GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The No. 3 seed University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's lacrosse team faced 14^th-ranked and No. 2 seed Regis University Friday night in Grand Junction, Colo. at the Community Hospital Unity Field.  The Mountain Lions fell to the Rangers, 13-5, in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Women's Lacrosse semifinal round. 
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP

• Final Score: L, 13-5
• Records: UCCS (9-6, 6-4 RMAC) | #14 Regis (12-4, 9-1 RMAC)
• Facility | Location: Community Hospital Unity Field | Grand Junction, Colo.
• All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions are 0-15 all-time against the Rangers.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST QUARTER: RU 3, UCCS 2

• Nearly six minutes into the game, Kendra Knutson forced a Regis turnover that was scooped up by Ava Goodnature, putting UCCS on the offensive attack.  Emma Grace Martin drew a foul on the attack, moving her to a free-position opportunity.  From the free position, Martin pulled out and dumped the ball to a cutting Sophia Watts, who put the ball behind Regis' goalie Brigit Goetsch for a 1-0 UCCS lead.  The Rangers won the ensuing draw control but recorded one of their seven turnovers in the quarter.  Erica Rivera snagged the ball and ran down the right sideline before dishing it to Sydnee-Anne Moeller who made a spin move and fired in a shot to put UCCS up 2-0.  The Rangers came back to knot the game at 2-2 after scoring two goals in a two-minute span.  The Mountain Lions received back-to-back cards, sending two players to the penalty box, and the Rangers took full advantage, netting the go-ahead goal, 3-2, with 1:08 left in the quarter.

SECOND QUARTER: RU 2, UCCS 1

• The Rangers took a two-goal lead at 11:18 in the second quarter, 4-2.  On the ensuing possession, UCCS goalkeeper Jordyn Nuñez intercepted a pass, putting UCCS on the attack again. The Mountain Lions were patient on offense, moving the ball around before Rivera drove in for a shot and drew her second free-position of the game.  Starting near the top of the attack zone, Rivera dove in for the shot and bounced the ball in to cut into the lead, 4-3, with 10:06 left in the half. Almost nine minutes passed before another goal was scored when Megan Bunker netted a free-position goal to give RU a 5-3 lead at the half. Redshirt-sophomore Nunez made several critical saves in the half, stopping nine shots on goal from the Regis in just one half.

THIRD QUARTER: RU 3, UCCS 0

• UCCS was held scoreless in the third quarter as the 14^th-ranked Rangers tacked on three goals to extend their lead to 8-3.  Shea Murphy registered her fourth and fifth goals of the game as Naoemi Ramirez snuck in a goal as time expired.

FOURTH QUARTER: RU 5, UCCS 2

• Trailing 9-4 with less than 10 minutes left in regulation, Martin and Watts connected again, nearly mirroring the game-opening goal. Martin started the scoring opportunity on the free-position and hesitated before connecting with Watts for a player-up goal, ending more than a 30-minute scoring drought for UCCS.  The Rangers chipped in four more goals before Watts netted a hat trick with just seven ticks left on the clock.  The Rangers' 13-5 win over UCCS tonight advances them to the RMAC Championship game against Colorado Mesa.

 
FINAL SCORE: RU 13, UCCS 5


GAME STATISTICS

• Sofia Watts led UCCS with three goals, six shots, and three shots on goal.
• Erica Rivera chipped in one goal and an assist and added two ground balls.
• Meghan Weiss registered a team-high five ground balls.
• Jordyn Nuñez made 10 saves in goal for a .435 save percentage.
• Regis was led by Shea Murphy's five goals, six points and 11 shots.
• Regis held an advantage over UCCS in shots (34-19), ground balls (28-19), and draws (14-7).
• UCCS was successful on 21-of-24 clears tonight.

 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• The five goals and eight points tallied are the fewest by UCCS this season.
• UCCS was held scoreless in a quarter (third quarter) for the first time this season.
• Watts notched her ninth hat trick of the season.  With her three goals, she finishes her freshman campaign fourth in the UCCS record books for most goals in a season (43).  She also moved up in the season records for most player-up goals (tied-first, nine), shots on goal (fourth, 70), and shots attempted (sixth, 88).
• Martin's two assists tonight move her to seventh place all-time in assists with 32.  She also moves up to sixth place (tied) for most points in a season (55).
• Goodnature played in her 59^th career game for the Mountain Lions, the fifth most all-time (tied) by any Mountain Lion, while Meghan Weiss' 58 career games are tied for the eighth most.
• Weiss finished her career ranked seventh all-time at UCCS with 81 ground balls.

 
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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.
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