Women's Lacrosse Faces BIG EAST Foe Cincinnati on Sunday
April 20, 2013 | Women's Lacrosse
April 20, 2013
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville women's lacrosse team starts its first of a three-game homestand on Sunday, April 21, with a contest against BIG EAST foe Cincinnati at the UofL Lacrosse Stadium at 1 p.m.
The Cardinals enter the weekend sporting an 8-6 overall mark, going 0-5 against BIG EAST competition. Louisville has dropped two of its last three games, falling at Syracuse 19-7 and dropping a 12-11 overtime decision at Connecticut.
Tewaaraton Trophy Award watch list member Nikki Boltja, a junior, was the Cardinals' main offensive threat in those two games, registering a combined nine goals and an assist. Seven other players registered scores during that stretch. Monica Negron was the team's leader in ground balls with seven, but has won just one draw control. Defensively, the Cardinals forced 33 turnovers and are holding opponents to just 3 of 7 on free-position attempts.
Statistically, Louisville ranks in the top 15 nationally in draw controls (No. 9), scoring offense (No. 11), caused turnovers (No. 12), points (No. 14), and scoring margin (No. 15).
Boltja, who leads the team with 51 goals, ranks fourth nationally in the category. Her 3.64 goals per game mark ranks third in the country. Senior Katie Oliverio has been credited with 34 assists this season, and Negron leads the team with 52 caused turnovers. She is tied with Kaylin Morissette for a team-best 19 caused turnovers.
Cincinnati, which is riding a three-game losing streak, also is in search of its first conference victory this year. After most recently falling to Syracuse, the Bearcats' record dropped to 6-7 overall, 0-5 in league play.
In the 21-6 loss at the Orange, Cincinnati was held to just one goal in the first half. Megan Bell led Cincinnati with three goals in the loss, and Marissa Pierson added two. Fifteen Syracuse players registered at least one goal, and Alyssa Murray led the team with three goals and three assists. In the team statistics, the Orange outshot the Bearcats 43-13, secured more ground balls 23-16, and Cincinnati totaled 23 turnovers.
The Bearcats other loss last weekend came in the form of a 15-2 decision at Connecticut. Bell and Sarah Del Bene were the only Bearcats to score goals in the loss. Cincinnati, which was unable to register a goal in the first period, turned the ball over 24 times in the contest, and was outshot 28-13.
Cincinnati is under the direction of first-year head coach Gina Oliver, who previously spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Duquesne. Bell leads the team with 23 goals, while Kylie Ramsland has a program-best 27 points. Starting goalkeeper Meg Gulmi owns an 11.77 goals-against average and has made 104 saves this season.
