Williamsburg, KY – Bella Ricchiazzi tallied ten points, while Olivia McCarrell made 12 saves to lead the fifth-ranked Patriots women's lacrosse team to a 16-6 win over fourth-ranked Life Saturday afternoon in their home finale.  The win improves Cumberlands to 14-1 overall and extends their win streak to 13 straight, while the Running Eagles move to 8-4.

Ricchiazzi netted seven goals and three assists in the game as she has surpassed 200 career assists, becoming the first Patriot player to achieve that feat.  McCarrell made 12 saves to go along with two ground balls and a caused turnover in the win.  Reegan Hensley notched two goals and two assists, while Aleyah Belton finished with three points.  Emma Rittman scooped seven draw controls as UC's added four caused turnovers 13 ground balls. 

Cumberlands struck first as Belton converted a pair of free position goals to give UC a 2-1 lead five minutes into the game.  After Life evened the score, Ricchiazzi netted consecutive goals off assists from Hensley and Belton to put UC in front 4-2 midway through the quarter.  The Running Eagles tied the score at 4-4 before Anna Lobbezoo won the draw control and on the ensuing possession Morgan Terpstra found Morgan Tate just in front of the crease as she fired a shot into the upper portion of the cage to put UC in front 5-4.  McCarrell made two of her four first quarter saves to keep the Patriots in front after the first period.

The Patriots took control of the possession early in the second quarter as Ricchiazzi netted a pair of goals to extend the lead to 7-4 with 9:15 remaining.  UC took advantage of penalties as Emma Rittman found Lobbezoo for a man-up goal before she added a goal of her own to make it 9-4. Less than a minute later, McCarrell stopped a Lexi Santiago shot as Hensley netted a goal to give the Patriots a 11-4 lead at half.

Cumberlands continued their stifling defense in the third quarter as they held Life scoreless, while McCarrell made five saves in the period.  It was a back-and-forth battle as both teams struggled offensively but Ricchiazzi netted the lone goal of the quarter to make it 12-4.  The two teams traded goals twice to open the fourth quarter before Ricchiazzi connected with Tate for a man-up goal as Cumberlands pulled away for the 16-6 final.

The Patriots held Life to their lowest offensive output since the 2019 season.  Cumberlands outshot the Running Eagles 27-23 in the game.

UC will close out their regular season on Thursday, April 13, when they travel to face Thomas More in Crestview Hills, KY.  The game is set for a 2 p.m. start with live video available here.

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