Lacrosse Hosts Stetson, Travels to Kent State This Week

// THE OPENING DRAW
The University of Cincinnati lacrosse team is set for a pair of games this week as the Bearcats will play host to Stetson before traveling north to face Kent State. The Bearcats (1-4), who are coming off their first win of the season, a 15-14 defeat of visiting Central Michigan, will open the slate with a 5 p.m. contest at Gettler Stadium against the visiting Hatters (1-2) before closing the weekend facing the Golden Flashes (0-4) at Dix Stadium in Kent, Ohio, at 3 p.m. Sunday.

// QUICK SHOTS
• Cincinnati went 1-1 last week to move to 1-4 on the year
• The Bearcats snapped a four-game slide with a 15-14 home win over Central Michigan Sunday
• In the win over CMU, the Bearcats scored 15 goals, a season-high total
• Alyssa Adams scored a career-high six goals and added six draw controls to earn placement on the AAC's Weekly Honor Roll
• Adams's six goals ranked tied for the sixth-most in a single game in program history
• Dani Mlkvy had eight draw controls against CMU, which tied for the eighth-most in a single game
• UC tallied 21 draw controls in the win over CMU, tying for the second-highest total in a single game in program history, surpassed only by the 26 recorded at Presbyterian in 2012

// GOING LIVE
Friday's game will be streamed live on BearcatsTV via GoBearcats.com while live stats also will be provided. Sunday, KSU will stream the gave live on BoxCast.tv. Links for each are available in the red box at the top of this story.

// EXPERIENCE UC
Once again in 2020, all home games will be part of the Experience UC initiative, which is geared toward inviting the community to campus to see firsthand the great things about and surrounding the university. Experience UC includes complimentary admission for patrons attending women's basketball, lacrosse, volleyball, women's tennis, men's and women's soccer, swimming and diving and track and field home events. 

// SCOUTING: STETSON
The Hatters are 1-2 on the year and have lost two in a row on the road, including 21-13 at Fresno State and 18-6 at Jacksonville in their A-Sun opener. So far this year, Marina Rotella has led the team in scoring with 11 goals and 14 points while Riley Reagan has tallied nine assists and is second in points with 11. Kiera McCarthy has played all three games in goal, saving 31 shots and allowing 54 goals for a 36.5% save percentage and an 18.00 goals per game average.

// SERIES HISTORY: BEARCATS vs. HATTERS
Cincinnati holds a 3-1 lead in the all-time series and is 1-0 when the series is played in the Queen City. The two teams met last year (April 25) in DeLand, Fla., with the Bearcats claiming a 17-10 victory. The only time the teams played in Cincinnati was March 4, 2015, with the Bearcats winning, 11-10, in overtime.

// SCOUTING: KENT STATE
The Golden Flashes are 0-4 on the year and 0-1 at home after falling to visiting Butler, 18-9, in their last game. Abby Jones leads the offense with 10 goals and 13 points while Megan Kozar is just behind her with nine points and seven goals. Grace Merrill has started all four games for KSU in goal, saving 47 shots and allowing 67 goals for a 41.2% save percentage and a 19.09 goals against average.

// SERIES HISTORY: UC vs. GOLDEN FLASHES
Cincinnati leads the all-time series, 1-0, after taking last year's meeting, 19-8, in Cincinnati. The game was the first in program history for the Golden Flashes.

// ROUND TWO, TAKE TWO
When Cincinnati plays at Kent State Sunday, it not only be the second meeting in the all-time series and the first to be played at the Golden Flashes home facility, but will also be the second trip this year to Dix Stadium. The Bearcats and Golden Flashes tried to open the season against one another on February 7, but a snow storm in the area forced the game to be postponed until this weekend

// ADAMS AWARDED
In Sunday's win over Central Michigan, Alyssa Adams went off. Heading into the game, Adams had one goal and one point on six shots with six draw controls. In Sunday's game, she poured in career-high-tying totals of six goals and six draw controls while adding two ground balls. For her efforts, which featured her tying for the sixth-most goals in a single game in program history, she was named to this week's American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll.

// TAKING CONTROL
While Adams had six draw controls, she wasn't the only UC player getting in on the draw controls as freshman Dani Mlkvy was credited with eight, tying for the eighth-most in a single game at UC. All told, the Bearcats recorded 21 draw controls in the game, which tied for the second-most in a single game (vs. Gardner-Webb, 3/24/19), just five off the single-game record of 26 set in 2012 at Presbyterian.

// BORZILLO'S BIG OUTINGS
At Ohio State earlier this season, Borzillo broke out her scoring stick as the senior netted a season-best seven points on four goals and three assists, more than doubling her point total (3) on the year. The four goals marked the 26th hat trick of her career and she added her 27th hat trick against #23 Virginia Tech last week with another three goals, leaving her three shy of Laura Simanski's school record 30 (2009-12). 

PREVIOUSLY NOTED
// PUT UP YOUR DUKES
Morgan Dukes had a strong showing as well as her six ground balls against the Buckeyes are tied for the single-game high in the American so far this year. Additionally, Dukes added season-highs for caused turnovers (three) and draw controls (two).

// SPREAD IT AROUND
So far this year, 11 different Bearcats have registered at least one goal, including rookies Peyton Mottice and Kenna Hancock, who have scored three and one, respectively. Additionally, five players have recorded at least one assist with Mottice and Hancock ranking first (5) and third (3) on the team already.

// GRAB A HAT
In the loss at Marquette, Kylie Nause led the way offensively as she netted a trio of goals, giving her the first hat trick of her season and the 11th of her career. After posting 10 last year, Nause has moved into a tie for #6 on the program's all-time hat trick list, equalling the output of Lindsey Marshall (2008-09).

// MLKVY HONORED
Speaking of rookies, in her debut game (vs. Louisville), Dani Mlkvy recorded five caused turnovers, six ground balls and four draw controls as she marked one of the top scorers for the Louisville throughout. She led or tied for the team lead in all three categories with her five caused turnovers also ranking her tied for third on the program's single-game record ledger, one off the record of six recorded three times. For her efforts, the freshman was named to this week's AAC Honor Roll.

// MAKING DEBUTS
Mlkvy was one of eight freshmen that saw their first collegiate minutes against Louisville and one of four that earned a place in the starting lineup. The three other starters included Gianna Pope, Kenna Hancock and Peyton Mottice while the other rookies to see minutes included Tori Accardo, Sophia Finotti, Morgan Bates and Anna Green.

// THAT'S A FIRST
Late in the first half, the Bearcats cut the deficit to three goals (6-3) with Haley Brady scoring the goal. That goal, which Hancock assisted, was the first of Brady's career and came on her only shot of the day. Last year, as a freshman, Brady fired just three shots.

// DOUBLE
Late in the game, Amanda Fess scored back-to-back goals to bring UC to within six once again. Those two scores marked the first time in the senior's career that she has scored multiple goals in the same 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. Coach Gina Thomas (@GinaOliverUC) also can be followed on Twitter

// NEXT TIME
The Bearcats will be back in action next Friday, March 13, as they are set to play host to #13 Michigan at 4 p.m. inside Gettler Stadium.