COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Fort Lewis College women's lacrosse team held an early lead and trailed by just four at halftime but surrendered 12 second-half goals in a 22-7 loss to UCCS on Friday.
With the loss in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) play, the Skyhawks fell to 0-4 overall and 0-2 in conference action. The Mountain Lions improved to 4-4 on the season and 2-1 in league play.
UCCS controlled much of the game statistically, outshooting Fort Lewis 43-18, including a 24-12 advantage in shots on goal. The Mountain Lions also held edges in draw controls (21-11) and ground balls (26-25).
Junior Piper Price and sophomore Jasmine Nguyen led the Skyhawks offensively with two goals apiece, each adding an assist. Senior Sydney Tannaci anchored the defense with a team-high six ground balls and three caused turnovers, while freshman Kelcie Bolling contributed three ground balls. In goal, junior Olivia Tilbury recorded six saves and four ground balls.
The opening four minutes were scoreless, highlighted by a pair of caused turnovers from Tannaci. Velasco broke through at the 10-minute mark off a pass from Price to give Fort Lewis a 1-0 lead. Bolling won the ensuing draw, setting up a quick goal from Price just 30 seconds later to double the advantage.
UCCS responded with two goals in the next minute to tie the game before Nguyen answered following a timeout to put the Skyhawks back in front. The Mountain Lions countered again, scoring three unanswered goals to take a 4-3 lead and then extending it to 7-3 with a late surge. Nguyen added a free-position goal in the closing moments of the quarter to cut the deficit to 7-4.
The second quarter opened with another UCCS goal before a caused turnover by Adalyn Murray briefly shifted possession. However, a Skyhawks turnover led to another Mountain Lions score, pushing the margin to 9-4. After a defensive stretch on both sides, Victoria Barletta found the back of the net to make it 9-5.
Both teams settled in defensively for much of the remainder of the half, with Tilbury recording a key save on a free-position attempt. UCCS broke through at the 3:35 mark to reach double digits, but Fort Lewis closed the half with a goal from Bolling to make it 10-6 at the break.
The game turned decisively in the third quarter, as UCCS scored eight consecutive goals to build an 18-6 lead. Price halted the run with a goal at the 1:24 mark, but the Mountain Lions added one more before the end of the period to take a 19-7 advantage into the fourth.
The final quarter opened with a defensive stalemate, as neither team scored for the first eight minutes. UCCS then added two quick goals to extend the lead to 21-7. Fort Lewis generated late shots from Zoi Delgado and Grace Butler, but the Mountain Lions added one final goal to secure the 22-7 result.
