Written By: Durango Herald Sports Staff, Ryan Owens
April 3, 2010. Durango, CO. - Earlier in the week, Fort Lewis College women's lacrosse coach Kelley Queisser McPeake said if her squad played up to its capabilities, it might be able to win its second consecutive game by beating Regis.
Unfortunately for the Skyhawks, a team-wide epidemic of rushed shots and penalties led to easy looks at goal and derailed those plans, and the Rangers routed FLC 18-3 on Friday at Ray Dennison Memorial Field.
“We didn't come out with the energy that we needed to play at a high level," Queisser McPeake said.
The contest started off well enough for FLC (1-7).
The Skyhawks pulled within one goal, 3-2, on junior Katherine Allen's free position goal with 20:58 remaining in the first half.
But it was all downhill from there.
Regis ended the half scoring seven consecutive goals, capped by Kelsi Goings' tally with just 2 seconds remaining before halftime, and the Rangers (2-4) took a 10-2 lead into intermission.
FLC didn't fare any better in the second half.
Regis took advantage of several fouls inside the 8-meter area, scoring the first four goals of the second half on free position shots. The Rangers would score six such goals in the contest, and there was no shortage of fouls during the game, exacerbated by an officiating crew that would call a tight game throughout.
“Thank God, (free position goals are) a stat I wanted to change for a long time," Regis coach Sarah Kellner said. “We get put on the line, but it doesn't always go our way."
FLC sophomore defender Jess Adams said the Skyhawks got a little too accustomed to playing rough-and-tumble lacrosse during their trip to the Carolinas early in the season, which likely contributed to a high foul total.
“We went to South and North Carolina for awhile. They let us play out there; we came home with lots of bruises," she said. “And then we come here, and you touch the girl, and it's a foul.
“It's not that we're not used to it, it's just that we want to play the way they play over there (the Carolinas)."
An overeager defensive mentality also was part of the high concentration of whistles, according to the FLC coach.
“Instead (of maintaining defensive position), we get overanxious and make that check when we shouldn't," Queisser McPeake said. “I tell the girls that a check is a reward for great defense … kind of extra cherries on your sundae that you aren't expecting."
Freshman Alyssa Vigil added to her team-leading goal total, potting her 13th to crack the Rangers' 13 goal streak with 16:05 remaining. Goals by Vigil, Allen and Elise DeHerrera were the only three out of 13 total shots to find the back of the net for FLC, which was outshot 27-13 by Regis.
Queisser McPeake said she was satisfied with most aspects of the shooting for FLC, with the only exception being the lack of offensive patience to set up even better looks at the net.
“Our biggest issue on attack right now is we need to hold the ball and play, instead of trying to force it," she said. “Again, that's being anxious and being a young team - they want to go score, score, score."
Goings scored four times for Regis, and she was aided by big offensive days from AriAnna McDonald and Jessika Carlstrom, who scored 3 goals each. Kellner especially was pleased with McDonald's effort, because the sophomore midfielder is known more for her scrappy play than her scoring prowess.
“I would say that Ari has been a standout from the start," the Rangers coach said. “She doesn't always show up in the stat column, but she does all the dirty work, so I'm happy we're talking about her."
Although she allowed 18 goals, goaltender Genna Waugh was perhaps the biggest bright spot in an otherwise disappointing game for FLC. Waugh had six saves, five in the first period, and her saves included point-blank robberies of efforts by Goings and Erin Dybus.
“G (Waugh) was great for us in there (Friday)," Queisser McPeake said.
FLC will need the same solid goaltending and renewed focus and patience Sunday, when 6-2 Division III opponent Colorado College comes to town for an 11 a.m. game.
“We're going to need to learn to hold the ball, wait for it, make the right pass, look for the better cuts," Adams said.
Box Score
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