COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Competing in bitterly cold temperatures and gusty winds, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's lacrosse opened the 2024 season at home Tuesday afternoon against the University of Findlay Oilers. The Oilers spoiled UCCS' home opener, 13-9, inside of Mountain Lion Stadium.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final Score: UCCS 9, Findlay 13
- Records: UCCS (1-0, 0-0 RMAC) | UF (1-1, 0-0 GMAC)
- Facility | Location: Mountain Lion Stadium | Colorado Springs, Colo.
- All-Time Series: Tuesday's match marked the first time in program history both teams played each other.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST QUARTER: UCCS 3, Findlay 2
- The Mountain Lions jumped out to an early 2-0 lead as Julia Patrick netted the first goal of the 2024 season before Sarah Urbanic's free position goal put UCCS on top, 2-0, five minutes into the game.
- A green card on the Mountain Lions put Findlay in position to score a player-up goal followed by a game-tying goal by UF's Tessa Chuba.
- Erica Rivera broke the 2-2 tie for UCCS with a free-position player-up goal with 2:21 left in the first stanza, giving UCCS a 3-2 lead after 15 minutes of action.
SECOND QUARTER: Findlay 7, UCCS 2
- On a free-position set play, Kiley Cuddahy connected with Patrick for her second goal of the game as UCCS took a two-goal lead, 4-2.
- The Oilers were able to tie the game at 4-4 after two straight player-up goals, but Urbanic took advantage of a UF turnover and gave UCCS the upper hand, 5-4, with 11:14 left in the half.
- Findlay found the stride in the whipping wind and netted five straight goals to end the first half and take a 9-5 lead into halftime.
THIRD QUARTER: UCCS 2, Findlay 2
- Findlay tacked on another goal to open the third stanza as Chuba scored her fourth goal of the game 37 seconds into the second half.
- Rivera ended nearly a 14-minute scoring drought when she netted UCCS' sixth goal of the game on a free-position shot, cutting into Findlay's lead, 10-6. Peyton Ross joined the scoring action after both teams were held without a score for eight minutes. Ross' goal brought the Mountain Lions within three goals, 10-7, but Findlay matched that goal to take an 11-7 lead after three full quarters.
FOURTH QUARTER: UCCS 2, Findlay 2
- Heading into the final stanza and trailing in their season opener, 11-7, the Mountain Lions started their comeback with back-to-back goals from Cudday (player-down goal) and Patrick within a span of 41 seconds and bringing the game with two scores, 11-9.
- The Oilers responded with two of their own goals, including the final goal of the game with 4:40 left to hand the Mountain Lions a 13-9 season and home opening setback.
FINAL SCORE: Findlay 13, UCCS 9
GAME STATISTICS
- Five Mountain Lions scored goals in today's contest with Patrick netting a team best three goals.
- Rivera and Urbanic added two goals apiece while Cuddahy chipped in a goal and the Mountain Lions lone assist.
- Rivera and Patrick each attempted a team-best five shots. Four of Patrick's shots landed on goal as three of Rivera's shots were on frame.
- Rivera picked up a team high four ground balls as Madison McGriff, Urbanic and Jordyn Nunez each added three.
- UCCS edged the Oilers in ground balls, 23-22 and were successfully on 15-of-20 clears.
- The Oilers won 14 of the 25 draw controls and out shot UCCS, 30-19.
- Tessa Chuba of UF led both teams with six points, nine shots (all on goal), and she won seven draws. Olivia Alvarado added two goals, eight shots and six shots on goal.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The Mountain Lions are 4-4 all-time in their season opening matches.
- Patrick has recorded 24 multiple goals in her career, including 15 hat tricks.
- Redshirt freshman Jordyn Nunez saw her first action in goal in a UCCS uniform. Nunez started the second half and made four saves in 30 minutes.
UP NEXT
- UCCS will play host to Dominican University of California on Monday, March at 4 p.m.
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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs competes in 14 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
