March 8, 2009

Final Stats

CINCINNATI, Ohio - A goal from Natalie Starvaggi with 6:05 left in the contest lifted the University of Cincinnati (4-1-0) to a tense 11-10 victory over Villanova (1-3-0) in a women's lacrosse game played here on Sunday. Junior Erica Rybinski scored four goals and added an assist for the Wildcats, who rallied from a three goal second half deficit to nearly knock off a future BIG EAST rival.

The Bearcats broke out to a 2-0 lead on goals from MacKenzie Parsons and Laura Simanski in the game's first 86 seconds. But Villanova reeled off the next four scores, getting goals from Rachel Lasda, Carly Miller and a pair from Taylor Lucy to gain the 4-2 edge with 22:33 left in the first half.

Cincinnati responded with three goals over the next 12 minutes to regain the lead at 5-4. But two goals by Rybinski, one with 8:47 left in the half and another 30 seconds later on a free position shot, helped the Wildcats grab a 6-5 lead at intermission.

Starvaggi scored a pair of goals at the second half that was part of a four goal Bearcat outburst that pushed Cincinnati into a 9-6 lead. However, the Wildcats picked up two more Rybinski goals and another off the stick of Sarah Berger to draw even at nine with 8:27 left to play.

Lindsey Marshall gave the Bearcats a 10-9 lead with an unassisted goal at 7:44. Sophomore Mia Naccarato scored off a free position shot to tie the contest at 10 before Starvaggi picked up the game-winner on an unassisted goal with 6:05 on the clock.

Villanova outshot Cincinnati 30-28 while the Bearcats had a 22-21 edge in groundballs. Sophomore Maggie Langan made 12 saves in net for the Wildcats while Katherine Russo made an equal number of saves for the home team.

The Wildcats will officially join the BIG EAST Conference in women's lacrosse in 2010.