PUEBLO, Colo. – A dominant defensive performance fueled an offensive outburst for the University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's lacrosse team Thursday afternoon, as the Mountain Lions rolled to a 23-6 win over Colorado State University Pueblo. UCCS forced 19 ThunderWolves turnovers and converted those opportunities into a dominating offensive output, resulting in five different Mountain Lions recording hat tricks in the victory. In the process, the Mountain Lions set two new school records for most points scored in a game (40) and most assists in a game (17).
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final Score: W, 23-6
- Records: UCCS (6-5, 4-2 RMAC) | CSUP (4-8, 1-5 RMAC)
- Facility: Art and Lorraine Gonzales Stadium | Pueblo, Colo.
- All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions move to 12-3 all-time against the ThunderWolves and have won the last 12 games against CSUP.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST QUARTER: UCCS 10, CSU Pueblo 2
- CSU Pueblo struck first, winning the opening draw and converting just 44 seconds into the contest on a goal from Ainsley Jackson. The Mountain Lions wasted little time responding, as Brielle Fannin found Sofia Watts cutting in from the left side for an underhand finish to even the score at 1-1.
- Just 18 seconds later, UCCS capitalized on a ThunderWolves turnover, with Charlotte Fannin connecting with Allison Hoffman to give the Mountain Lions a 2-1 lead at the 13:22 mark.
- UCCS continued to take advantage of CSU Pueblo miscues, as Josie Leonard scooped up a turnover to spark another scoring sequence. Sydnee-Anne Moeller set up Ella Mills for a driving finish through the middle, and after Watts secured the ensuing draw control, Allie Schell found Charlotte Fannin in front of the cage to extend the lead to 4-1.
- The Mountain Lions' pressure remained relentless. Leonard added another ground ball off a midfield turnover, leading to Mills' second goal and a 5-1 advantage. Charlotte Fannin later showcased her creativity with a wraparound finish from behind the cage, and UCCS kept pouring it on as Julia Hoffman assisted Brielle Fannin for another score.
- Mills completed her hat trick with 4:14 remaining in the quarter, helping UCCS close the opening frame on a dominant 10-2 run.
SECOND QUARTER: UCCS 6, CSU Pueblo 0
- UCCS goalkeeper Delaney Gnos set the tone early in the second quarter, stopping two shots during CSU Pueblo's opening possession to keep the ThunderWolves off the board.
- The Mountain Lions quickly extended their lead, as Mills weaved through the defense for her fourth goal of the game less than four minutes into the quarter, pushing the advantage to nine.
- Following a successful clear, UCCS capitalized again when Mills dished to Watts, who buried her third goal of the contest to make it 12-2. With the running clock in effect, the Mountain Lions continued their efficient attack as Schell delivered a perfectly timed feed to Brielle Fannin, who finished in one motion for another goal.
- UCCS closed the half with a final surge, as Allison Hoffman, Mills, and Leonard each found the back of the net over the final 4:44. Leonard capped the scoring with just 22 seconds remaining, sending the Mountain Lions into halftime with a commanding 16-2 lead.
THIRD QUARTER: CSU Pueblo 3, UCCS 2
- CSU Pueblo snapped a nearly 20-minute scoring drought early in the second half, netting a pair of goals within the first two minutes of the third quarter.
- UCCS responded quickly, matching the surge with two goals of its own in a two-minute span. Peyton Ross sparked the first score by forcing a turnover and collecting the ground ball, leading to Julia Hoffman finding Brielle Fannin cutting toward the crease. Fannin secured the pass midair and finished in one motion at the 5:57 mark.
- The Mountain Lions added another goal with 3:56 remaining in the quarter after working the ball patiently around the perimeter. Watts found Allison Hoffman for the finish, helping UCCS maintain control and close the third quarter with an 18-5 lead.
FOURTH QUARTER: UCCS 5, CSU Pueblo 1
- Holding a 13-goal advantage entering the final quarter, UCCS continued to capitalize on CSU Pueblo turnovers. Watts connected with Allison Hoffman in transition for the Mountain Lions' 19th goal of the game.
- Ellen Gernert entered in goal to start the final quarter and made an immediate impact, recording a save that led to a UCCS possession. Moments later, Leonard found Charlotte Fannin for a goal at the 10:10 mark, extending the lead to 20-5.
- The Mountain Lions kept the pressure on as Brielle Fannin powered through the middle of the defense for another score after UCCS retained possession off a saved shot. Gernert later forced a turnover, igniting a quick transition opportunity that ended with Julia Hoffman using a shot fake before finishing.
- Freshman Danica Rodriguez capped the scoring with her first goal of the season on a free-position attempt with 55 seconds remaining, securing a 23-6 road victory for UCCS.
FINAL SCORE: UCCS 23, CSUP 6
GAME STATISTICS
- Allison Hoffman paced the Mountain Lions with four goals, four assists and five shots.
- Brielle Fannin also added four goals and chipped in two assists while landing four of her five shots on frame.
- Mills led all scoreres with her five-goal performance.
- Charlotte Fannin chipped in five points behind her three goals and two assists while Watts netted a hat trick.
- Moeller, Leonard and Julia Hoffman all finished the game with a goal and two assists.
- Rodriguez scooped up a game high five ground balls and caused one turnover.
- Leonard won four draws and notched three ground balls and caused a pair of turnovers.
- Maready sealed a game high six draws while added two ground balls and a caused turnover.
- Gnos charted the win in goal after making four saves in 45 minutes of action. Gernert finished the final 15 minutes in goal, notching one save.
- CSU Pueblo was led by Reese Wasmund's three goals and seven shots.
- UCCS dominated the ThunderWolves in multiple categories, including shots (32-20), shots on goal (27-11), ground balls (22-16), and draw controls (16-13.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- UCCS set new program records with 40 points and 17 assists while matching a school record with 23 goals. The 23-goal performance marks the fourth time in program history the Mountain Lions have reached that total, with three of those outings coming against CSU Pueblo.
- The Mountain Lions capitalized on turnovers, scoring 12 goals off 19 CSU Pueblo miscues.
- Allison Hoffman totaled a season-high eight points, including four assists that tie for the seventh-most in a single game in program history.
- Mills notched her team-leading fifth hat trick of the season, while Watts recorded her third. Charlotte Fannin added the third hat trick of her freshman campaign, and both Brielle Fannin and Allison Hoffman tallied their second hat tricks of the season.
- The six goals allowed marked the fewest surrendered by UCCS this season, while the 10 goals scored in the first quarter are the most in a single quarter this year.
- UCCS held CSU Pueblo scoreless in the second quarter, marking the fifth time this season the Mountain Lions have blanked an opponent in a quarter.
- The UCCS lacrosse sweep over the Pack added two more points for the Mountain Lions in the Steel and Silver Standings, bringing the total to 30-10. UCCS is now one point away from clinching their seventh straight Steel and Silver Standings title.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions will head to Durango, Colo. to take on Fort Lewis College on Saturday at 1 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.
