DURANGO, Colo. – The Skyhawks women's lacrosse team opened Friday's game with three straight goals but ultimately fell 20-8 to Westminster University in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) play.
With the win, Westminster remained atop the conference standings at 6-2 overall and 4-0 in RMAC action, while Fort Lewis dropped to 0-6 overall and 0-4 in league play.
The Griffins held a 41-18 advantage in total shots, including a 31-12 edge in shots on goal. Westminster also led in draw controls (21-8) and ground balls (22-19) while committing three fewer turnovers than the Skyhawks.
Senior Diamond Velasco led Fort Lewis offensively with three goals, while junior Victoria Barletta added two. Sophomore Brooke de Haan scored the first goal of her career, and seniors Marissa Lacivita and Piper Price each found the back of the net once. Senior Samantha Rodgers contributed four caused turnovers and four ground balls, while junior goalkeeper Olivia Tilbury recorded 11 saves and a team-high five ground balls.
Fort Lewis started strong, as Price scored less than a minute into play. Goals from de Haan and Velasco followed, giving the Skyhawks a 3-0 lead just three minutes in. Westminster responded with six unanswered goals to take a 6-3 lead by the end of the first quarter.
The Griffins extended their run early in the second quarter with another goal off a Fort Lewis turnover. Rodgers helped shift momentum briefly, forcing a turnover that led to Velasco's second goal, cutting the deficit to 7-4. After a four-minute scoreless stretch, Westminster added another goal at the 8:08 mark to double the lead. The teams traded goals down the stretch, including a woman-up score from Barletta, as Westminster carried a 10-5 advantage into halftime.
Westminster again struck first in the third quarter, scoring twice to push the lead to 12-5. Rodgers won the ensuing draw, setting up Velasco's third goal at the 12:48 mark. However, back-to-back Fort Lewis fouls resulted in two free-position goals for the Griffins. Barletta added her second goal with 4:09 remaining, and Tilbury helped hold Westminster scoreless for the rest of the quarter.
In the fourth, Westminster added its 17th goal two minutes in before both teams settled into a defensive stretch. The Griffins later scored twice more between the eight- and six-minute marks to extend the lead to 19-7. Lacivita recorded Fort Lewis' final goal, but a late turnover led to a Westminster score in the final seconds, sealing the 20-8 result.
Fort Lewis (0-6, 0-4 RMAC) will remain at home Sunday to face Colorado Mesa University (1-8, 0-2 RMAC) in its annual Pride Game. Opening draw is set for 1 p.m.
