Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech got off to a slow start, trailing Cincinnati 4-0 inside of four minutes, but rebounded with scoring runs of its own to take a lead into halftime and go on to win 19-8 at the Beamer-Lawson Indoor Practice Facility Wednesday.
(2/20/2019) 2019 LACROSSE vs. CINCINNATI
The win evens the Hokies' record at 2-2 on the young season ahead of their first ACC game Saturday afternoon at No. 15 Duke.
"That second half was Virginia Tech lacrosse," head coach John Sung said. "Our movement was good, our shooting was good, we were 50 percent so I'm happy about that. I was able to rotate in some players and spread out the minutes so that's always a positive for us too."
Tech scored the first eight goals of the second period, going up by ten to initiate a running clock.
Eight different Hokies found the back of the net, in the program's biggest offensive explosion since putting 22 goals past VCU in March of last season. All-American Paige Petty led the way scoring six goals, including the final four before the halftime break, which gave Tech a 9-7 advantage heading into the locker room.
Tech controlled possession for much of the contest winning 17 draws to the Bearcats' 11. Sophomore defender Elena Ricci was placed on the circle and scooped up seven, a new career best. She also had three ground balls and played stingy as part of the defensive unit that kept Cincinnati off of the scoreboard for a 29-minute stretch.
"Elena Ricci was very good today and Morgan Berman had another really good performance for us," Sung said. "She has stepped into that role almost seamlessly and she had nine more big saves today especially early on to keep us in it."
Berman has had a great start to 2019, recording 33 saves.
Three Hokies scored three points in the game; Mary Clair Byrne (3 goals), Julia Bolte (2 goals, 1 assist) and Sarah Lubnow (2 goals, 1 assist).
"I'm excited for this weekend to start ACC play because this is what we came here to do, to compete at the highest level and Duke is a really good team so it will be a challenge," Sung said of the upcoming game at Duke. "We can't spot them four goals like we did today because it will be an uphill battle."
Cincinnati was led by attacker Monica Brozillo who scored four goals and added an assist. Alysaa Adams was instrumental in the first half, securing five draw controls, one of which led to her scoring a goal just nine seconds after her teammate Kate Carney.
The Bearcats used three different goalies to play the 60 minutes, with the loss going to Giuliana Durso who made 10 saves on the afternoon. Her record sits at 2-2, the same of the team's.
Inside the box score
- Tech was better in every phase of the game statistically, including doubling up the Bearcats in shots 40-20.
- The Hokies scooped up 18 ground balls to the Bearcats' 13.
- Tech had its highest clear percentage of 2019, going 18 for 19 in that category Wednesday afternoon.
Game Notes
- Byrne's hat trick was the first of her career in 46 games played
- Tech started all four captains, Mary Clair Byrne, Julia Bolte, Kelci O'Donnell and Emma Harden together for the first time in 2019. For Harden it was her first start of the season as her minutes increase as she gets more comfortable after her season ending injury a year ago. She scored two goals. O'Donnell's start was her first since 2017.
What's next
- The Hokies will begin ACC play this weekend with a trip to No. 15 Duke on Saturday, Feb. 23. First draw from Koskinen Stadium is scheduled for noon, and the game will be shown on ACC Network Extra.
- Tech's next contest after the clash with the Blue Devils will be on Wednesday, Feb. 27 when they travel to Norfolk, Virginia to take on ODU.