TicketsPHILADELPHIA -- The Cincinnati lacrosse team hung tight to a 7-5 halftime deficit against No. 6 James Madison, but the Dukes scored five times in the fourth quarter to win 13-7 and end UC's season on Thursday evening.
The Bearcats (11-7) had a four-game regular-season improvement in 2023. This was their fourth ranked matchup of the season, all away from home, as well as their closest margin and fewest goals allowed.
Ava Goeller's first-quarter hat trick included giving UC a 2-0 lead at 8:24. Cincinnati's loose start included Ashley Lapp collecting a save on the first possession, and JMU did not score until 4:53. Lapp finished with eight saves altogether and matched a season-high of six ground balls.
Lauren Ottensmeyer's unassisted goal at 12:18 in the second pulled the Bearcats to within 5-4. Kylie Gioia's nifty, trick-like shot from Lindsey Durkota's nice feed gave Cincinnati some momentum with 21 seconds left in the half, trailing only 7-5.
JMU's goal in the first three minutes of the third was the only score that period, but the Dukes found their rhythm early in the final period with two quick goals that proved to be too much to overcome.
Ottensmeyer scored twice in the game, while Gioia and Camryn Callaghan also rounded out the box score.
JMU had a 30-17 shots advantage, helped by a 21-13 difference in turnovers committed.
The Bearcats (11-7) had a four-game regular-season improvement in 2023. This was their fourth ranked matchup of the season, all away from home, as well as their closest margin and fewest goals allowed.
Ava Goeller's first-quarter hat trick included giving UC a 2-0 lead at 8:24. Cincinnati's loose start included Ashley Lapp collecting a save on the first possession, and JMU did not score until 4:53. Lapp finished with eight saves altogether and matched a season-high of six ground balls.
Lauren Ottensmeyer's unassisted goal at 12:18 in the second pulled the Bearcats to within 5-4. Kylie Gioia's nifty, trick-like shot from Lindsey Durkota's nice feed gave Cincinnati some momentum with 21 seconds left in the half, trailing only 7-5.
JMU's goal in the first three minutes of the third was the only score that period, but the Dukes found their rhythm early in the final period with two quick goals that proved to be too much to overcome.
Ottensmeyer scored twice in the game, while Gioia and Camryn Callaghan also rounded out the box score.
JMU had a 30-17 shots advantage, helped by a 21-13 difference in turnovers committed.