COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. –
Emma Grace Martin propelled the University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's lacrosse team to an 18-13 win Tuesday afternoon at Mountain Lion Stadium in their season-opening match against Davenport University.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final Score: W, 18-13
- Records: UCCS (1-0, 0-0 RMAC) | DU (0-2, 0-0 GLIAC)
- Facility | Location: Mountain Lion Stadium | Colorado Springs, Colo.
- All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions even the series to 1-1 all-time against the Panthers.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST QUARTER: UCCS 5, DU 1
- Freshman Sophia Watts scored her first collegiate goal to put UCCS on the scoreboard, 1-0, less than three minutes from the opening draw. A goal from DU's Blakely Malpass knotted the game at 1-1 before the Mountain Lions went on a 4-0 run. Sarah Urbanic and Martin collected player-up goals before Watts scored her second goal of the quarter. Martin's player-down goal with 1:18 left in the opening stanza pushed UCCS' lead to 5-1 after one quarter of action.
SECOND QUARTER: DU 8, UCCS 4
- The Panthers started to claw their way back into the game in the second quarter, outscoring UCCS, 4-1 in the first half of action. Martin connected with Urbanic with five minutes left in the half to give UCCS a two-goal cushion, 7-5, but Davenport closed out the half as Mika Kulynych fired one into the back of the net with two ticks left on the clock, tying the game at 9-9 heading into intermission.
THIRD QUARTER: UCCS 5, DU 1
- After halftime adjustments, the Mountain Lions took control of the second half, starting with Kiley Cuddahy's second straight goal for UCCS and then a player-up free-position goal from Peyton Ross just 30 seconds later. Ross picked up a ground ball from a DU turnover that led to Martin's fifth goal of the game with 9:15 left in the third quarter. Forcing the Panthers to take a timeout with UCCS on top, 12-9, the Mountain Lions rattled off two more goals from Sydnee-Anne Moeller and Allie Schell, giving UCCS their largest lead of the game, 14-9.
FOURTH QUARTER: UCCS 4, DU 3
- Leading the visiting team 14-10 to start the final stanza, the Panthers put two goals in the back of the net to cut into UCCS' lead, 14-12, before Urbanic recorded a hat trick with 13:02 left in regulation, boosting UCCS back to a three-goal lead. The Panthers reentered their starting goalie, Zoe Cassell, at the 10:23 mark and UCCS quickly tested her between the posts. Ava Goodnature's ground ball led to Martin finding Schell for her first hat trick of the season and a 16-13 home team lead. Two Panthers were sent to the penalty box with yellow cards within seven seconds of each other, putting UCCS in command as Martin and Urbanic combined for back-to-back player-up goals within 22 seconds, sealing the win for the Mountain Lions, 18-13.
FINAL SCORE: UCCS 18, DU 13
GAME STATISTICS
- Three Mountain Lions recorded hat tricks with Martin's game-high five goals. She added a game-high eight points with three assists to go with her seven shots.
- Urbanic added five points behind four goals and an assist, as Schell chipped in three goals as part of her four points.
- Martin, Meghan Weiss, and Goodnature each picked up three ground balls, accounting for 15 of UCCS' 25 ground balls.
- The Mountain Lions edged DU in draw controls with Urbanic winning six.
- DU was led by Malpass' five goals, two assists, and six shot attempts.
- Ellen Gernert started in goal for the Mountain Lions and made four saves in the first half. Jordyn Nuñez earned her first career win in goal, claiming three saves and allowing four goals in the second half.
- The Mountain Lions were successful on 15-of-17 clears and outshot the Panthers, 29-24.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Today's win marks the first win for first-year head coach Brice Queener.
- Martin's five goals are a career-high as she notched her fourth career hat trick.
- Urbanic and Schell registered their fifth and third career hat tricks, respectively
- Martin's eight points are tied for the fourth most all-time at UCCS, and her five goals are tied for the sixth most.
- This is the fifth time in UCCS' nine years history they have won the season-opening game.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions will play their first road game of the season this Thursday at Rockhurst University. The first draw from Kansas City, Mo. is slated for 2 p.m. (MT).
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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.
