Colorado
6-5, 1-3MPSF
USC
9-3, 5-0MPSF
USC Edges CU Lacrosse, 12-9, On The Road
April 10, 2015 | Lacrosse
LOS ANGELES – The University of Colorado lacrosse team fell short here Friday afternoon as the USC Trojans topped the Buffaloes, 12-9, at McAlister Field.
The Trojans paired a 5-0 run in the second half with some tight defense to clinch the win. The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation co-leaders heading into the game improve to 9-3 overall and remain unbeaten in league play at 5-0.
Colorado has dropped two in a row for the first time this season, and fall to 6-5 overall and 1-3 in MPSF.
“I thought we came out in the first half playing a little slow and a little scared,” said Colorado head coach Ann Elliott. “In the second half, it was little bit of runs both ways and then USC played well down the stretch. They were able to take advantage of their opportunities and we had trouble with that. We made some mistakes turning the ball over and it cost us.”
Freshman Darby Kiernan led the Buffs on offense, scoring four goals for the third time this season. Sophomores Johnna Fusco and Marie Moore had two goals each and extended their scoring streaks to 11 and six games, respectively.
Sophomore Michaela Michael anchored USC's attack, recording six goals and one assist. Caroline Cordrey contributed two goals as well as Caroline de Lyra to go along with her two assists.
In the opening five minutes, the Buffs took an early 2-1 lead. Moore scored on a free position attempt and sophomore Carly Cox earned her team-leading 12th assist of the year when she found Kiernan, who rattled home her first goal of the contest.
USC responded, tallying three straight to take a two-goal lead at 4-2. Over the next seven minutes, the Trojans would keep the pressure on, reeling off six shots, but goalkeeper Paige Soenksen kept the Buffs in the game, denying USC each time.
After a goal from both sides to make it 5-3 in favor of the home team, Colorado pulled to within one just before halftime. With a minute left to play in the first period, Kiernan forced a turnover at midfield, gathered the ground ball and passed it to Moore sprinting down the center of the field. Moore made a nice move around a USC defender and put it away.
It was a see-saw battle to begin the second half. Kiernan tied it at 5 on a free position attempt and then USC regained the lead when Michael scored an unassisted goal at the 27:25 mark. Michael accounted for four of the first six Trojan goals. Two straight CU tallies and one goal by USC brought the game to its fifth tie at 7. Kiernan gave the Buffs a two-score advantage (9-7) at the 16:51 mark after recording back-to-back goals, but soon after, Michael jumpstarted the USC offense as they went on a 5-0 run to close out the game.
After Kiernan's goal midway through the second half, the Buffs struggled on the attack and the Trojans made plays on defense, forcing five turnovers and they did not allow CU to get another shot off the rest of the way.
“USC's defense played well,” Elliott said. “They were face guarding Johnna so we needed other kids to step up, and dodge hard and make plays. We did a little better job of that in the second half. Darby stepping up, Marie had some good opportunities, but overall we were playing a little scared and we were making mistakes that we couldn't make and that cost us, we need to clean that up.”
The Buffs will regroup and prepare for another tough test on Sunday, April 10, traveling down the coast to San Diego State, who also entered Friday undefeated in league play (4-0) and tied for first in the standings. The Aztecs face Denver on Friday evening before welcoming CU to town.
“We have to win at this point if we want to play in the conference tournament,” said Elliott. “We have to start finding ways to win some of these games and give ourselves more opportunities. San Diego State, they're a solid team. They play hard, they compete hard. We know it's going to be a battle and we have to come out ready because right now our backs are against the wall a little bit.”
Game time is set for 1 p.m. MT.
