Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
7-5, 2-3MPSF
San Diego State
8-5, 4-2MPSF
CU Lacrosse Earns Crucial Road Win Over San Diego State
April 12, 2015 | Lacrosse
SAN DIEGO – The University of Colorado lacrosse team picked up its first Mountain Pacific Sports Federation road win of the season, defeating the San Diego State Aztecs, 7-6, here Sunday afternoon.
The Buffaloes improve to 7-5 overall and 2-3 in MPSF play. The Aztecs have lost two in a row, falling to 8-5 and 4-2 against conference opponents.
A close game, which included four ties and neither team leading by more than two goals, sophomore Johnna Fusco stepped up when the Buffs needed it most, tallying the game winner with only 1:25 remaining on the clock. San Diego State had tied the game just 11 seconds earlier, but Fusco, who had been tightly guarded all day won the draw control and sprinted down the field to put away her team-leading 34th goal of the season and help seal the victory.
“We needed to come out with at least one win this weekend,” said Colorado head coach Ann Elliott. “It was a good win for us. It wasn't the prettiest of games by any means, but we were able to tough it out, make some plays when we needed to make them and come away with the win.”
The first 30 minutes were a defensive struggle on each end as both teams had a difficult time establishing any sort of rhythm on offense. The Buffs and Aztecs combined for 24 turnovers in the first half and only five goals.
CU fell behind twice, but was able to respond to take a 3-2 lead into halftime. San Diego State's Sophie Koubek recorded the game's first goal just over three minutes in and gave the Aztecs the early 1-0 lead. Then only 40 seconds later, Cox scored her first of two goals, tying it at one.
SDSU took a one-goal advantage when midfielder Vickie Porter found the back of the net for the 20th time this year making it 2-1. After Aztec goalkeeper, Katrina Reeves made a save on Tori Link's free-position shot, Blair Sisk picked up the ground ball made a pass to Fusco, who found Cox that rattled home her second of the game and earned her first multi-goal performance of the season.
The game now tied at two, sophomore co-captain Marie Moore put the Buffs in front for good with her first of a team-leading three goals in the contest. She made it 3-2, successfully converting her free position shot.
After Moore's goal at the 18:03 mark, the rest of the half remained scoreless. There were 16 turnovers between the two teams and CU only had three shots over the last 18 minutes in the first period. Goalkeeper Paige Soenksen was clutch yet again between the posts and especially during that stretch, making big saves to keep Colorado in the game. She stopped six shots that SDSU put on frame and denied the Aztecs on each of their three 8-meter attempts.
Soenksen made 16 total saves in the game and held SDSU to 3 for 9 shooting on free-position opportunities.
“Paige continues to be so consistent and so solid,” said Elliott. “She's a leader on our defense and she kept us in the game today. We should have been down by a lot in that first half the way we were playing and our turnovers in transition.”
When the second half got underway, Moore lifted the Buffs to a two-goal advantage right out of the gate and sophomore Katie Macleay tallied her 10th assist. San Diego State responded with two straight goals to tie it at four, then Darby Kiernan and Moore answered with two CU scores, making it 6-4.
A two-goal lead with 10:28 remaining in the game, the Aztecs kept the pressure on and got one past Soenksen, tying it at 6-6 at the 1:36 mark. The Buffs however, kept their composure and that's when Fusco came through with the score.
CU survived a last minute scare when Sarah Lautman was issued a yellow card, but the Buffs, with a man-down, were able to hang on as Soenksen made two more crucial saves over the final 60 seconds.
“Paige did a great job throughout the entire game of keeping us in it, defensively making plays and stepping up, and that's something that has really been huge for us all season.” Elliott said. “I don't think you can say enough good things about what she does for this team and what she brings to it.”
Colorado is 3-0 all-time against San Diego State in its young history with all three games being decided by only one goal.
The Buffs return to California next weekend, April 17-19 to finish its four-game road trip. CU plays at St. Mary's on Friday, April 17 and travels to Berkley to face California on Sunday, April 19, which will be televised on the Pac-12 Network.
