COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Playing the final home game of the 2019 season and the final career home game for seniors Ellie O'Brien and Stephanie Warhoe, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's lacrosse team nearly pulled out an upset over No. 8 Lindenwood University, but UCCS fell short, 18-15.

UCCS moves to 6-8 overall and 4-4 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

The Mountain Lions struck first and quickly when Angela Naughton scored the first goal of the game less than 20 seconds from the start.

LU's Paige Sutton netted back-to-back goals before Kiera Lowe added two straight goals to give UCCS a 3-2 lead in the ninth minute.  The Lions (14-1, 7-1 RMAC) retaliated with four goals before Sydney Malcolm found the back of the net on a free position shot, and Kyer Frederick inched UCCS closer to LU with her 12th goal of the season, 6-5.

Both teams traded the final six goals of the first half as LU held a slight edge heading into the break, 9-7.

UCCS came out of halftime on fire to score five goals and take a 12-9 lead.  Brianna Martinez found Audrey Napp only 61 seconds into the second stanza.  Natalie Church assisted Malcolm 30 seconds later to knot the game, 9-9.  Church gave UCCS their third goal of the game three minutes into the second half.  She and Malcom closed out the scoring run with two goals and a 12-9 UCCS lead.

The No. 8 Lions responded again with a six-goal run, including three straight free position goals.

Trailing 15-12 with 12 minutes left in regulation, Napp and Naughton registered two more goals just a minute apart.

Feeling the pressure from the Mountain Lions, LU used the clock and netted three goals within six minutes of action, regaining a four-goal lead with two minutes left.

Church finished the game with a free position goal with 79 ticks left on the clock after taking advantage of a Lions player in the penalty box.

Malcolm and Church paced UCCS with three goals apiece.  Church added three assists to lead UCCS with six points.  She also tallied a team high six draw controls, followed by Napp's four draw wins.

O'Brien picked up a game high seven ground balls and forced LU to turn the ball over twice.

Kennedy Travis played all 60 minutes in goals for UCCS, notching seven saves, including four in the second half.

LU was led by Abby Hagberg's six goals and assist.  She went 3-for-3 in free position shots.

The Mountain Lions were out-shot by LU, 33-24, and edged by the Lions in draw controls, 18-16.

UCCS was successful in 16 of their 18 clear attempts.

The Mountain Lions will play their final game of the regular season on Saturday, April 27 at Rockhurst University.