THIS WEEK
The University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's lacrosse team will be hosting #12 Colorado Mesa University this Friday, Mar. 29 at Mountain Lion Stadium. The game is scheduled for 5 p.m.

ABOUT THE MOUNTAIN LIONS
UCCS currently has a record of 3-5, including a 1-1 record in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC). Last week, the Mountain Lions fell to #23 New York Institute of Technology, their fourth matchup against a ranked opponent this season. Now eight games into the season, UCCS has 106 goals (fifth in the RMAC) and their shooting percentage is still right around 43 percent. The Mountain Lions' recent six goal performance dropped their season average per game to 13.25, but that still ranks top five in the RMAC (fifth).

The Mountain Lions have 145 points this season (fifth in the RMAC), average 18.13 points per game (fifth in the RMAC), 39 total assists (4.88 per game, both fourth in the RMAC), a shots on goal percentage of almost 74 percent, 13 free position goals, 117 draw controls (14.63 per game, both fourth in in the RMAC) and 93 caused turnovers (11.63 per game, ranking fifth and third respectively in the RMAC).

Angela Naughton continues to lead the offense for UCCS, as she ranks first on the team in both goals (21) and points (28) thanks to seven assists. Kiera Lowe remains second on the team in points (20), thanks to her 15 goals (second on the team) and five assists. Natalie Church continues to lead the team in assists with 10 (eighth in the RMAC), adding on eight goals for her 18 points and Brianna Martinez remains in the third sport for goals scored with 12.

Church continues to pace the Mountain Lions in draw controls, now totaling 47 on the year (fifth in the RMAC) and averaging 5.88 per game (third in the RMAC). While Church continues to lead the team In draw controls, Ellie O'Brien continues to lead the team in caused turnovers with 23 on the year (2.88 per game, both third in the RMAC).

Goalkeeper Kennedy Travis has added 12 saves to her total, giving her a team high 50 this season.

LAST TIME OUT
The Mountain Lions dropped their second straight game last week to #23 New York Tech by a score of 17-6. New York Tech jumped out to an early lead, scoring four goals in the first five minutes, as opposed to UCCS' one. The Bears went on to score seven unanswered to make the score 11-1 with nine minutes left in the first half.

UCCS scored three goals to end the first half with the score 12-4, but the lead created by the Bears proved to be too much.

Four Mountain Lions netted goals in the game, with Angela Naughton tallying her fifth game with at least three goals this season. Audrey Napp, Madison Ellis and Natalie Church all had one goal in the game as well, giving Napp and Ellis four and 10 goals for the season respectively.

Brianna Martinez had the only assist of the game for the Mountain Lions as she helped Naughton score her third goal.

Natalie Church and Ellie O'Brien again led the team in draw controls and caused turnovers, each recording four and five respectively.

The goalkeepers for UCCS were berated with shots in the game (37 total). Kennedy Travis led the Mountain Lions with 12 of the 14 saves, a season high for her.

SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS
The Mavericks have and 8-1 record on the season and a 2-1 record in the RMAC, awarding them the #12 rank in the nation. Their only loss of the season came at the hands of #6 Lindenwood University by a score of 18-15. The Mavericks' best game of the year came against Oklahoma Baptist University in a dominating 21-0 shutout. Ten different players scored in the game, including three players netting hat tricks.

In their nine games, the Mavericks have 241 points (26.78 per game, first in the RMAC),148 goals (16.44 per game, both second in the RMAC), a shooting percentage of 51 percent (second in the RMAC), 93 assists (10.33 per game, both first in the RMAC), 15 free position goals, and 138 draw controls and caused turnovers (15.33 per game, ranks third and first in the RMAC respectively).

Olivia Hayden and Page Elliot lead the Mavericks offensively, each totaling 42 and 53 points on the year so far (third and second in the RMAC respectively). Hayden leads the team in goals with 31 (3.44 per game, both third in the RMAC). She also has 11 assists which is third most on the team. Elliot is far and away the leader in assists with 42 (4.62 per game, both first in the RMAC), which is more than double any other player in the RMAC.

Mary Koch has the second most goals on the team with 21 and Kenzie Blackwell has the second most assists with 16.

Hayden along with Erin Koehler lead the team and the RMAC in caused turnovers with 35 each (3.89 per game). Hayden also leads the team in draw controls with 78 (8.67 per game, both second in the RMAC).

Lula Mitchell is the main goalkeeper for CMU with six starts (seven appearances) under her belt. In those appearances, she has a team high 39 saves and an undefeated 6-0 record.

WEATHER FORECAST
The forecast for this Friday, Mar. 29 shows a high of 50 degrees and a low of 24 degrees. Expect a cloudy day and some scattered rain showers throughout the day and wind gusts of up to 19 miles per hour. For any schedule changes due to weather, stay tuned to gomountainlions.com.

UP NEXT
UCCS will be traveling to Alamosa, Colo. on Friday, April 5 to take on Adams State University. The game is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. On Sunday of next weekend (April 7), the Mountain Lions will be traveling to Durango, Colo to take on Fort Lewis College. That game is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m.