TicketsBOILING SPRINGS, N.C. -- Cincinnati overcame a slow start to put together an offensive onslaught at Gardner-Webb, winning 20-9 on a cold, wet Sunday afternoon.
It was the Bearcats' highest offensive output since a 20-19 win over Marquette in the 2021 opener, and the 2-0 start is the first under head coach Gina Thomas. UC also dominated Kent State with a 14-1 lead before the Golden Flashes closed the gap with the contest largely decided. Senior Dani Mlkvy's 13 draw controls also tied the school record, set previously by Megan Bell at Stetson in 2014.
Ava Goeller matched a career-high six goals to lead the way, while freshman Camryn Callaghan added five more after her debut hat trick Friday. Lauren Ottensmeyer followed her four-goal performance in her UC debut to tally a hat trick and three assists on just four shots.
Cincinnati trailed 3-1 and eventually 5-3 early in the second quarter before scoring nine of the next 10 goals for a lead it would not relinquish. The Runnin' Bulldogs scored twice late in the half to stay within 12-8 at the break. UC outscored its hosts 7-0 in the third, and freshman Lexie Wolfe got in the scoring column early in the fourth to close it out.
Twenty-seven of the Bearcats' 34 shots were on goal, and they won the turnover battle as well. Cincinnati is 5-0 against Gardner-Webb, surpassing 20 goals in four of those.
Cincinnati is back home for a two-match stretch that begins Friday with Robert Morris at 3 p.m.
It was the Bearcats' highest offensive output since a 20-19 win over Marquette in the 2021 opener, and the 2-0 start is the first under head coach Gina Thomas. UC also dominated Kent State with a 14-1 lead before the Golden Flashes closed the gap with the contest largely decided. Senior Dani Mlkvy's 13 draw controls also tied the school record, set previously by Megan Bell at Stetson in 2014.
Ava Goeller matched a career-high six goals to lead the way, while freshman Camryn Callaghan added five more after her debut hat trick Friday. Lauren Ottensmeyer followed her four-goal performance in her UC debut to tally a hat trick and three assists on just four shots.
Cincinnati trailed 3-1 and eventually 5-3 early in the second quarter before scoring nine of the next 10 goals for a lead it would not relinquish. The Runnin' Bulldogs scored twice late in the half to stay within 12-8 at the break. UC outscored its hosts 7-0 in the third, and freshman Lexie Wolfe got in the scoring column early in the fourth to close it out.
Twenty-seven of the Bearcats' 34 shots were on goal, and they won the turnover battle as well. Cincinnati is 5-0 against Gardner-Webb, surpassing 20 goals in four of those.
Cincinnati is back home for a two-match stretch that begins Friday with Robert Morris at 3 p.m.