CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
 
CINCINNATI –  No. 2 seed Cincinnati used a 5-0 run midway through the first half to pull ahead for good, prevailing in a defensive battle over Temple 13-9 in the American Athletic Conference Women’s Lacrosse semifinals at the Sheakley Athletics Center on Thursday.
 
The Bearcats (12-6) advance to the title game in their first-ever postseason appearance, and will meet top-seeded Florida on Saturday at 1 p.m. for the championship. The Gators and Bearcats will meet for the second time in as many weeks, with Florida prevailing 25-6 in the final regular season contest.
 
Alyssa Adams led the Bearcats with four goals, all in the first half, and added four draw controls on the game. Giuliana Durso was solid in net, making eight saves with seven in the first half to help Cincinnati pull away. Monica Borzillo and Kylie Nause both recorded hat tricks, with Sam Mlkvy collecting six draw controls.
 
For Temple (6-11), Maddie Gebert was responsible for more than half of the Owls’ scoring, totaling five goals on eight shots. Bridget Whitaker posted four assists, six draw controls and three ground balls in an all-around performance. Maryn Lowell turned aside nine shots in 54 minutes between the pipes.
 
Defense reigned supreme in the first half, with neither team able to build more than a one-goal lead until 28 minutes in. At 14:47, Mlkvy bumped the Bearcats ahead 5-4, and Borzillo potted her second goal two minutes later.
 
Cincinnati would then score four more, including a consecutive hat trick by Adams, to build its largest lead to 9-4. Gebert halted the run right before half with her first goal of the game, pulling Temple within four at the break.
 
In the second half, Gebert took control for the Owls, scoring all four of her team’s goals in the frame. The first came moments in, making the score 9-13 in favor of the Bearcats before Cincinnati strung together another three-goal run. The span gave the Bearcats key possession time, as the hosts held Temple scoreless for 14 minutes. Borzillo and Amanda Donovan recorded a goal and an assist apiece in the stretch.
 
Gebert struck again for back-to-back goals with 12 minutes remaining, but another drought by both teams followed by a Nause goal wouldn’t allow the Owls to get any closer.
 
Saturday’s American’s Women’s Lacrosse Championship will be available live on the American Digital Network (facebook.com/AmericanDigitalNetworkPlus). Live coverage will be available throughout the championship at TheAmerican.org/WLax and on the conference’s social media platforms: @American_WLax on Twitter and American_Conf on Facebook.
 
2019 American Athletic Conference
Women’s Lacrosse Championship
Sheakley Athletics Center
Host: Cincinnati
 
Thursday, May 2 – Semifinals
American Digital Network
Game 1: No. 1 Florida 19, No. 4 Vanderbilt 10
Game 2: No. 2 Cincinnati 13, No. 3 Temple 9
 
Saturday, May 4 – Championship
American Digital Network
Game 3: No. 1 Florida vs. No. 2 Cincinnati – 1 p.m. ET