Tickets// THE OPENING DRAW
The University of Cincinnati lacrosse team is set to make its first postseason appearance in program history this week as the Bearcats will play host to the Temple Thursday evening in the second semifinal game of the 2019 American Athletic Conference Tournament that UC will host at the Sheakley Athletic Center. The Bearcats (11-6) are have put together their best season in program history and earned the #2 seed in the inaugural event while the Owls (6-10) enter the tournament as the #3 seed.
// CROWING A QUEEN IN THE QUEEN CITY
The three-game tournament begins Thursday with the first semifinal between #1 Florida and #4 Vanderbilt kicking things off with first draw set for 4:30 p.m. The #2 Bearcats and #3 Owls will play the second game that will begin 45 minutes after the conclusion of the first game and no earlier than 7:15 p.m. The winning teams from Thursday will meet Saturday at 1 p.m. for the title and the automatic berth in to the NCAA event.
// GET YOUR TICKETS
Tickets will be available the day of the game at the Marge Schott Stadium (baseball) ticket office (directly across from Sheakley Athletic Center's main gate) and will be available starting at 3:30 p.m. Thursday and 12 p.m. Saturday, the same time gates to Sheakley Athletic Center will open. Tickets will be $5 for adults, $3 for youths (4-17) and seniors (65+) and $2 for groups (10 or more people). All students from AAC and SEC schools that show their valid student identifications will receive free admission.
// PARKING INFO
The University of Cincinnati will be holding its graduation ceremonies this week. Because of this, all parking will be free on campus. Fans attending the tournament are encouraged to arrive earlier than normal as the two garages closest the field (Corry and Calhoun) may fill quickly as they are the garages closest to Fifth Third Arena, the site of the graduation ceremonies, as well. For more information on parking locations, visit the UC parking website: https://www.uc.edu/parking/visitors-maps.html.
// GOING LIVE
All three games will be streamed live on the American Digital Network. Fans can access the feeds by visiting Facebook.com/AmericanDigitalNetworkPlus. Live stats can be found at AAC.StatBroadcast.com.
// QUICK SHOTS
• Cincinnati enters the week with an 11-6 overall record and finished second in the AAC at 4-1
• UC is set to make its first postseason appearance in the program's 12-year history
• The Bearcats broke numerous records this year, including wins (11), home wins (9) and several win streaks
• UC went 1-1 in the final week of the season, winning at Stetson before falling at #18 Florida
• Borzillo earned a spot on the AAC Weekly Honor Roll, bringing UC's weekly awards total to 21 this year
• The AAC announced its postseason awards with Nause being named the Freshman of the Year
• Gina Thomas, Shannon Witzel and Caitlin Prince earned Coaching Staff of the Year
• Borzillo (unanimous), Nause, Mlkvy and Dukes were all selected AAC First Team All-Conference
• Ahead of the year, UC had just one total first team all-conference selection (Kyara Byner, 2016, Big East)
• Donovan, Adrianna Fess and Durso all earned AAC Second Team All-Conference, giving UC 7 awards
• UC had 6 all-conference awards earned in program history ahead of this season (all in the Big East)
• Borzillo had a big game against Stetson, tallying 11 points on seven goals and four assists before one goal and one assist at Florida
• Borzillo's 101 points this year is currently fourth among all players in the NCAA
• Nause has the most goals (36) and points (40) of any rookie in the AAC
// 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. UC lost at Florida over the weekend to finish second in the league.
// A WIN THURSDAY WOULD MEAN...
• UC would win its postseason debut
• UC would advance to the conference final and battle for its first conference title
• UC would extend its home winning streak to nine
• UC would defeat at conference opponent in back-to-back games first time in program history
// 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 finished 4-1 in the league play and finished second overall, falling at Florida in the regular season championship game.
// DOUBLED UP
This year, UC went 4-1 in the AAC. Looking back at UC's conference history, the four wins this year double its entire combined conference victories total in its 10 years as a member of the Big East (2009-18).
// SCOUTING: TEMPLE
The Owls enter the game with a 6-10 overall record and finished third in the AAC with a 3-2 record, claiming their seeding with an 11-6 win over host Vanderbilt on the final day of the regular season. First team all-conference selection Maddie Gebert led the team in scoring this year with 39 points on 35 goals and four assists while another first-team honoree, Bridget Whitaker, was close behind with 32 points on 15 goals and 17 assists. Maryn Lowell, a second-team selection, appeared in 15 games and stopped 105 shots while allowing 143 goals for an 11.86 goals against average and .423 save percentage.
// SERIES HISTORY: BEARCATS vs. OWLS
The Owls hold a 5-1 lead in the all-time series, but the Bearcats won their first in the series earlier this year as the downed visiting Temple, 12-9 (April 13). The Owls lead, 2-1, when the series is held in Cincinnati.
// QUICK RECAP: WEEKEND SPLIT ON THE ROAD
• UC played a pair of games in Florida last week, defeating Stetson, 17-10, before falling at #18 Florida, 25-6, in the regular season finale
• Against the Hatters, Borzillo posted an AAC record-tying 11 points on seven goals and four assists (tied her own record) and took over the national lead in points at the time with 99 on the year
• Nause recorded her ninth hat trick of the season and padded her lead over all AAC freshmen in goals
• At UF, the Bearcats held a 3-2 lead before a large run from the Gators put the game out of reach
• Borzillo added one goal and one assist to reach 101 points on the year, the #4 total in the NCAA
• Nause added a goal to bring her season total to 36 goals and 40 points
// AWARDS • WEEKLY
The final weekly awards for the conference were announced Tuesday with Borzillo earning a spot on the Honor Roll following her 13 point, eight goal and five assist week on the road. It marked the fourth time this year and third week in a row that Borzillo was named to the Honor Roll and her seventh overall award after also being selected as the attacker of the week thrice.
// FINAL TOTAL
For the season, Borzillo has earned seven weekly awards. She was named the attacker of the week on three occasions and earned a spot on the Honor Roll four times, including each of the last three weeks. Adding in Borzillo's accolade, the Bearcats garnered 21 total awards in 2019 including three attacker of the week (Borzillo three times), two midfielders of the week (Alyssa Adams and Sam Mlkvy), five freshman of the week (Kylie Nause five times), one defensive player of the week (Giuliana Durso), and 10 Honor Roll selections (four for Borzillo, three for Mlkvy, two for Taylor Gysin and one for Alyssa Adams).
// HISTORIC HAUL
The postseason awards for the American were announced Wednesday with the Bearcats earning two major awards and seven all-conference honors. The two major awards mark the first time in program history UC has earned any while the seven all-conference selections more than double the previous all-time total of six earned in the last four years playing in the Big East Conference.
// TOP HONOR: FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
One of the first major awards earned this year is AAC Freshman of the Year and that went to Kylie Nause. The top scoring rookie in the league, Nause tallied 36 goals and four assists for 40 points. She totaled nine hat tricks on the year, including seven in a row at one point. On the single-season Top 10 ledgers, she currently ranks eighth in goals, fourth in hat tricks, seventh on shots (80), eighth in shots on goal (62) and tied for third in game-winning goals (2).
// TOP HONOR: COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR
The second major award saw the UC coaches earn the AAC Coaching Staff of the Year. Heading into the year, the Bearcats were picked to finish fifth in the AAC and miss the tournament. However, the team improved its overall win total for the fourth year in a row, doubled is all-time conference wins haul and challenged for the league crown, going 4-1 overall to earn the second seed in the tournament. The Bearcats broke numerous records throughout the year, including overall wins (11), conference wins (4), home wins (8), overall wins in a row (8), home wins in a row (8) and will post the first over .500 winning percentage in program history (currently .667). Added to that, six different statistical records have been broken with two more in sight heading into the tournament. The records broken include 241 goals (+41), 100 assists (+14), 341 points (+54), 11 game-winning goals (+3), 244 draw controls (+12) and 211 caused turnovers (+24). The two records they are closing on include ground balls (need 10) and free-position goals scored (need 1).
// FOUR ON FIRST TEAM
Four Bearcats earned AAC All-Conference First Team honors, including Monica Borzillo, Morgan Dukes, Sam Mlkvy and Nause. Borzillo, the first UC player to earn three awards in a career, earned her first on the first-team as she was also a unanimous selection. Mlkvy is the first midfield player to earn first-team honors at UC while Nause is the first freshman to earn first-team accolade (Borzillo was second team in 2017). Dukes is the second defender to earn a spot on the first team after Kyara Byner (2016).
// THREE ON SECOND TEAM
The Bearcats also had three women appearing on the second team including Amanda Donovan, Giuliana Durso and Adrianna Fess. Donovan is making her second appearance on a second team after earning the distinction in 2017 in the Big East. She also joins Borzillo as the only two Bearcats to earn multiple all-conference selections. Durso and Fess both earned their first accolades with Durso becoming the first UC goalie to receive an honor.
// BORZILLO GOES BIG
For the second time this year, Borzillo tallied 11 points, this time in the 17-10 win at Stetson, to tie the program's single-game record after she did the same against Kent State in the second contest of the season with an identical showing of seven goals and four assists. The seven goals ties for the second-most in a game at UC and her four assists tie for ninth, marking the fourth time she has tallied four helpers in a game in 2019. Following her one goal and one assist game at Florida, she now has 57 goals, 44 assists and 101 points and is the first UC player to score 50+ goals in a season, the first to tally 40+ assists in a year, and adds to her growing lists of firsts in points as she is the only player that had ever record 60, 70, 80, 90 and now 100 points. Additionally, she scored the game-winner against the Hatters, marking her fourth winner this year, the most in a single season in program history.
// AMONG THE BEST
Through games played last weekend, Borzillo currently ranks fourth nationally with 101 points scored with Kelly Larkin (Navy)(104), Sam Apuzzo (Boston College)(104), Abby Hormes (High Point)(102), Kenzie Kent (BC)(100) and Alyssa Parrella (Hofstra)(100) each joining Borzillo in the century club. Apuzzo and Kent have both finished their conference tournament while Navy (Thursday) and Hofstra (Friday) join Cincinnati in playing conference tournaments this week.
// REWRITING RECORDS
This year, Borzillo has torched the record books at UC as she broke seven single-season and four career records. On the season side of things, she broke the program records for goals (57), hat tricks (11), assists (44), points (101), shots (124), shots on goals (94) and game-winning goals (4). She also broke career records for assists (105), points (243), shots (335) and shots on goals (255). Borzillo also added the AAC record for points in a game with 11 (twice). Heading into the tournament this weekend, Borzillo is currently the single-season record holder in the AAC with 101 points and 44 assists. She is 11 points ahead of Lindsey Ronbeck of Florida (76-14=90) and eight assists ahead of Gabrielle Fornia of Vanderbilt (36).
// TOP OF HER CLASS
Through much of the season, Nause made a name for herself with her scoring prowess and it paid off as she was named the freshman of the year in the AAC. At Stetson, she recorded her ninth hat trick of the season. For the year, she now has 36 goals and four assists for 40 points, which places her at the top of the leader board among all AAC freshman for goals scored and points tallied. In fact, heading into the tournament, Nause is 16 goals ahead the next closest rookie in Lia Laprise of UConn (20) and is three ahead of Laprise in points (37). With UConn not in the tournament, Nause should finish the season atop both categories for freshmen.
// "BEARCATS GOAL!"
That phrase, "Bearcats Goal!" has been said many times this year - 241 times in fact - as UC has found the back of the cage at its best clip in program history. Including the 17 goals scored against Stetson, the Bearcats have scored 17 or more goals seven 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 as the Bearcats have allowed nine or fewer goals to be scored seven times. With seven such games this year, the 2019 squad ranks second for the most nine or fewer goals scored games in a season 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.
// DOUBLE DIGITS
The Bearcats are 11-6 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 11-6 (.647), 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.
// STREAKING • HOME
With the win over the Commodores two weeks ago, 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 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.
// STREAK OVER
While the home streak is still in tact, the team's overall win streak was halted last week in a loss at Florida. Prior to the setback, the Bearcats had won eight in a row, the longest streak in program history, surpassing the six-consecutive wins earned last year.
// BACK HOME
While Sheakley has been the traditional home of UC lacrosse, Thursday's game with Temple will be the first UC has played at the facility in over two years. The last time the Bearcats played in the facility, they won a thrilling 10-9 game over Vanderbilt on a last-second goal, posting their first win over the Commodores in program history. Since that moment, Sheakley had its winter bubble overhead, serving as an additional workout location and weight room while renovations to Fifth Third Arena took place. This year, the bubble was up for football, sending the Bearcats to Gettler Stadium instead.
PREVIOUSLY NOTED
// 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 against Vanderbilt (she had 2 goals and 3 draw controls at Stetson). Her work in draw controls not only gave her 84 for the season (bettering her own school record), but the 11 she tallied against VU 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 VU, 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.
// 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.
// CENTURY CLUB
Borzillo reaching 100 career assists was not the only milestone met over the weekend against Vanderbilt 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.
// 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.
// 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.
// 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.
// 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.
// NEXT TIME
With a win Thursday, the Bearcats would play in the championship final at 1 p.m. Saturday against either Florida or Vanderbilt. With a loss Thursday or Saturday, the Bearcats would need to receive an at-large berth from the NCAA into the national tournament to see its historic 2019 season continue.
The University of Cincinnati lacrosse team is set to make its first postseason appearance in program history this week as the Bearcats will play host to the Temple Thursday evening in the second semifinal game of the 2019 American Athletic Conference Tournament that UC will host at the Sheakley Athletic Center. The Bearcats (11-6) are have put together their best season in program history and earned the #2 seed in the inaugural event while the Owls (6-10) enter the tournament as the #3 seed.
// CROWING A QUEEN IN THE QUEEN CITY
The three-game tournament begins Thursday with the first semifinal between #1 Florida and #4 Vanderbilt kicking things off with first draw set for 4:30 p.m. The #2 Bearcats and #3 Owls will play the second game that will begin 45 minutes after the conclusion of the first game and no earlier than 7:15 p.m. The winning teams from Thursday will meet Saturday at 1 p.m. for the title and the automatic berth in to the NCAA event.
// GET YOUR TICKETS
Tickets will be available the day of the game at the Marge Schott Stadium (baseball) ticket office (directly across from Sheakley Athletic Center's main gate) and will be available starting at 3:30 p.m. Thursday and 12 p.m. Saturday, the same time gates to Sheakley Athletic Center will open. Tickets will be $5 for adults, $3 for youths (4-17) and seniors (65+) and $2 for groups (10 or more people). All students from AAC and SEC schools that show their valid student identifications will receive free admission.
// PARKING INFO
The University of Cincinnati will be holding its graduation ceremonies this week. Because of this, all parking will be free on campus. Fans attending the tournament are encouraged to arrive earlier than normal as the two garages closest the field (Corry and Calhoun) may fill quickly as they are the garages closest to Fifth Third Arena, the site of the graduation ceremonies, as well. For more information on parking locations, visit the UC parking website: https://www.uc.edu/parking/visitors-maps.html.
// GOING LIVE
All three games will be streamed live on the American Digital Network. Fans can access the feeds by visiting Facebook.com/AmericanDigitalNetworkPlus. Live stats can be found at AAC.StatBroadcast.com.
// QUICK SHOTS
• Cincinnati enters the week with an 11-6 overall record and finished second in the AAC at 4-1
• UC is set to make its first postseason appearance in the program's 12-year history
• The Bearcats broke numerous records this year, including wins (11), home wins (9) and several win streaks
• UC went 1-1 in the final week of the season, winning at Stetson before falling at #18 Florida
• Borzillo earned a spot on the AAC Weekly Honor Roll, bringing UC's weekly awards total to 21 this year
• The AAC announced its postseason awards with Nause being named the Freshman of the Year
• Gina Thomas, Shannon Witzel and Caitlin Prince earned Coaching Staff of the Year
• Borzillo (unanimous), Nause, Mlkvy and Dukes were all selected AAC First Team All-Conference
• Ahead of the year, UC had just one total first team all-conference selection (Kyara Byner, 2016, Big East)
• Donovan, Adrianna Fess and Durso all earned AAC Second Team All-Conference, giving UC 7 awards
• UC had 6 all-conference awards earned in program history ahead of this season (all in the Big East)
• Borzillo had a big game against Stetson, tallying 11 points on seven goals and four assists before one goal and one assist at Florida
• Borzillo's 101 points this year is currently fourth among all players in the NCAA
• Nause has the most goals (36) and points (40) of any rookie in the AAC
// 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. UC lost at Florida over the weekend to finish second in the league.
// A WIN THURSDAY WOULD MEAN...
• UC would win its postseason debut
• UC would advance to the conference final and battle for its first conference title
• UC would extend its home winning streak to nine
• UC would defeat at conference opponent in back-to-back games first time in program history
// 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 finished 4-1 in the league play and finished second overall, falling at Florida in the regular season championship game.
// DOUBLED UP
This year, UC went 4-1 in the AAC. Looking back at UC's conference history, the four wins this year double its entire combined conference victories total in its 10 years as a member of the Big East (2009-18).
// SCOUTING: TEMPLE
The Owls enter the game with a 6-10 overall record and finished third in the AAC with a 3-2 record, claiming their seeding with an 11-6 win over host Vanderbilt on the final day of the regular season. First team all-conference selection Maddie Gebert led the team in scoring this year with 39 points on 35 goals and four assists while another first-team honoree, Bridget Whitaker, was close behind with 32 points on 15 goals and 17 assists. Maryn Lowell, a second-team selection, appeared in 15 games and stopped 105 shots while allowing 143 goals for an 11.86 goals against average and .423 save percentage.
// SERIES HISTORY: BEARCATS vs. OWLS
The Owls hold a 5-1 lead in the all-time series, but the Bearcats won their first in the series earlier this year as the downed visiting Temple, 12-9 (April 13). The Owls lead, 2-1, when the series is held in Cincinnati.
// QUICK RECAP: WEEKEND SPLIT ON THE ROAD
• UC played a pair of games in Florida last week, defeating Stetson, 17-10, before falling at #18 Florida, 25-6, in the regular season finale
• Against the Hatters, Borzillo posted an AAC record-tying 11 points on seven goals and four assists (tied her own record) and took over the national lead in points at the time with 99 on the year
• Nause recorded her ninth hat trick of the season and padded her lead over all AAC freshmen in goals
• At UF, the Bearcats held a 3-2 lead before a large run from the Gators put the game out of reach
• Borzillo added one goal and one assist to reach 101 points on the year, the #4 total in the NCAA
• Nause added a goal to bring her season total to 36 goals and 40 points
// AWARDS • WEEKLY
The final weekly awards for the conference were announced Tuesday with Borzillo earning a spot on the Honor Roll following her 13 point, eight goal and five assist week on the road. It marked the fourth time this year and third week in a row that Borzillo was named to the Honor Roll and her seventh overall award after also being selected as the attacker of the week thrice.
// FINAL TOTAL
For the season, Borzillo has earned seven weekly awards. She was named the attacker of the week on three occasions and earned a spot on the Honor Roll four times, including each of the last three weeks. Adding in Borzillo's accolade, the Bearcats garnered 21 total awards in 2019 including three attacker of the week (Borzillo three times), two midfielders of the week (Alyssa Adams and Sam Mlkvy), five freshman of the week (Kylie Nause five times), one defensive player of the week (Giuliana Durso), and 10 Honor Roll selections (four for Borzillo, three for Mlkvy, two for Taylor Gysin and one for Alyssa Adams).
// HISTORIC HAUL
The postseason awards for the American were announced Wednesday with the Bearcats earning two major awards and seven all-conference honors. The two major awards mark the first time in program history UC has earned any while the seven all-conference selections more than double the previous all-time total of six earned in the last four years playing in the Big East Conference.
// TOP HONOR: FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
One of the first major awards earned this year is AAC Freshman of the Year and that went to Kylie Nause. The top scoring rookie in the league, Nause tallied 36 goals and four assists for 40 points. She totaled nine hat tricks on the year, including seven in a row at one point. On the single-season Top 10 ledgers, she currently ranks eighth in goals, fourth in hat tricks, seventh on shots (80), eighth in shots on goal (62) and tied for third in game-winning goals (2).
// TOP HONOR: COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR
The second major award saw the UC coaches earn the AAC Coaching Staff of the Year. Heading into the year, the Bearcats were picked to finish fifth in the AAC and miss the tournament. However, the team improved its overall win total for the fourth year in a row, doubled is all-time conference wins haul and challenged for the league crown, going 4-1 overall to earn the second seed in the tournament. The Bearcats broke numerous records throughout the year, including overall wins (11), conference wins (4), home wins (8), overall wins in a row (8), home wins in a row (8) and will post the first over .500 winning percentage in program history (currently .667). Added to that, six different statistical records have been broken with two more in sight heading into the tournament. The records broken include 241 goals (+41), 100 assists (+14), 341 points (+54), 11 game-winning goals (+3), 244 draw controls (+12) and 211 caused turnovers (+24). The two records they are closing on include ground balls (need 10) and free-position goals scored (need 1).
// FOUR ON FIRST TEAM
Four Bearcats earned AAC All-Conference First Team honors, including Monica Borzillo, Morgan Dukes, Sam Mlkvy and Nause. Borzillo, the first UC player to earn three awards in a career, earned her first on the first-team as she was also a unanimous selection. Mlkvy is the first midfield player to earn first-team honors at UC while Nause is the first freshman to earn first-team accolade (Borzillo was second team in 2017). Dukes is the second defender to earn a spot on the first team after Kyara Byner (2016).
// THREE ON SECOND TEAM
The Bearcats also had three women appearing on the second team including Amanda Donovan, Giuliana Durso and Adrianna Fess. Donovan is making her second appearance on a second team after earning the distinction in 2017 in the Big East. She also joins Borzillo as the only two Bearcats to earn multiple all-conference selections. Durso and Fess both earned their first accolades with Durso becoming the first UC goalie to receive an honor.
// BORZILLO GOES BIG
For the second time this year, Borzillo tallied 11 points, this time in the 17-10 win at Stetson, to tie the program's single-game record after she did the same against Kent State in the second contest of the season with an identical showing of seven goals and four assists. The seven goals ties for the second-most in a game at UC and her four assists tie for ninth, marking the fourth time she has tallied four helpers in a game in 2019. Following her one goal and one assist game at Florida, she now has 57 goals, 44 assists and 101 points and is the first UC player to score 50+ goals in a season, the first to tally 40+ assists in a year, and adds to her growing lists of firsts in points as she is the only player that had ever record 60, 70, 80, 90 and now 100 points. Additionally, she scored the game-winner against the Hatters, marking her fourth winner this year, the most in a single season in program history.
// AMONG THE BEST
Through games played last weekend, Borzillo currently ranks fourth nationally with 101 points scored with Kelly Larkin (Navy)(104), Sam Apuzzo (Boston College)(104), Abby Hormes (High Point)(102), Kenzie Kent (BC)(100) and Alyssa Parrella (Hofstra)(100) each joining Borzillo in the century club. Apuzzo and Kent have both finished their conference tournament while Navy (Thursday) and Hofstra (Friday) join Cincinnati in playing conference tournaments this week.
// REWRITING RECORDS
This year, Borzillo has torched the record books at UC as she broke seven single-season and four career records. On the season side of things, she broke the program records for goals (57), hat tricks (11), assists (44), points (101), shots (124), shots on goals (94) and game-winning goals (4). She also broke career records for assists (105), points (243), shots (335) and shots on goals (255). Borzillo also added the AAC record for points in a game with 11 (twice). Heading into the tournament this weekend, Borzillo is currently the single-season record holder in the AAC with 101 points and 44 assists. She is 11 points ahead of Lindsey Ronbeck of Florida (76-14=90) and eight assists ahead of Gabrielle Fornia of Vanderbilt (36).
// TOP OF HER CLASS
Through much of the season, Nause made a name for herself with her scoring prowess and it paid off as she was named the freshman of the year in the AAC. At Stetson, she recorded her ninth hat trick of the season. For the year, she now has 36 goals and four assists for 40 points, which places her at the top of the leader board among all AAC freshman for goals scored and points tallied. In fact, heading into the tournament, Nause is 16 goals ahead the next closest rookie in Lia Laprise of UConn (20) and is three ahead of Laprise in points (37). With UConn not in the tournament, Nause should finish the season atop both categories for freshmen.
// "BEARCATS GOAL!"
That phrase, "Bearcats Goal!" has been said many times this year - 241 times in fact - as UC has found the back of the cage at its best clip in program history. Including the 17 goals scored against Stetson, the Bearcats have scored 17 or more goals seven 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 as the Bearcats have allowed nine or fewer goals to be scored seven times. With seven such games this year, the 2019 squad ranks second for the most nine or fewer goals scored games in a season 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.
// DOUBLE DIGITS
The Bearcats are 11-6 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 11-6 (.647), 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.
// STREAKING • HOME
With the win over the Commodores two weeks ago, 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 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.
// STREAK OVER
While the home streak is still in tact, the team's overall win streak was halted last week in a loss at Florida. Prior to the setback, the Bearcats had won eight in a row, the longest streak in program history, surpassing the six-consecutive wins earned last year.
// BACK HOME
While Sheakley has been the traditional home of UC lacrosse, Thursday's game with Temple will be the first UC has played at the facility in over two years. The last time the Bearcats played in the facility, they won a thrilling 10-9 game over Vanderbilt on a last-second goal, posting their first win over the Commodores in program history. Since that moment, Sheakley had its winter bubble overhead, serving as an additional workout location and weight room while renovations to Fifth Third Arena took place. This year, the bubble was up for football, sending the Bearcats to Gettler Stadium instead.
PREVIOUSLY NOTED
// 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 against Vanderbilt (she had 2 goals and 3 draw controls at Stetson). Her work in draw controls not only gave her 84 for the season (bettering her own school record), but the 11 she tallied against VU 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 VU, 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.
// 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.
// CENTURY CLUB
Borzillo reaching 100 career assists was not the only milestone met over the weekend against Vanderbilt 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.
// 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.
// 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.
// 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.
// 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.
// NEXT TIME
With a win Thursday, the Bearcats would play in the championship final at 1 p.m. Saturday against either Florida or Vanderbilt. With a loss Thursday or Saturday, the Bearcats would need to receive an at-large berth from the NCAA into the national tournament to see its historic 2019 season continue.