Written By: Durango Herald Sports Staff, Ryan Owens

April 5, 2010.  Durango, CO.  - For most of the first half, it appeared as though Fort Lewis College's women's lacrosse team might have a shot to give departing coach Kelley Queisser McPeake and lone senior Morgan Mangnall one heck of a sendoff in the pair's final game at Ray Dennison Memorial Field: an upset victory over Division III Colorado College.

But a pair of timely saves seemed to ignite the visiting Tigers, and Colorado College topped the Skyhawks 15-6 on Sunday.

Despite the final tally, Queisser McPeake said it was one of the better games her squad has played in its two years of existence, adding that the 'Hawks have a pesky problem of playing to their competition.

“When we play against Colorado College, it's always the best game that we know how to play," she said. “If we can come out and think that we're playing CC when we're playing Regis, we can beat them.

“We focus on our opponent more than we do the win."

FLC (1-8) had a couple of chances to snare momentum early while trailing 3-1. But Tigers freshman goaltender Abby Fink made two point-blank stops, first on a free position shot by Alyssa Vigil and later on an attempt from a streaking Katharine Allen.

Colorado College (7-2) would score four of the next five goals to end the half with a 7-2 lead before outscoring the Skyhawks 8-4 in the second half.

“We definitely got tired there (late in the first half)," Mangnall said. “Our defense got tired, and there was a lack of communication there being so tired."

Tigers coach Susan Stuart heaped praise on her freshman netminder, who made four saves total in the first half before giving way to senior Valerie Cranmer after the break.

“Abby … is just phenomenal and fun to watch. She makes big saves," Stuart said.

Fink's opposite, FLC goalie Genna Waugh, had another performance that was stronger than the score may indicate. The freshman from El Cajon, Calif., made 11 stops, including two critical saves in the first half to keep the score 4-1, and allowing her team chances to stay in the game, chances they couldn't quite cash in.

“G (Waugh) was a great leader out there," Queisser McPeake said. “She was telling the players where to move to not get fouls. That's what we need out there, is a goalie that's confident and communicating."

Part of the reason Fort Lewis couldn't cash in those chances was turnovers. The Skyhawks were plagued by several poor passes, most of which were intercepted or flew over teammates' heads.

The Tigers had similar issues, dropping a plethora of balls, several with no defenders nearby.

FLC and Colorado College turned the ball over 25 and 22 times, respectively.

Stuart said a case of the drops has bedeviled her team all season.

“It's just a matter of working on it every day until we get it," she said.

Despite the poor ball security, the Tigers still managed to display plenty of firepower, led by Claire Preston with four tallies and Katie Krieger with three.

Vigil continued her torrid scoring pace, netting a hat trick to lead the Skyhawks.

But the sentimental hero for Fort Lewis College was Mangnall. With her parents, Tim and Sandy Mangnall, looking on, the senior attacker had one of her best games as a Skyhawk with two goals, including an early equalizer that tied the contest at 1-1.

“(Sunday) was awesome," the senior said. “The first (goal) of the game, that was exciting."

The petite Mangnall, who stands 5-2, has had to learn the game on the fly, having never played lacrosse before last year's inaugural FLC season. The two goals were a testament to how Mangnall, an admittedly timid player as a junior, has grown into a player who looks like she belongs on the field in just two years.

“I used to be scared of catching the ball, like, I didn't want to ask for the ball," she said. “Now I'm more confident in catching and confident in my … cutting and going to goal."

It was fitting that both senior and coach got to share the spotlight in the final home game for both.

Mangnall and Queisser McPeake have a bond so tightly woven that the pupil's first career goal, which came in the program's only victory, brought tears to the teacher's eyes.

Not surprisingly, Queisser McPeake was a bit misty-eyed when discussing Mangnall's afternoon.

“She's so confident, and that's what you want out of your senior," the coach said. “To see that in your senior, to walk away knowing that she kicked butt, that's what we want to see."

Box Score

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