TicketsCINCINNATI — The University of Cincinnati lacrosse team returns home to host Louisville at 12 p.m. ET on Thursday at Nippert Stadium.
// DOMINATING THE DRAW
Led by sophomore Morgan Handzel, the Bearcats have established themselves as one of the nation's premier draw units — and Handzel is rewriting the record books in the process.
On Sunday, Handzel delivered a historic performance against Eastern Michigan, tying the NCAA single-game record with 24 draw controls — shattering her own program record of 16 she had set just two days earlier against Kent State. She was named Big 12 Draw Specialist of the Week for the third time this season after totaling 40 draw controls across the two-game weekend.
Handzel has totaled 115 draw controls this season — 11.5 per game, which ranks fifth nationally — the most in program history with seven games still remaining. As a team, Cincinnati is averaging 16.4 draws won per contest — 12th nationally and second in the Big 12 — while posting a .661 draw percentage that ranks seventh in the country and first in the Big 12.
// BIG 12 WEEK 5 HONORS
Handzel and freshman Payton Kozina earned recognition in Week 5 of the Big 12 weekly awards, with Handzel collecting her third Draw Specialist of the Week honor and Kozina was named Freshman of the Week.
Handzel was dominant in the draw circle all weekend, totaling 40 draw controls across the two games. She delivered a historic performance against Eastern Michigan, tying the NCAA single-game record with 24 draw controls, and set the program record at the time with 16 against Kent State on Friday.
Kozina complemented the weekend with five goals, including a hat trick against Eastern Michigan.
// QB1
Sophomore Paige Selhorn continues to cement herself as one of the nation's top offensive threats.
The Westbury, N.Y., native leads the country in total points (62) and ranks second in both assists (30) and goals (32). Within the Big 12, she sits first in points per game (6.2) and second in assists per game (3.0), while ranking fourth in goals per game (3.2). In just her second season, Selhorn has already accumulated 127 career points, tied for seventh in program history.
// LAST TIME OUT
Cincinnati went 2-0 over the weekend, picking up road wins against Kent State and Eastern Michigan to build momentum heading into Wednesday's matchup.
Against Eastern Michigan, the Bearcats' offense was led by sophomore Alyse Keels with five goals and Selhorn with seven points on four goals and three assists. Senior Lexie Wolfe and Kozina — who earned Big 12 Freshman of the Week honors — both added hat tricks. Cincinnati dominated the draw circle with 26 team draw controls, tying a program record set in 2012, compared to Eastern Michigan's one, and outshot the Eagles 24-17 in a 16-9 victory.
// SCOUTING LOUISVILLE
Louisville enters the matchup riding a 15-5 victory over Florida State, fueled by a school-record 19 saves from sophomore goalie Haley Richards — the ACC and NCAA leader in saves and saves per game — and a career-high six-point performance from senior Maggie McMahon (4G, 2A).
The Cardinals' offense is led by Ella Berg (18 goals) and Reese Whiteman (17 goals), while the defense is anchored by Cate Kangas, who leads the team with 13 caused turnovers and 18 groundballs. Louisville improved to 3-4 overall with the win.
// SERIES HISTORY
Louisville leads the all-time series 17-1. In the most recent meeting on Feb. 12, 2025, the Cardinals won 11-9 in Louisville.
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