COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Four University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's lacrosse seniors –
Sarah Watts,
Anna Markham,
Grace Martinez and
Kyer Frederick – played their final home game of their career Sunday afternoon, helping the Mountain Lions to a 13-9 win over Fort Lewis College. Today's win also clinched the No. 3 seed for UCCS in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference women's lacrosse championship tournament.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: UCCS 13, Fort Lewis 9
Records: UCCS (6-10, 5-5 RMAC), FLC (6-10, 3-7 RMAC)
Facility | Location: Mountain Lion Stadium | Colorado Springs, Colo.
All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions have won seven straight games against the Skyhawks and a 7-2 all-time.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- UCCS dominated the first quarter, netting the first four goals of the game and holding the Skyhawks without an offensive possession for the first six minutes. Erica Rivera connected with Julia Patrick for the first score of the game, before Rivera found the back of the net on an unassisted goal, followed by back-to-back goals from Brielle Fannin with 4:17 left in the quarter. The Skyhawks took advantage of two yellow cards to record two player-up goals in the closing 2:21 of the first stanza.
- Rivera posted her second score of the game just 41 seconds into the second quarter, but the Skyhawks stormed back to knot the game at 5-5. Patrick helped the Mountain Lions stay ahead of FLC, scoring two goals in three minutes to give UCCS a 7-5 lead at halftime.
- The Mountain Lions turned up the heat in the third quarter, holding FLC to just one goal. The Skyhawks Samantha Rodgers broke nearly a 15-minute scoring drought as she netted the first goal of the second half, but Rivera, Allie Schell, Frederick and Fannin each put the ball between the posts to extend their lead to 11-6 after three quarters of action. Patrick and Sydnee-Anne Moeller put the finishing touches on the win with two scores in the fourth quarter as UCCS closed the regular season on a two-game winning streak.
STATS FROM THE GAME
- UCCS outshot the Skyhawks, 34-31, and 24-21 shots on goal. Both teams picked up 30 ground balls while the Mountain Lions won 16 of the 26 draws.
- Three Mountain Lions recorded hat tricks Sunday afternoon. Patrick's four goals and two assists led all players. She also tied Fannin for the team high seven shots. Patrick won four draws and picked up one ground ball.
- Rivera finished the game with three scores and assisted on another while all six of her shots landed on frame. She dominated the draws, winning a game high six and she picked up two ground balls.
- Six of Fannin's seven shots landed on goal, while three of them landed inside the back of the net. She also scooped up a team high six ground balls and won one draw.
- Avery Beck-Davis led the defensive unit with three ground balls and two caused turnovers.
- McGriff collected her sixth win of the season in goal, stopping 12 shots as part of her .571 save percentage.
- FLC was led by Haley Dotsie's two goals, an assist, nine shots and six shots on goal. Goalie Averi Basso defended the goal for the Skyhawks, making 11 saves.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The Mountain Lions have scored at least 10 goals in eight games this season, including the last three games.
- Patrick has tallied nine hat tricks this season, while Rivera tallied her third straight hat trick of the season and fourth overall. Fannin also registered her third straight hat trick today, bringing her season total to six.
UP NEXT
- UCCS will now head to the 2023 RMAC tournament to take on Colorado Mesa University on May 5.
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.
