TicketsCINCINNATI -- The Cincinnati lacrosse team rode seven first-quarter goals for a dominant 14-7 win over Kent State in each team's season opener on Friday afternoon.
The Golden Flashes scored five times in the fourth quarter to close the gap. Cincinnati had an 11-2 shots advantage in the first period alone, plus a 10-3 margin in the third for a 33-18 difference overall.
Lauren Ottensmeyer garnered a hat trick by the opening sequence of the second quarter to finish with a match-high four goals. The Youngstown State transfer's career-high of five came in April 2021 against Akron.
Camryn Callaghan had a hat trick in her collegiate debut, as well as three assists, while Elizabeth Murphy (14 goals, team-high 20 assists last season) did the same for the first time in her three-year career. Ava Goeller also scored twice, joining Grace Wehland and Kylie Gioia in the scoring column.
Nine different Bearcats attempted shots, including two each from Julie Rose and Morgan Bates off the bench. Rose had four goals as a key freshman reserve in 2021 but missed last season due to a preseason injury. Ashley Lapp, an Akron transfer, earned seven saves in just over three quarters, allowing only one goal. Between her, Callaghan and Ottensemeyer, defender Kimora Bailey was the fourth newcomer to earn a starting nod.
"(Finding more scorers) been our goal this season," head coach Gina Thomas said. "We lost some great scorers the last couple of years, so we talked this year about not relying on one or two kids to put up points. Defensively, that's where our experience is and where we expect our kids that have been here 3-4 years to lock it down. What we were really excited about today is that we caused a lot of turnovers, and Ashley Lapp made some really big saves for us, and she was solid today."
The Bearcats improved to 5-0 all-time against the Golden Flashes, and the 24 caused turnovers would have matched the Old Dominion victory on April 16 as a 2022 season-high.
Cincinnati returns to action Sunday at Gardner-Webb for a noon tilt. UC defeated the Bulldogs there, 15-9, for its first win last season.
The Golden Flashes scored five times in the fourth quarter to close the gap. Cincinnati had an 11-2 shots advantage in the first period alone, plus a 10-3 margin in the third for a 33-18 difference overall.
Lauren Ottensmeyer garnered a hat trick by the opening sequence of the second quarter to finish with a match-high four goals. The Youngstown State transfer's career-high of five came in April 2021 against Akron.
Camryn Callaghan had a hat trick in her collegiate debut, as well as three assists, while Elizabeth Murphy (14 goals, team-high 20 assists last season) did the same for the first time in her three-year career. Ava Goeller also scored twice, joining Grace Wehland and Kylie Gioia in the scoring column.
Nine different Bearcats attempted shots, including two each from Julie Rose and Morgan Bates off the bench. Rose had four goals as a key freshman reserve in 2021 but missed last season due to a preseason injury. Ashley Lapp, an Akron transfer, earned seven saves in just over three quarters, allowing only one goal. Between her, Callaghan and Ottensemeyer, defender Kimora Bailey was the fourth newcomer to earn a starting nod.
"(Finding more scorers) been our goal this season," head coach Gina Thomas said. "We lost some great scorers the last couple of years, so we talked this year about not relying on one or two kids to put up points. Defensively, that's where our experience is and where we expect our kids that have been here 3-4 years to lock it down. What we were really excited about today is that we caused a lot of turnovers, and Ashley Lapp made some really big saves for us, and she was solid today."
The Bearcats improved to 5-0 all-time against the Golden Flashes, and the 24 caused turnovers would have matched the Old Dominion victory on April 16 as a 2022 season-high.
Cincinnati returns to action Sunday at Gardner-Webb for a noon tilt. UC defeated the Bulldogs there, 15-9, for its first win last season.
Rapid reaction from @GinaThomasUC on today's win!
— Cincinnati Lacrosse (@GoBearcatsLAX) February 10, 2023
24 caused turnovers and a 14-2 lead heading into the fourth quarter paved the way.
📰 https://t.co/wWj211VeGk pic.twitter.com/qS6VM1Geac