TicketsCINCINNATI — The Cincinnati lacrosse team opens its 2026 season Friday evening with a crosstown showdown against Xavier.
Due to inclement weather, the game has been moved from Xavier's Corcoran Field to the Bearcats' Sheakley Indoor Practice Facility with a 5:30 p.m. start time.
Because of the layout of the Sheakley Indoor Practice Facility, the game will be closed to the public and live video coverage will not be available. Fans can follow along via our social media accounts (GoBearcatsLax) on X and Facebook, as well as live stats HERE.
Head coach Gina Thomas enters her 14th season leading the Cincinnati Bearcats women's lacrosse program as the team prepares for its second year competing in the Big 12 Conference. Thomas's continued leadership was recently solidified with a contract extension through 2030.
The Bearcats bring back significant experience with 20 returning letterwinners, including seven starters. Leading the offensive charge are three of last season's top five scorers: Paige Selhorn (20 goals), Lexie Wolfe (16 goals), and Paige Counts (15 goals).
Cincinnati's defensive prowess was on full display last season, finishing first in the Big 12 and 27th nationally in caused turnovers per game (9.53).
The 2025 roster features fresh talent with 11 incoming freshmen joined by four transfers, including junior Brooke Peck (Youngstown State) and sophomore Morgan Handzel (Xavier).
// KEY RETURNERS
Sophomore Paige Selhorn returns after an impressive freshman campaign that earned her unanimous selection to the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team. Selhorn tied for the team lead in points (65) while ranking first in assists (45), third in goals (20), and third in ground balls (25).
Senior Lexie Wolfe anchors the defense after finishing second on the team in draw controls (42) and causing 18 turnovers last season.
// NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
The 2025 roster features an influx of talent with 11 incoming freshmen joined by four transfers who bring both experience and proven production.
Junior Brooke Peck arrives from Youngstown State, where she played and started in all 15 matches last season. Peck finished as the team's third-leading scorer with 26 goals and five assists while posting an impressive .818 shot-on-goal percentage. She found the back of the net in 14 of 15 games and recorded six multi-goal outings, including four hat tricks.
Sophomore Morgan Handzel joins the Bearcats after one season at Xavier, where she saw action in all 15 games with 10 starts. The Woodstock, Georgia native totaled 107 draw controls, three assists, three ground balls, and one caused turnover for the Musketeers. Handzel broke Xavier's program record with 14 draw controls against Cincinnati on Feb. 26, 2025.
Freshman Haley Mario enters the program after a stellar high school career that included back-to-back 90+ goal seasons. Mario earned SCC Player of the Year honors in both her junior and senior seasons and finished as a USA Lacrosse All-American.
Freshman Kyva Holloway arrives as a three-time All-County Player of the Year and Inside Lacrosse Top 100 recruit. Holloway earned GHSA First Team All-State honors in three straight seasons after being named State MVP as a freshman.
// SCOUTING THE MUSKETEERS
The Musketeers finished 2-13 overall with a 1-5 record in the Big East last season. Brittney Morris was named the Xavier women's lacrosse head coach on June 24, 2025, becoming the second head coach in program history. Morris joins the Musketeers from Division III St. Mary's College of Maryland where she won four-straight United East Conference Championships. Megan Patrick, Alexis Rich and Kyle Morris were named the program's assistant coaches.
Morris retained 20 players from last year's squad with the addition of five transfers and seven newcomers. Samantha Balara, Catherine Gurd and Katelyn McDonnell were named the 2026 team captains.
Junior Megan Droney is the team's leading returning scorer, totaling 14 goals in the 2025 season. Balara, a senior midfielder, followed up Droney with 10 goals and added 21 draw controls and 20 ground balls. Colby Wasson totaled 27 ground balls for the Musketeers in just seven games of play last year. Maya Graham led the team with 12 assists as a freshman last year, tying the single-season program record.
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