Colorado University Athletics
CU Looks For Another MPSF Win Against SDSU
April 12, 2014 | General, Lacrosse
QUICKLY: Capturing the biggest win of the inaugural season, the University of Colorado lacrosse team looks for continued success in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. After taking down USC in Friday's overtime thriller, the Buffaloes (7-6, 4-2) face another conference contender on Sunday, April 13. CU hosts San Diego State at Kittredge Field at 1 p.m. To celebrate Youth Lacrosse Day, players in the eighth grade and younger are invited to a post-game skills and drills clinic.
SCOUTING THE SAN DIEGO STATE AZTECS: The Aztecs (6-6, 3-2) won six of their first seven, but have lost their last five since. In the first four games of their losing streak, three non-conference opponents and MPSF foe USC all held the Aztecs to nine or fewer goals. SDSU's last two defeats have come at the hands of teams ranked in the IWLCA top 20. Last week, the Aztecs fell 14-9 to then-No. 19 Navy. On Friday, SDSU looked refocused on the attack, but No. 20 Denver scored two goals in the final 21 seconds to fell the Aztecs 12-11. Junior Christina Ricciardulli and sophomore Alexa Comfort got things tied up 10-10 with 3:50 to play, and senior Meris Walsh netted her second off a free-position shot to give SDSU the lead with 1:52 left in regulation. The Aztecs were seemingly minutes away from their first win over a ranked opponent, but DU's late push kept SDSU's losing streak alive. Though they've been slowed in their recent games, the Aztecs average 12.92 goals per game. SDSU has won 158 draw controls, ranking 23rd in the nation. Its 197 points and 101 caused turnovers also rank in the top 43. Seventeen Aztecs have scored this season, with Michaela Jarvis serving as the top point-getter with 31 points off 16 goals and 15 assists. Walsh leads the team with 27 goals, while Ricciardulli has 20 goals and 41 draw controls. Between the pipes, Katrina Reeves has allowed 121 goals and grabbed 81 saves for a 12.43 goals-against average in 585 minutes.
LIVE STREAM: Can't make it to the game? Watch the live stream at buffs.me/buffslive
CU STUNS USC IN BUZZER BEATER: As the horn was sounding the end of the overtime period, Sarah Lautman hammered one into the net to give CU a 12-11 victory over USC. The Buffs and Women of Troy were tied eight times, with USC grabbing a three-goal lead on two separate occasions. Colorado scored four of the final five goals of regulation, and Cali Castagnola tied the game at 10-10 with 2:29 remaining. The tie would hold at the end of 60 minutes, sending the game into overtime. As the first three minutes of OT were winding down, Castagnola powered through once more, scoring off a Marie Moore assist 18 seconds before the teams switched sides. USC looked to force a sudden victory period after tying the game back up off a free-position shot in the final 42 seconds. But as they've shown all season, the Buffs thrive in late game situations. With the last seconds ticking away, Castagnola shot from the left, forcing a diving save from USC keeper Liz Shaeffer. Despite coming up with the solid save, the low shot got back on the ground, and Lautman capitalized on the bounce. One second remained on the board as she forced the game-winner in from just right of the crease. In their first ever taste of overtime play, the Buffs got their fourth MPSF win and ended USC's four-game winning streak, giving the Women of Troy their first loss in conference play. The game was even in nearly every way. The teams each took 28 shots and won 10 draw controls. Through CU had more turnovers and fouls, the Buffs grabbed the upper-hand in ground balls. USC got to the 8-meter twice as many times as CU, but only netted two more free position goals (five to three).
WHERE THE BUFFALO ROAM: The Buffs are 4-1 at home this season, with wins over Temple, St. Mary's and USC at Kittredge Field and their inaugural home win over Regis happening at Folsom Field. Despite a late comeback, Brown handed CU its first, and only, home loss of the year, 11-8 on a snowy Kitt Field. CU's home field advantage cannot be understated. In CU's first MPSF home game, and win, against St. Mary's, the Buffs broke numerous records. The 19-5 win was CU's biggest margin of victory to date. CU was commanding on the attack, with its 19 goals, including 14 in the first half, 13 assists and 32 total points each marking program bests. Katie Macleay contributed a program-best seven assists in the win, tying for fourth most in MPSF history and the second most this season, while Marie Moore won a CU single-game high eight draw controls. The Buffs also took a program-high 33 shots, a mark they would match in their next game, a 14-5 win over UC Davis. Fan support is key to CU's home success, as the Buffs rank second in the conference in home attendance with an average of 346 fans at each game. Against USC, 416 Buff fans helped CU to victory.
KITTREDGE FIELD: Kitt Field, located on Kittredge Loop on the eastern edge of CU's Main Campus, is the official home of Colorado lacrosse. Kitt Field showcases Boulder's Flatiron Mountains and a pristine field courtesy of CU's turf management team. While there are bleachers for approximately 350, fans of CU lacrosse are welcome to bring lawn chairs and blankets to sit on in the open areas. Amenities for Colorado lacrosse fans include concessions, bathrooms and free game programs. Free parking is available in Lot 416 beginning an hour before first draw. For more information, including a parking map and directions, please visit http://buffs.me/1fCNVuE.
SUNNY ONE SO TRUE: Paige Soenksen, the reigning MPSF Rookie of the Week, continues to delight as CU's lead net-minder. She has come out as one of the young team's defensive leaders and one of the nation's best shot blockers. Soenksen ranks in the nation's top six in saves (134), save percentage (.510) and saves per game (10.31).Soenksen earned her first ROW title after combining for 28 saves against UC Davis and then-No. 8 Stanford. While she allowed 18 goals during the split weekend, she had an impressive .609 save percentage on the trip. She had a career performance at Stanford, breaking career and CU single-game records while also tying the 2014 MPSF single-game high of 19 saves. Soenksen grabbed 15 more saves in the Buffs' overtime upset of USC. The Buffs have held their last seven opponents to five or fewer second half goals, with Soenksen spending time in the cage in six of those final periods.
LOOK OUT ITS LAUT: Sophomore Sarah Lautman saw her five-game scoring streak come to an end against Brown last month, but has been powering back through since, tallying seven goals in her last four games. Lautman scored her first goal and recorded her first hat trick in the Buffs' inaugural home game. She got her second three-goal game on Friday in the most thrilling way possible. Lautman helped tie things up twice against USC, at 3-3 and 9-9. She saved her third for the final second of overtime, getting a rebound off a shot by Cali Castagnola to net the game-winner as the horn sounded. Lautman sent five her career-high six shots on goal, while grabbing two ground balls and causing a turnover.
GOING BACK TO CALI: Entering the weekend, Cali Castagnola already had one of the Buffs' most impressive resumes. On Friday against USC, she showed a flair for the dramatic, serving as an integral part of CU's final push for victory. With just over three minutes remaining, the Buffs were a man-down and in desperate need of finding the tying goal that could send the game into extra minutes. Castagnola got the equalizer with 2:29 on the clock to force overtime. In the opening period of overtime, CU won the key draw and took its time to wind down the clock and find the right shot. Castagnola was again strong on the attack, scoring 18 seconds before the side change. With just three seconds left in the second OT, Castagnola hammered one at the net, setting the tone for Lautman's game-winner two seconds later.
THE FUSCO, THE PROUD: Johnna Fusco was also a key piece to CU's victory over USC. She led the team with five points off four goals and one assist, won three draw controls and was a perfect two for two from the 8-meter. Against UCD last weekend, Fusco set a CU single-game record with eight points. Her five goals were a career-high and matched Castagnola's single-game record. With three assists, Fusco and Katie Macleay are the only Buffs to notch at least three in two games. Fusco has scored in all but one of her 12 games played, scoring four or more goals in three games.
NEXT UP: The Buffs conclude their inaugural home season with a final non-conference and an MPSF game. CU hosts Old Dominion at 4 p.m. on Friday, April 18. Be one of the first 200 fans in attendance and receive free CU lacrosse socks! Join us for an egg hunt on Sunday, April 20 and watch the Buffs take on conference opponent California at noon.
