SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Trailing by as many as six goals at Westminster College, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's lacrosse team fought back and came within one goal of the Griffins in the fourth quarter, but WC held off the Mountain Lions Sunday afternoon, 20-16.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: UCCS 16, Westminster 20
Records: UCCS (4-10, 3-5 RMAC), WC (4-5, 4-5 RMAC)
Facility | Location: Dumke Field | Westminster College
All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions hold a 5-4 all-time series lead over Westminster.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Erica Rivera got the ball rolling for the Mountain Lions when she took a pass from Allie Schell just 61 seconds from the opening draw. Two minutes later Brennan Kelly put the Mountain Lions up, 2-0, before Maddie Kelleher tallied a goal for the home team. Schell brought the Mountain Lions lead back to two goals on Sydney-Anne Moeller's assist. Westminster responded from a two-goal deficit and rattled off five straight goals to snag a 6-3 lead. Fannin ended the opening stanza scoring two goals in the final four minutes, bringing UCCS within two scores of WC, 7-5.
- The Griffins kept the offensive pressure going in the second quarter, outscoring UCCS 5-1 in the first nine minutes to grab their largest lead of the game, 12-6. The Mountain Lions responded with their own firepower, netting three goals in the final 2 minutes and 27 seconds of the half. Olivia Evans notched her first goal of the game at 2:27, followed by an unassisted goal from Rivera. Peyton Ross assisted Fannin for her third goal of the game with just two seconds remaining in the half.
- Ava Goodnature came out of halftime and cut into the Griffins lead, 12-10 just 52 seconds into the half. Both teams were kept at bay in the third stanza with only five total goals scored.
- Trailing 15-11 to start the final quarter, UCCS made a run at the Griffins as Allie Schell, Fannin and Rivera put the ball in the cage within a five-minute span and just a one goal deficit, 15-14. Maddie Kelleher assisted Lauren Shoughro and Shania Shoughro on Westminster's next two goals, but the Mountain Lions continued to fight back with back-to-back goals from Rivera and Julia Patrick within 57 seconds, but the home team kept UCCS at arms-length, scoring the final three goals for a 20-16 result.
STATS FROM THE GAME
- Westminster held a slight edge over UCCS in shots (41-39), shots on goal (32-31), ground balls (31-27) and draws (17-11).
- The Mountain Lions were successful on all 20 of their clear attempts while the Griffins converted 17-of-19.
- Rivera and Fannin finished the game with a team high four goals each and a combined 13 shots. Rivera picked up three ground balls to go with her seven shots and two draws.
- Rivera, Anna Markham and Goodnature each caused a turnover, accounting for all three of UCCS' caused turnovers.
- Kelleher led both teams with a game high five goals and two assists.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Today's setback snapped a three-game winning streak against the Griffins.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions will close out the regular season at home with two matches against Colorado State University Pueblo on Friday at 4 p.m., and Fort Lewis College on Sunday at 1 p.m.
SOCIAL
Twitter – @GoMountainLions
Instagram – @gomountainlions
Facebook – GoMountainLions
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.
