Two American Athletic Conference teams played Sunday matinees as Cincinnati scored its second straight win, while No. 16 Vanderbilt fell to another nationally ranked opponent.

SUNDAY, MARCH 6
Cincinnati 17, Akron 5
Denver 10, Vanderbilt 6

CINCINNATI 17, AKRON 5
AKRON, Ohio -- The University of Cincinnati lacrosse team had a season-high scoring output for the second-straight game, this time winning 17-5 at Akron on Sunday to finish a weekend road sweep. It also won 17-11 at Kent State on Friday.
 
The Bearcats also allowed a season-low 14 shots to go with 16-9 advantages in draw controls and turnovers. UC led 4-1 in the first quarter thanks to two Ava Goeller goals, and Elizabeth Murphy added another directly off a draw-control and downfield, 10-second sprint assisted by Kylie Gioia.
 
"I'm really happy with the way we ended the weekend," head coach Gina Thomas said. "As coaches, we have been challenging this team to play to their potential with confidence and energy, and we definitely did that. I'm so proud of our team all-around with embracing the challenge of setting the standard."
 
Five goals over a 2:12 span midway through the second quarter made it a 12-3 lead at the break. Kylie Nause and Alyssa Adams each scored early in the third to really break it open. Paris Alexander scored goals on each of her first two-career shot attempts in the fourth quarter, while freshman classmate Jaycee Engelhard also got in the scoring column in the second.
 
Cincinnati allowed its fewest goals since March 7, 2021, when it beat Kent State, 15-5. Sophie O'Brien played the first three quarters and collected five saves, while Sophia Finotti had five draw controls. Cincinnati also forced 12 turnovers, making it 3-0 when forcing 10 or more.


NO. 12 DENVER 10, NO. 16 VANDERBILT 6
DENVER — Vanderbilt fell 10-6 at No. 12 Denver on Sunday in a cold and snowy Peter Barton Stadium.
 
The No. 16 Commodores (3-2) battled heavy snow, freezing temperatures, and a talented Pioneers squad and were unable to pull off the upset on the road. Vandy trimmed Denver’s lead to two with 10 minutes left in the game, but Denver scored two late goals to pull away.
 
Denver (6-0) scored the first three goals of the game before Maddie Souza got the Dores on the board. Vandy trailed 4-1 after the first 15 minutes.
 
The Commodores outscored the Pioneers 2-1 in the second period with goals from Bri Gross and Lila Huddles. Gross and Huddles would finish with two goals each to lead the Vandy offense.
 
Huddles’ second goal opened the second half and cut Denver’s lead to 5-4, but the Pioneers scored the next three to lead 8-4 going into the final period.
 
Gross and Karlie Bucci scored back-to-back goals within a minute of each other early in the fourth quarter to cut Denver’s lead to 8-6, but that would be as close as the Commodores would get.
 
Gross also finished with five caused turnovers and Gabby Fornia totaled three assists.