TicketsCINCINNATI - Using balanced scoring and stout defense, the University of Cincinnati lacrosse team collected its first road win of the year by downing host ECU, 14-5, Saturday afternoon inside Johnson Stadium in Greenville, N.C., in an American Athletic Conference game aired lived on the American Digital Network. Five different players scored goals for the Bearcats, all of which scored at least two on the day, while defense allowed its fewest goals in more than two years to help UC grab its fifth win in a row. The Bearcats improved to 8-5 overall and remained in a tie atop of the AAC standings with a 2-0 record while the Pirates fell to 5-8 overall and 0-2 in league play.
// QUICK NOTES
• Cincinnati improved to 8-5 overall and 2-0 in the American while ECU fell to 5-8 overall and 0-2 in the AAC
• Following the win, UC is now tied for the top spot in the AAC standings at 2-0 with Florida, who defeated Vanderbilt (1-1) today
• The win is UC's fifth in a row, tying for the second-longest winning streak in program history (2014) and one shy of the record
• The win also tied the program record for wins in a season, set last year with an 8-9 record
• Today's win was the first road victory of the year for UC after dropping their first four of the season
• With the win, UC tied its season conference overall wins record (2 in 2017) and conference season road wins record (1 in 2018)
• UC's defense was strong on the day, limiting ECU to 5 goals, the fewest allowed in a game this season and the fewest allowed by the Bearcats since April 1, 2017, in a 21-3 Big East win over Butler
• The Bearcats have held opponents to nine or fewer goals in each of the past four games including today's win
• Monica Borzillo lead the team in scoring with five points on four goals and one assist and the game-winning goal
• Borzillo now holds the season points record at 75 (43g-32a) and tied for the season game-winning goals record with her third
• Sam Mlkvy and Alyssa Adams each finished with hat tricks (3 goals each) while both added a single assist as well
• Kylie Nause and Gianna Napoletano both scored twice with Nause adding an assist
• Giuliana Durso made four saves and allowed five goals to grab her single-season record-tying eighth win of the year
• Adrianna Fess had a strong day on defense as she led the team in both caused turnovers and ground balls with three each
// HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams had chances at scoring the first goal with UC failing on its first two attempts before ECU was successful on its second with a goal at the 26:02 mark to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. The Bearcats responded, however, as Adams won the draw, drove to the cage and scored just eight seconds after the ECU goal to tie things up and start what would be a five-goal run by UC. In that run, Napoletano scored on a free-position shot before Borzillo, Mlkvy and Nause all tallied unassisted goals. The Pirates halted the run at the 14:22 mark with back-to-back goals for a 5-3 score at the 11:52 mark, but the Bearcats closed out the half with three straight from there.
Borzillo and Napoletano each added their second before Mlkvy grabbed her second as UC gained the ball with 34 seconds remaining in the half and sent the ball down field, eventually seeing Mlkvy take the ball into the ECU zone and score with 15 seconds on the clock. The goal from Mlkvy not only made it 8-3 at the break, but also marked the 20th-latest goal scored in the opening half of a UC game.
When the teams returned to the field in the second half, Adams wasted no time getting back to work as she scored her second of the day 1:12 into the half to make it four in a row for UC. ECU snapped that run with a goal of their own to make it 9-4, but the Bearcats would score the next three, including goals from Nause, Borzillo and Mlkvy, to put UC on top, 12-4, with 23:37 remaining. After another ECU goal made it 12-5 with 21:32 showing, the scoring slowed to near stop with Adams grabbing her hat trick at the 18:35 mark before Borzillo got her fourth with 12:25 remaining. From there, neither team was able to score again as both sides made saves, forced turnovers and saw a few shots hit the post or cross bar, including Nause, who saw her UC-record hat trick scoring streak come to an end at eight games after a late chance at her third of the day hit the post and stayed out of the cage.
// BORZILLO CLIMBING
With her four points on three goals and one assist and one game-winning goal, Borzillo exited today's game with a trio of school records. Borzillo now has 75 points on the year after having scored 43 goals, the second-highest total in single-season history, and adding 32 assists, a point total that now ranks as the highest in program history, surpassing the 73 she tallied in 2017, her freshman year. Her second goal of the day also was the sixth for the Bearcats and stands as the game-winning score. She now has the career record for game-winners with six to her credit and is tied for the single-season record of three with Kylie Ramsland, who also scored three winners in 2013.
// DURSO SOLID
The reigning AAC Defensive Player of the Week had another strong showing in the cage as she allowed just five goals, the fewest she has given up in a full contest, while making four saves. The win is her eighth of the season, tying her own single-season record for wins in a year, while her 16 career wins have her two away from the all-time goalie wins mark of 18 held by Meg Gulmi (2013-16).
// NOTING THE WIN
Here is how today's win fits in historically for the program:
• UC has now won five games in a row, the second-longest winning streak in program history, equaling the run the 2014 squad put together. The record is six in a row and that was set last year.
• The Bearcats now have eight wins, tying for the most in a single-season after the 2018 team broke the record with their 8-9 mark in 2018. The previous record was seven wins accumulated twice.
• On a conference level, UC now has two wins on the year, tying the most it has recorded in a season with the 2017 squad that was 2-7 in Big East play.
• The win also is the first road win of the year for UC after dropping its first four of the year.
• Speaking of road wins, today's was only the second in conference play for UC, tying the single-season mark set last year.
// NEXT UP
Cincinnati returns home next Saturday in a noon game with visiting Temple for the lone game of the week on UC's slate. The game with the Owls will be the program's annual Wear White game with fans asked to join with the team in wearing white to the game.
// 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 8-5 overall and 2-0 in the American while ECU fell to 5-8 overall and 0-2 in the AAC
• Following the win, UC is now tied for the top spot in the AAC standings at 2-0 with Florida, who defeated Vanderbilt (1-1) today
• The win is UC's fifth in a row, tying for the second-longest winning streak in program history (2014) and one shy of the record
• The win also tied the program record for wins in a season, set last year with an 8-9 record
• Today's win was the first road victory of the year for UC after dropping their first four of the season
• With the win, UC tied its season conference overall wins record (2 in 2017) and conference season road wins record (1 in 2018)
• UC's defense was strong on the day, limiting ECU to 5 goals, the fewest allowed in a game this season and the fewest allowed by the Bearcats since April 1, 2017, in a 21-3 Big East win over Butler
• The Bearcats have held opponents to nine or fewer goals in each of the past four games including today's win
• Monica Borzillo lead the team in scoring with five points on four goals and one assist and the game-winning goal
• Borzillo now holds the season points record at 75 (43g-32a) and tied for the season game-winning goals record with her third
• Sam Mlkvy and Alyssa Adams each finished with hat tricks (3 goals each) while both added a single assist as well
• Kylie Nause and Gianna Napoletano both scored twice with Nause adding an assist
• Giuliana Durso made four saves and allowed five goals to grab her single-season record-tying eighth win of the year
• Adrianna Fess had a strong day on defense as she led the team in both caused turnovers and ground balls with three each
That does it from Greenville! @GoBearcatsLAX defeats @ecuwlax 14-5 this afternoon on the @American_DN - here's a look at some of our favorite goals of the day! pic.twitter.com/lFJXCGPKc0
— American Women's Lax (@American_WLax) April 6, 2019
// HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams had chances at scoring the first goal with UC failing on its first two attempts before ECU was successful on its second with a goal at the 26:02 mark to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. The Bearcats responded, however, as Adams won the draw, drove to the cage and scored just eight seconds after the ECU goal to tie things up and start what would be a five-goal run by UC. In that run, Napoletano scored on a free-position shot before Borzillo, Mlkvy and Nause all tallied unassisted goals. The Pirates halted the run at the 14:22 mark with back-to-back goals for a 5-3 score at the 11:52 mark, but the Bearcats closed out the half with three straight from there.
Borzillo and Napoletano each added their second before Mlkvy grabbed her second as UC gained the ball with 34 seconds remaining in the half and sent the ball down field, eventually seeing Mlkvy take the ball into the ECU zone and score with 15 seconds on the clock. The goal from Mlkvy not only made it 8-3 at the break, but also marked the 20th-latest goal scored in the opening half of a UC game.
When the teams returned to the field in the second half, Adams wasted no time getting back to work as she scored her second of the day 1:12 into the half to make it four in a row for UC. ECU snapped that run with a goal of their own to make it 9-4, but the Bearcats would score the next three, including goals from Nause, Borzillo and Mlkvy, to put UC on top, 12-4, with 23:37 remaining. After another ECU goal made it 12-5 with 21:32 showing, the scoring slowed to near stop with Adams grabbing her hat trick at the 18:35 mark before Borzillo got her fourth with 12:25 remaining. From there, neither team was able to score again as both sides made saves, forced turnovers and saw a few shots hit the post or cross bar, including Nause, who saw her UC-record hat trick scoring streak come to an end at eight games after a late chance at her third of the day hit the post and stayed out of the cage.
// BORZILLO CLIMBING
With her four points on three goals and one assist and one game-winning goal, Borzillo exited today's game with a trio of school records. Borzillo now has 75 points on the year after having scored 43 goals, the second-highest total in single-season history, and adding 32 assists, a point total that now ranks as the highest in program history, surpassing the 73 she tallied in 2017, her freshman year. Her second goal of the day also was the sixth for the Bearcats and stands as the game-winning score. She now has the career record for game-winners with six to her credit and is tied for the single-season record of three with Kylie Ramsland, who also scored three winners in 2013.
// DURSO SOLID
The reigning AAC Defensive Player of the Week had another strong showing in the cage as she allowed just five goals, the fewest she has given up in a full contest, while making four saves. The win is her eighth of the season, tying her own single-season record for wins in a year, while her 16 career wins have her two away from the all-time goalie wins mark of 18 held by Meg Gulmi (2013-16).
// NOTING THE WIN
Here is how today's win fits in historically for the program:
• UC has now won five games in a row, the second-longest winning streak in program history, equaling the run the 2014 squad put together. The record is six in a row and that was set last year.
• The Bearcats now have eight wins, tying for the most in a single-season after the 2018 team broke the record with their 8-9 mark in 2018. The previous record was seven wins accumulated twice.
• On a conference level, UC now has two wins on the year, tying the most it has recorded in a season with the 2017 squad that was 2-7 in Big East play.
• The win also is the first road win of the year for UC after dropping its first four of the year.
• Speaking of road wins, today's was only the second in conference play for UC, tying the single-season mark set last year.
// NEXT UP
Cincinnati returns home next Saturday in a noon game with visiting Temple for the lone game of the week on UC's slate. The game with the Owls will be the program's annual Wear White game with fans asked to join with the team in wearing white to the game.
// 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.