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Just two weeks away from its season opener, the Bearcats lacrosse team announced it will play its 2012 home slate at Nippert Stadium instead of the newly built Sheakley Athletic Complex.

“The seniors are really excited to finish their career where it all started four years ago,” said UC head coach Lellie Swords. “Nippert is such an amazing place to play, so we’re looking forward to returning to the stadium where the program started.”

Swords enters her fifth season, and is returning nine starters — including the program’s all-time leading scorer in senior midfielder Laura Simanski.

Simanski has accrued a program-best 125 points and 115 goals in her career. After starting all 15 games, Simanski led the Bearcats in 2011 with 22 goals, including a team-best 11 free position goals.

Additionally, UC returns five of its top-six scorers. In addition to Simanski, the Bearcats return last year’s leading point-scorer in junior attacker Katie Kiriazoglou, who scored a team-best 34 points, including 16 goals and a team-high 18 assists.

The Bearcats will open their 2012 season Feb. 17 when they travel to California to play San Diego State.

The team will remain on the road for its next four games, facing Fresno State, Presbyterian, Longwood and Liberty, respectively.

Cincinnati lacrosse plays its first home game against Iona, scheduled for March 17 at 12 p.m., and is slated to remain at Nippert to battle Big East rival Louisville March 27.

From there, it’s on the road for two games against Villanova and New Brunswick, followed by two home games where the Cats will face off against Conneticut and Syracuse.

The Bearcats will end off their season at Notre Dame and Detroit.