GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's lacrosse team came up just short on the road, falling to Colorado Mesa University Thursday evening, 16-13. The Mavericks, who received votes in the latest IWLCA Division II poll, complete the series sweep over UCCS.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final Score: UCCS 13, Colorado Mesa 16
- Records: UCCS (10-6, 7-4 RMAC) | CMU (12-4, 10-1 RMAC)
- Facility | Location: Community Hospital Unity Field | Grand Junction, Colo.
- All-Time Series: CMU leads the all-time series, 6-0.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Both teams were evenly matched in the opening stanza, finishing the quarter tied at 2-2. Colorado Mesa took the first lead of the game seven minutes from the first draw before Audrey Napp knotted the game on a free-position goal. A second goal by Wentz gave the home team their second lead of the game but Ava Goodnature found Natalie Church with just 59 seconds left in the quarter to match the score at 2-2.
- Julia Patrick scored on a free-position goal just 50 seconds into the second quarter to give the Mountain Lions their first lead of the game, but it would be the last as the Mavericks turned on the jets, outscoring UCCS 7-2 in the next 13 minutes to take a 9-5 lead at halftime. CMU used two scoring runs in the second quarter to extend their lead. Hannah Mill broke up a 3-0 scoring run to bring UCCS within one goal, 5-4, with 6:59 left in the first half. Another 3-0 run by CMU gave them an 8-4 lead before Patrick scored a player-up free-position goal, bringing UCCS within three, 8-5, but the Mavericks ended the half on the fifth free-position score of the night.
- UCCS struck first to open the second half when Church connected with Angela Naughton two minutes into the third quarter. A free-position goal from CMU at 10:06 was answered by UCCS with back-to-back goals from Napp and Mill, bringing the Mountain Lions within two goals, 10-8, halfway through the third stanza. CMU responded to UCCS' three goals with two straight goals from Ashton Little, giving the Mavericks a 12-8 lead after three quarters of action.
- UCCS outscored the Mavericks in the last quarter, 5-4, as Church was responsible for four of the five goals. She led off the fourth quarter with a free-position goal followed by an unassisted goal to cut into the Mavs lead, 12-10. CMU answered with four straight goals in a three-minute span to tie their largest lead of the game, 16-10. Mill and Church found the back of the net on unassisted goals before Church assisted Naughton for the final score of the game, 16-13.
GAME STATISTICS
- Church tied the Mavs' Natalie Evans for a game high six points. She scored four goals and assisted on two while attempting a game high 10 shots and six shots on goal. She added three ground balls and won three draws.
- Mill finished with a hat trick, six shots and five shots on goal. Napp, Patrick and Naughton each netted two goals apiece to round out the Mountain Lions scorers. Patrick went 2-for-2 on free position shots as UCCS finished the game converting 4-of-8 free-position shots.
- Holly Sodomka and Regan Olson matched Church for a team high three ground balls as Patrick won a team high six draws.
- Madison McGriff recorded seven saves, five of which came in the second quarter, as she moves to 8-6 on the season.
- CMU's Whittle notched a game high five goals followed by Kiley Davis' four goals. Whittle also won a game high seven draws.
- UCCS just trailed CMU in shots, 32-35. Fourteen of their 32 shots came in the first quarter. The Mavericks edged the Mountain Lions in ground balls (21-19) and draws (20-13).
- The Mountain Lions were successful on 14-of-19 clear attempts while CMU went 17-of-21.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The 29 goals scored tonight are the most goals scored in a game by both teams since UCCS and CMU last faced off on April 3 that featured 34 goals (CMU 19, UCCS 15).
- The score difference between UCCS and CMU in the last four meetings since 2019 has been within four goals in each game.
UP NEXT
- UCCS will play their final game of the regular season on Saturday at Westminster College. Game time is set for 2 p.m.
SOCIAL
Twitter - @GoMountainLions
Instagram - @gomountainlions
Facebook – Go Mountain Lions
As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs competes in 16 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
