman categories as well as overall season categories through 15 collegiate games played
// TOURNAMENT FIELD IS SET
The field is set for the 2019 American Athletic Conference Lacrosse Tournament that will be played May 2 and May 4 at the Sheakley Athletic Center in Cincinnati with only the tournament seeding remaining unresolved. The Bearcats are tied with Florida for the top spot while Vanderbilt and Temple are tied for third. Oddly enough, the tied teams play one another Saturday in the regular season finale for all teams. In Gainesville, Fla., the winner of UC at UF will be crowned the inaugural AAC regular season champion with the losing team taking the #2 seed in the tournament next week. In Nashville, Tenn., the winning team finish third in the standing and earn the #3 seed while the losing team will be seeded #4.
// TICKET PUNCHED
For the first time in program history, the Bearcats will be playing in the postseason as the triumph over Temple (April 13) clinched a berth of UC in the 2019 AAC Tournament while the win over Vanderbilt (April 20) guaranteed UC would finish no lower than second. When action gets underway next week, the semifinals will be contested at 4:30 p.m. and 45 minutes following that game on May 2 with the final being held May 4 at 1 p.m. All games will be played at the Sheakley Athletic Center on the UC campus. Tickets for the event will be available at the gates only the day of the games or by calling the UC Ticket Office (1-877-CATS-TIX).
// AHEAD OF PROJECTIONS
Heading into the inaugural season of the AAC, the coaches vote had the Bearcats picked to finish fifth in the six-team league, missing out on the tournament as only the Top 4 would qualify. Flash forward to now and the Bearcats are tied atop the league standings at 4-0 and will play for their first conference title Saturday.
// SCOUTING: STETSON
The Hatters, members of the A-SUN, carry a 4-11 overall record (2-3 in conference) into the game Thursday and have dropped their last two games, splitting a four-game road swing. Offensively, Three players have tallied 50 or more points, including Shelby Lehman, who leads the way with 57 points on 20 goals and 37 assists. Marina Rotella is the leading goal scorer for the Hatters as she has found the net 41 times this year. Defensively, Kiera McCarthy has played every second of the season in goal, allowing 208 goals and stopping 136 shots for a 13.81 goals against average and a .395 save percentage.
// SERIES HISTORY: BEARCATS vs. HATTERS
Cincinnati and Stetson have met three times previously with the Bearcats holding a 2-1 lead in the series. The Hatters won the most recent meeting, 9-6, in 2016 which was played in DeLand, tying the all-time series at 1-1 when the Hatters host the game. UC had won two in a row to open the series, taking a 17-5 decision in 2014 at SU before pulling out an 11-10 overtime victory in Cincinnati during the 2015 season.
// SCOUTING: #18 FLORIDA
The Gators enter the week with a 10-6 overall record and are tied with the Bearcats for the top spot in the AAC standings with a 4-0 record. Winners of seven in a row, the Gators have played eight nationally ranked teams this year, holding a 2-6 mark in those games. Offensively, two players have accumulated over 60 points this year, including Lindsey Ronbeck, who has 81 points 67 goals and 14 assists, and Shannon Kavanagh, who has 67 points on 51 goals and 16 assists. Defensively, Haley Hicklen has seen most of the action in the cage as she has allowed 171 goals and stopped 149 shots to hold an 11.00 goals against average and a .466 save percentage this year.
// SERIES HISTORY: BEARCATS vs. GATORS
Florida leads the all-time series, 5-0, after taking last year's meeting, 20-4, in Cincinnati. The Gators also hold a 3-0 lead when the series is played in Gainesville, winning the last meeting (2017), 19-2.
// PLAY TWO
This week's trip to Florida will mark the second time UC has played at Stetson before playing at Florida in the same week. The previous instance came in 2014 with UC winning, 17-5, over the Hatters before falling, 19-6, to the #7 Gators.
// QUICK RECAP: UC STAYS PERFECT IN AAC PLAY
• The Bearcats defeated visiting Vanderbilt, 18-15, on Senior Day in Cincinnati Saturday afternoon
• Four players scored at least four points, including Borzillo (5), Donovan (5), Mlkvy (4) and Nause (4) with last three each recording hat tricks as well
• Nine different players scored at least one goal for UC, which scored 18+ goals for the 6th time this year
• Giuliana Durso picked up her 10th win of the year and, like the team, added to the single-season record for wins in a campaign
• UC never trailed in the game and was tied twice (1-1 and 5-5) before a six-goal run opened things up
// TWO MORE AWARDS
Following their play last week, both Borzillo and Mlkvy earned spots on the AAC Weekly Honor Roll to mark the second week in a row both were recognized by the league for their play.
// RUNNING TOTAL
With those two awards, the Bearcats have earned a total of 20 conference honors this year. That list includes three attacker (Borzillo), two midfield (Alyssa Adams & Mlkvy), one defensive (Giuliana Durso), five freshman (Kylie Nause) and nine Honor Rolls (Gysin 2x, Adams, Borzillo 3x and Mlkvy 3x).
// BORZILLO BREAKING RECORDS
Borzillo continued her point-collecting ways last week as she accounted for five points, including two goals and three assists, in UC's 18-15 win over Vanderbilt, setting up a show down with #18 Florida for what would be UC's first conference title. Borzillo continues to lead the league in points (5.87) and assists (2.60) while sitting second in goals (3.27) and reached several milestones in the win as she now has 100 career assists to her credit along with single-season records in goals (47), assists (39), points (88) and shots (108). She also tied a school record for consecutive games with at least one point tallied with her 32nd in a row. Borzillo enters this week's games 2nd nationally in points (just .13 off the national lead), 9th in assists, 23rd in points and also ranks 19th in caused turnovers (2.00).
// MLKVY DRAWING PRAISE
Last week's AAC Midfielder of the Week, Mlkvy had another impressive showing as she recorded four points on three goals and one assist while adding 10 draw controls and two caused turnovers. Her work in draw controls not only gave her 81 for the season (bettering her own school record), but also tied for the fourth-most in a single game in UC history, adding her name to the Top 4 list for the second time this year after collecting 11 in the season opener with Ohio State. With her numbers against Vanderbilt, Mlkvy reached a pair of century marks for her career as she now has 100 career points (76-24) and 101 career ground balls.
// BACK-TO-BACK
With the win over Vanderbilt, the Bearcats not only remained undefeated in league action, but also recorded their first back-to-back home wins over a conference opponent in program history. The last time the Bearcats and Commodores played in Cincinnati was at the end of the 2017 season as members of the Big East with UC taking a 10-9 win on a last-second goal. UC defeated ECU for the second year a row earlier this year, but last year's tilt was not a conference game as the Pirates were independents in their first varsity season.
// STREAKING • ALL
With their win over Vanderbilt Saturday, the Bearcats extended their current winning streak to seven in a row. Heading into the game, the 2019 squad was tied with the 2018 team for the longest win streak in program history after last year's team won six in a row.
// STREAKING • HOME
The overall winning streak is not the only streaking the Bearcats have done this year. With the win over the Commodores, the Bearcats have now won nine in a row at home following a season-opening loss to Ohio State. Those nine wins in a row at home stand as the longest streak in a single season in UC history and also takes over the longest home winning streak in program history that stood at eight after the 2013 team won its final five and the 2014 squad won its first three.
// HOME SWEET HOME
With a 9-1 home record, UC has easily smashed its previous record for home wins in a season as three teams held the record with five, including last year's squad. In fact, the Bearcats' defeat of Vanderbilt Saturday gave UC nine wins at home this season, which equals the amount of victories it had accumulated in the previous two years after going 4-3 in 2017 and 5-5 last year.
// ANOTHER FIRST WIN
With the win over Temple, the Bearcats have recorded three first wins in a series this year. First, UC evened its all-time record with San Diego State at 1-1 before downing UConn for the first time in 11 meetings (1-10). Last weekend, UC moved to 1-6 against the Owls with the 12-9 victory. A win Saturday at Florida would be the first in program history over the Gators.
// DOUBLE DIGITS
The Bearcats are 10-5 on the year, marking the first time they have reached double digits in victories in a season. Each of the last three wins have been records for UC as the win at ECU tied the single-season record for wins in a year (8) with the 2018 team; the win over Temple broke the record for wins in a year (9); and the win over Vanderbilt put UC into double figures for the first time ever (10).
// LOCKED IN
Sitting at 10-5 with two games to go in the regular season, the Bearcats have locked up a winning record (.500 or better) for the first time in program history. The previous best came last year when the team went 8-9 to post a .471 winning percentage.
// RECORD WATCH: BORZILLO
Last week, Borzillo scored two goals and added three assists for five points while also taking six shots (four on goal), collecting two ground balls and two draw controls and scoring one free-position goal. With those stats, she broke single-season records for goals (49), assists (39) and points (88) while tying for the shots record (108) and sitting one off the record for shots on goal (80). For her career, she already holds the records for assists (100) and points (230) and added the shots record over the weekend (319), leaving her 23 goals shy of the all-time goals record (153, Laura Simanski), seven shy of the hat tricks record (30, Simanski) and five shy of the shots on goal record (246, Simanski).
// CENTURY CLUB
Borzillo reaching 100 career assists was not the only milestone met over the weekend as several more Bearcats hit 100 in various categories for their careers. Both Amanda Donovan (102) and Sam Mlkvy (100) have now accumulated 100 or more points in their careers; Borzillo (102), Mlkvy (101) and Morgan Dukes (100) all have hit the century mark in ground balls; and Donovan met the mark in draw controls (100).
// DOWN GO MORE RECORDS
Following the win over Vanderbilt, the statistics accumulated by the Bearcats as a team broke seven season records, including the three main offensive categories. UC has scored 218 goals (201), tallied 91 assists (86), recorded 299 points (287), fired 508 shots (504), taken 372 shots on goal (371), scored 10 game-winning goals (nine) and caused 194 turnovers (187). All seven of those records were previously set last year.
// DURSO WINS
With the team adding wins, so does goalie Giuliana Durso, who holds a 10-3 record this year. With the 10 victories, she has now broken the single-season victories record for the second year in a row after her eight wins last year became the new standard. On a career level, Durso has tallied 18 wins, tying her with Meg Gulmi, who won 18 during her time at UC (2013-16).
// TOP OF HER CLASS
Rookie Kylie Nause is making a compelling case for the league's top freshman award as she recorded her eighth hat trick of the season Saturday with three goals and one assist against Vanderbilt. For the year, she now has 32 goals and four assists for 36 points, which places her at the top of the leaderboard among all AAC freshman for goals scored and points tallied. In fact, heading into the final week of the regular season, Nause has nearly doubled the next freshman in goals scored (18, Camryn Pennypacker of ECU) and is just ahead of Lia Laprice (UConn) in points as the Huskies rookie has 32 (16-16).
// ROOKIE RANKINGS
Through her first 15 games this year, Nause has climbed her way up the UC freshman Top 10 lists. On those lists, she is currently third in goals (32), shots (71) and shots on goal (54) with only Laura Simanski (2009) and Monica Borzillo (2017), the Top 2 scorers in program history, ahead of her. Nause could take one record for own this year as she is currently in a four-way tie for game-winning goals by a freshman with two. Additionally, Nause has a chance at overtaking a few of the greats in hat tricks as well as her eight this year rank tied for second among freshmen behind Simanski's 10 in 2009 and ranks tied for fourth overall in a single season at UC with Simanski leading the way with 11 in the 2010 season and both Borzillo (this year) and Simanski (2009) tying for second currently with 10.
// "BEARCATS GOAL!"
That phrase, "Bearcats Goal!" has been said many times this year - 218 times in fact - as UC has found the back of the cage at its best clip in program history. Including the 18 goals scored against Vanderbilt, the Bearcats have scored 17 or more goals six times this year with UC tallying 18 or more in five games. For a little perspective, the program scored 17+ 15 times in the previous 11 years, 18+ seven times and 19+ five times with this year's team scoring those totals six, five and four times, respectively. This year, UC also tied the single-game scoring record twice with 22 goals against both Marquette and Gardner-Webb. Prior to those to games, UC had scored 22 goals once and 20 or more goals in a game five times.
// 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 the four games prior to the Vanderbilt clash. 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 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.
// FILLING THE STAT SHEET
Several Bearcats are doing their part this year to rewrite the single-season Top 10 ledgers in ground balls, draw controls and caused turnovers. So far this year, Morgan Dukes has 51 ground balls, which is third all-time and just 10 from the single-season record while Amanda Donovan (44) and Monica Borzillo (43) are eighth and ninth (tie), respectively. Sam Mlkvy has destroyed the draw controls record with her 81 this year sitting 11 more than her record set last year while Alyssa Adams' 57 controls ranks her fifth and leaves her just three shy of becoming just the third UC player to record 60+ in a year. Four players are currently in the Top 10 of the caused turnovers Top 10 with Monica Borzillo (30), Donovan (27), Alexandra Fess (23) and Dukes (22) ranking third, fifth, seventh (tie) and ninth (tie), respectively, with at least three games left to play.
PREVIOUSLY NOTED
// BICENTENNI-GOAL
Borzillo scored four times last week with her first goal tying the score at 5-5 in the first half. That goal not only helped UC come back from an early 4-0 deficit to Temple, it also became the 1,819th goal scored in program history or, as we are calling it, the 'bicentenni-goal'. This year, the University is celebrating its bicentennial after being founded in 1819 and the Bearcats helped celebrate that by scoring their 1,819th goal this season.
// 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.
// BACK-TO-BACK SCORING
Near the end of March, 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.
// 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
This week's trip to Florida marks the final two games of the regular season. Next, the Bearcats will return home to play host to the 2019 AAC Tournament that will take place at the Sheakley Athletics Center May 2 and May 4. With Saturday's games being used to determine tournament seeding, the complete schedule of games will be released Sunday afternoon.
The University of Cincinnati lacrosse team will play its final two games of the regular season this week with the Bearcats having plenty to play for as they will first take on Stetson at 3 p.m. Thursday in DeLand, Fla., before heading to Gainesville for a noon contest Saturday at #18 Florida in a showdown of the Top 2 teams in the American Athletic Conference. The Bearcats and Hatters will meet for the Bearcats' final non-conference game of the year with UC looking to continue its program-record winning streak at eight games before facing the Gators in a crucial league game that will see the winner claim the inaugural AAC title and the top seed in next week's AAC Tournament in Cincinnati.
// 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
Both games will be streamed live online with Stetson broadcasting via ESPN+ and Florida via YouTube. Links to both streams can be found on the schedule page of GoBearcats.com and each team's respective sites.
// QUICK SHOTS
• Cincinnati enters the week with a 10-5 overall record and is tied for the AAC lead with a 4-0 mark
• The Bearcats have won a program-record seven games in a row and a record nine home games in a row
• The four wins UC has secured in conference play this year equals its total from the previous 10 years
• The field for the AAC Tournament in Cincinnati is set with seeding still needing to be set
• Saturday will see UC play at Florida with the winner claiming the AAC title and the #1 seed in the tourney
• Also Saturday, Vanderbilt will host Temple with the winner earning the #3 seed the losing team the #4
• Following last week's games, the AAC selected Monica Borzillo and Sam Mlkvy to the weekly Honor Roll
• Borzillo reached the 100 assist mark for her career over the weekend while also taking over the single-season program records in goals (49), assists (39) and points (88)
• Mlkvy recorded a hat trick and added two assists while also grabbing 10 draw controls, her second-best total this season, while reaching the 100 points and 100 ground balls club as well
• Amanda Donovan also reached the 100 club in points (102) and draw controls (100)
• Kylie Nause picked up another hat trick and now ranks among the Top 5 in several UC freshman categories as well as overall season categories through 15 collegiate games played
// TOURNAMENT FIELD IS SET
The field is set for the 2019 American Athletic Conference Lacrosse Tournament that will be played May 2 and May 4 at the Sheakley Athletic Center in Cincinnati with only the tournament seeding remaining unresolved. The Bearcats are tied with Florida for the top spot while Vanderbilt and Temple are tied for third. Oddly enough, the tied teams play one another Saturday in the regular season finale for all teams. In Gainesville, Fla., the winner of UC at UF will be crowned the inaugural AAC regular season champion with the losing team taking the #2 seed in the tournament next week. In Nashville, Tenn., the winning team finish third in the standing and earn the #3 seed while the losing team will be seeded #4.
// TICKET PUNCHED
For the first time in program history, the Bearcats will be playing in the postseason as the triumph over Temple (April 13) clinched a berth of UC in the 2019 AAC Tournament while the win over Vanderbilt (April 20) guaranteed UC would finish no lower than second. When action gets underway next week, the semifinals will be contested at 4:30 p.m. and 45 minutes following that game on May 2 with the final being held May 4 at 1 p.m. All games will be played at the Sheakley Athletic Center on the UC campus. Tickets for the event will be available at the gates only the day of the games or by calling the UC Ticket Office (1-877-CATS-TIX).
// AHEAD OF PROJECTIONS
Heading into the inaugural season of the AAC, the coaches vote had the Bearcats picked to finish fifth in the six-team league, missing out on the tournament as only the Top 4 would qualify. Flash forward to now and the Bearcats are tied atop the league standings at 4-0 and will play for their first conference title Saturday.
// SCOUTING: STETSON
The Hatters, members of the A-SUN, carry a 4-11 overall record (2-3 in conference) into the game Thursday and have dropped their last two games, splitting a four-game road swing. Offensively, Three players have tallied 50 or more points, including Shelby Lehman, who leads the way with 57 points on 20 goals and 37 assists. Marina Rotella is the leading goal scorer for the Hatters as she has found the net 41 times this year. Defensively, Kiera McCarthy has played every second of the season in goal, allowing 208 goals and stopping 136 shots for a 13.81 goals against average and a .395 save percentage.
// SERIES HISTORY: BEARCATS vs. HATTERS
Cincinnati and Stetson have met three times previously with the Bearcats holding a 2-1 lead in the series. The Hatters won the most recent meeting, 9-6, in 2016 which was played in DeLand, tying the all-time series at 1-1 when the Hatters host the game. UC had won two in a row to open the series, taking a 17-5 decision in 2014 at SU before pulling out an 11-10 overtime victory in Cincinnati during the 2015 season.
// SCOUTING: #18 FLORIDA
The Gators enter the week with a 10-6 overall record and are tied with the Bearcats for the top spot in the AAC standings with a 4-0 record. Winners of seven in a row, the Gators have played eight nationally ranked teams this year, holding a 2-6 mark in those games. Offensively, two players have accumulated over 60 points this year, including Lindsey Ronbeck, who has 81 points 67 goals and 14 assists, and Shannon Kavanagh, who has 67 points on 51 goals and 16 assists. Defensively, Haley Hicklen has seen most of the action in the cage as she has allowed 171 goals and stopped 149 shots to hold an 11.00 goals against average and a .466 save percentage this year.
// SERIES HISTORY: BEARCATS vs. GATORS
Florida leads the all-time series, 5-0, after taking last year's meeting, 20-4, in Cincinnati. The Gators also hold a 3-0 lead when the series is played in Gainesville, winning the last meeting (2017), 19-2.
// PLAY TWO
This week's trip to Florida will mark the second time UC has played at Stetson before playing at Florida in the same week. The previous instance came in 2014 with UC winning, 17-5, over the Hatters before falling, 19-6, to the #7 Gators.
// QUICK RECAP: UC STAYS PERFECT IN AAC PLAY
• The Bearcats defeated visiting Vanderbilt, 18-15, on Senior Day in Cincinnati Saturday afternoon
• Four players scored at least four points, including Borzillo (5), Donovan (5), Mlkvy (4) and Nause (4) with last three each recording hat tricks as well
• Nine different players scored at least one goal for UC, which scored 18+ goals for the 6th time this year
• Giuliana Durso picked up her 10th win of the year and, like the team, added to the single-season record for wins in a campaign
• UC never trailed in the game and was tied twice (1-1 and 5-5) before a six-goal run opened things up
// TWO MORE AWARDS
Following their play last week, both Borzillo and Mlkvy earned spots on the AAC Weekly Honor Roll to mark the second week in a row both were recognized by the league for their play.
// RUNNING TOTAL
With those two awards, the Bearcats have earned a total of 20 conference honors this year. That list includes three attacker (Borzillo), two midfield (Alyssa Adams & Mlkvy), one defensive (Giuliana Durso), five freshman (Kylie Nause) and nine Honor Rolls (Gysin 2x, Adams, Borzillo 3x and Mlkvy 3x).
// BORZILLO BREAKING RECORDS
Borzillo continued her point-collecting ways last week as she accounted for five points, including two goals and three assists, in UC's 18-15 win over Vanderbilt, setting up a show down with #18 Florida for what would be UC's first conference title. Borzillo continues to lead the league in points (5.87) and assists (2.60) while sitting second in goals (3.27) and reached several milestones in the win as she now has 100 career assists to her credit along with single-season records in goals (47), assists (39), points (88) and shots (108). She also tied a school record for consecutive games with at least one point tallied with her 32nd in a row. Borzillo enters this week's games 2nd nationally in points (just .13 off the national lead), 9th in assists, 23rd in points and also ranks 19th in caused turnovers (2.00).
// MLKVY DRAWING PRAISE
Last week's AAC Midfielder of the Week, Mlkvy had another impressive showing as she recorded four points on three goals and one assist while adding 10 draw controls and two caused turnovers. Her work in draw controls not only gave her 81 for the season (bettering her own school record), but also tied for the fourth-most in a single game in UC history, adding her name to the Top 4 list for the second time this year after collecting 11 in the season opener with Ohio State. With her numbers against Vanderbilt, Mlkvy reached a pair of century marks for her career as she now has 100 career points (76-24) and 101 career ground balls.
// BACK-TO-BACK
With the win over Vanderbilt, the Bearcats not only remained undefeated in league action, but also recorded their first back-to-back home wins over a conference opponent in program history. The last time the Bearcats and Commodores played in Cincinnati was at the end of the 2017 season as members of the Big East with UC taking a 10-9 win on a last-second goal. UC defeated ECU for the second year a row earlier this year, but last year's tilt was not a conference game as the Pirates were independents in their first varsity season.
// STREAKING • ALL
With their win over Vanderbilt Saturday, the Bearcats extended their current winning streak to seven in a row. Heading into the game, the 2019 squad was tied with the 2018 team for the longest win streak in program history after last year's team won six in a row.
// STREAKING • HOME
The overall winning streak is not the only streaking the Bearcats have done this year. With the win over the Commodores, the Bearcats have now won nine in a row at home following a season-opening loss to Ohio State. Those nine wins in a row at home stand as the longest streak in a single season in UC history and also takes over the longest home winning streak in program history that stood at eight after the 2013 team won its final five and the 2014 squad won its first three.
// HOME SWEET HOME
With a 9-1 home record, UC has easily smashed its previous record for home wins in a season as three teams held the record with five, including last year's squad. In fact, the Bearcats' defeat of Vanderbilt Saturday gave UC nine wins at home this season, which equals the amount of victories it had accumulated in the previous two years after going 4-3 in 2017 and 5-5 last year.
// ANOTHER FIRST WIN
With the win over Temple, the Bearcats have recorded three first wins in a series this year. First, UC evened its all-time record with San Diego State at 1-1 before downing UConn for the first time in 11 meetings (1-10). Last weekend, UC moved to 1-6 against the Owls with the 12-9 victory. A win Saturday at Florida would be the first in program history over the Gators.
// DOUBLE DIGITS
The Bearcats are 10-5 on the year, marking the first time they have reached double digits in victories in a season. Each of the last three wins have been records for UC as the win at ECU tied the single-season record for wins in a year (8) with the 2018 team; the win over Temple broke the record for wins in a year (9); and the win over Vanderbilt put UC into double figures for the first time ever (10).
// LOCKED IN
Sitting at 10-5 with two games to go in the regular season, the Bearcats have locked up a winning record (.500 or better) for the first time in program history. The previous best came last year when the team went 8-9 to post a .471 winning percentage.
// RECORD WATCH: BORZILLO
Last week, Borzillo scored two goals and added three assists for five points while also taking six shots (four on goal), collecting two ground balls and two draw controls and scoring one free-position goal. With those stats, she broke single-season records for goals (49), assists (39) and points (88) while tying for the shots record (108) and sitting one off the record for shots on goal (80). For her career, she already holds the records for assists (100) and points (230) and added the shots record over the weekend (319), leaving her 23 goals shy of the all-time goals record (153, Laura Simanski), seven shy of the hat tricks record (30, Simanski) and five shy of the shots on goal record (246, Simanski).
// CENTURY CLUB
Borzillo reaching 100 career assists was not the only milestone met over the weekend as several more Bearcats hit 100 in various categories for their careers. Both Amanda Donovan (102) and Sam Mlkvy (100) have now accumulated 100 or more points in their careers; Borzillo (102), Mlkvy (101) and Morgan Dukes (100) all have hit the century mark in ground balls; and Donovan met the mark in draw controls (100).
// DOWN GO MORE RECORDS
Following the win over Vanderbilt, the statistics accumulated by the Bearcats as a team broke seven season records, including the three main offensive categories. UC has scored 218 goals (201), tallied 91 assists (86), recorded 299 points (287), fired 508 shots (504), taken 372 shots on goal (371), scored 10 game-winning goals (nine) and caused 194 turnovers (187). All seven of those records were previously set last year.
// DURSO WINS
With the team adding wins, so does goalie Giuliana Durso, who holds a 10-3 record this year. With the 10 victories, she has now broken the single-season victories record for the second year in a row after her eight wins last year became the new standard. On a career level, Durso has tallied 18 wins, tying her with Meg Gulmi, who won 18 during her time at UC (2013-16).
// TOP OF HER CLASS
Rookie Kylie Nause is making a compelling case for the league's top freshman award as she recorded her eighth hat trick of the season Saturday with three goals and one assist against Vanderbilt. For the year, she now has 32 goals and four assists for 36 points, which places her at the top of the leaderboard among all AAC freshman for goals scored and points tallied. In fact, heading into the final week of the regular season, Nause has nearly doubled the next freshman in goals scored (18, Camryn Pennypacker of ECU) and is just ahead of Lia Laprice (UConn) in points as the Huskies rookie has 32 (16-16).
// ROOKIE RANKINGS
Through her first 15 games this year, Nause has climbed her way up the UC freshman Top 10 lists. On those lists, she is currently third in goals (32), shots (71) and shots on goal (54) with only Laura Simanski (2009) and Monica Borzillo (2017), the Top 2 scorers in program history, ahead of her. Nause could take one record for own this year as she is currently in a four-way tie for game-winning goals by a freshman with two. Additionally, Nause has a chance at overtaking a few of the greats in hat tricks as well as her eight this year rank tied for second among freshmen behind Simanski's 10 in 2009 and ranks tied for fourth overall in a single season at UC with Simanski leading the way with 11 in the 2010 season and both Borzillo (this year) and Simanski (2009) tying for second currently with 10.
// "BEARCATS GOAL!"
That phrase, "Bearcats Goal!" has been said many times this year - 218 times in fact - as UC has found the back of the cage at its best clip in program history. Including the 18 goals scored against Vanderbilt, the Bearcats have scored 17 or more goals six times this year with UC tallying 18 or more in five games. For a little perspective, the program scored 17+ 15 times in the previous 11 years, 18+ seven times and 19+ five times with this year's team scoring those totals six, five and four times, respectively. This year, UC also tied the single-game scoring record twice with 22 goals against both Marquette and Gardner-Webb. Prior to those to games, UC had scored 22 goals once and 20 or more goals in a game five times.
// 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 the four games prior to the Vanderbilt clash. 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 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.
// FILLING THE STAT SHEET
Several Bearcats are doing their part this year to rewrite the single-season Top 10 ledgers in ground balls, draw controls and caused turnovers. So far this year, Morgan Dukes has 51 ground balls, which is third all-time and just 10 from the single-season record while Amanda Donovan (44) and Monica Borzillo (43) are eighth and ninth (tie), respectively. Sam Mlkvy has destroyed the draw controls record with her 81 this year sitting 11 more than her record set last year while Alyssa Adams' 57 controls ranks her fifth and leaves her just three shy of becoming just the third UC player to record 60+ in a year. Four players are currently in the Top 10 of the caused turnovers Top 10 with Monica Borzillo (30), Donovan (27), Alexandra Fess (23) and Dukes (22) ranking third, fifth, seventh (tie) and ninth (tie), respectively, with at least three games left to play.
PREVIOUSLY NOTED
// BICENTENNI-GOAL
Borzillo scored four times last week with her first goal tying the score at 5-5 in the first half. That goal not only helped UC come back from an early 4-0 deficit to Temple, it also became the 1,819th goal scored in program history or, as we are calling it, the 'bicentenni-goal'. This year, the University is celebrating its bicentennial after being founded in 1819 and the Bearcats helped celebrate that by scoring their 1,819th goal this season.
// 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.
// BACK-TO-BACK SCORING
Near the end of March, 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.
// 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
This week's trip to Florida marks the final two games of the regular season. Next, the Bearcats will return home to play host to the 2019 AAC Tournament that will take place at the Sheakley Athletics Center May 2 and May 4. With Saturday's games being used to determine tournament seeding, the complete schedule of games will be released Sunday afternoon.