CINCINNATI, OHIO – Cincinnati used a 7-1 second half run to hold off visiting Campbell 17-11 Thursday afternoon at Gettler Stadium.
Campbell (2-5) came within a goal at 10-9 after back to back scores from
Mackenzie Koeller and
Tina Ricci with 19:03 to play, but three straight Cincinnati (6-1) goals, including two from McKenna Rushford in a span of 12 seconds quieted the Camel rally.
The Bearcats held Campbell off the board until
Ellie Allen's second strike of the game with 13:05 on the clock, breaking a 5:58 scoring drought for the visitors. Cincinnati added four consecutive goals after the Allen score, with Amanda Donovan scoring and assisting on one apiece.
UC limited Campbell to just a pair of goals in the final 19 minutes of play, including a score from Ricci with seven seconds remaining, the final goal of the game.
The Bearcats led 8-4 at the half, with three first period goals from Rushford.
Campbell answered with goals from
Sam Carey and
Annie Pazulski to cut the lead to just a pair at 8-6 at the 26:31 mark, sparking the Camels, who scored five of the stanza's first seven goals to bring the match within one.
Rushford paced Cincinnati with six points on five goals and an assist while Amanda Donovan (2 goals, 1 assist), Sam Mlkvy (3 goals) and Gianna Napoletano (3 goals) added three points each. Morgan Dukes also posted six ground balls and caused two of Campbell's 24 turnovers.
Giuliana Durso collected eight saves on 19 Campbell shots on goal (24 total shots).
Pazulski led Campbell on the offensive end, registering four points on a goal and three assists. Four Camels notched two goals in the loss, including
Melissa Placek, Carey, Ricci and Allen. Carey and Ricci added assists.
Carey, along with
Kayla Reilly, also picked up five of Campbell's school single-game record 40 ground balls and caused a turnover each.
Sydney Etheridge made nine saves for CU.
The Camels converted just one of its seven free position shots, while Cincinnati cashed in on 6-of-11.
CU returns home on March 14, hosting George Mason.
