COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Facing their fifth ranked opponent in eight games, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's lacrosse team played host to No. 23 New York Institute of Technology Friday afternoon.  The Mountain Lions fell to the Bears, 17-6.
 
NYIT (5-2) scored quickly to start the game, netting two goals in the first three minutes.  Angela Naughton responded and scored her first of three goals in the game to put UCCS on the scoreboard.
 
The Bears took control and knocked in nine straight goals in the ensuing 17 minutes, including a natural hat trick from Jaclyn Grzelaczyk.
 
Trailing 11-1 with seven minutes left in the first half, Natalie Church and Naughton combined to find the back of the net three times to cut into the Bears lead, 11-4.  NYIT added one more goal before halftime from Grzelaczyk, boosting their lead to 12-4 at intermission.
 
New York Tech's lead grew to double digits again after two goals to start the second half.  Audrey Napp scored her fourth goal of the season with 17:23 left in the game.  Two more goals from NYIT grew the Mountain Lions deficit to 11 goals, 16-5, before Madison Ellis snagged a man-up goal for the sixth and final point of the game for UCCS.
 
NYIT's controlled the start of each draw, winning 20 of the 25 draw controls.  The Bears defense picked up 32 ground balls to the Mountain Lions 20.
 
Naughton finished with three goals, including a free position goal, and attempted six shots.
 
Napp, Ellie O'Brien and Kennedy Travis each picked up three ground balls, while Church pulled down four of UCCS five draw controls.
 
NYIT's Grzelaczyk and Sara Giammarella each scored five goals. The duo combined to record 13 points.
 
Emma Becker allowed seven goals and made two saves in 10 minutes. 
 
UCCS will return to RMAC action on Friday, March 29 against Colorado Mesa University at 5 p.m.