Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
1-0 (1-0MPSF)
Denver
0-1 (0-1MPSF)
Fast Start Gives CU 11-10 Win At Denver
February 12, 2016 | Lacrosse
DENVER - Colorado earned one of the biggest wins in its young lacrosse program's history on Friday, taking down the University of Denver 11-10 in Denver in a wild finish. It was the season opener for both teams, but with it also being the only time the two conference teams meet in the regular season, there was a lot on the line for the first game of the season.
It was the first win for CU against Denver in the third year of CU's lacrosse program. Denver was picked third in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation this season, one spot ahead of the Buffaloes, to add to the importance of the game.
"Obviously we wish it wasn't dramatic," head coach Ann Elliott said. "We've got to learn how to finish games in a controlled manner. Denver did a great job and fought to the end. And for us, it's a big win, it's a conference win and every one is a big win, whether it's the first one or the last one. We want to be at Stanford playing in the MPSF tournament. We needed this win to get there."
Cali Castagnola stole the show early, netting the earliest hat trick in school history. After Sarah Lautman found the net just 1:45 into the contest, Castagnola netted three straight scores in a span of three minutes and 12 seconds. She completed the hat trick just 5:15 into the game, topping Darby Kiernan's previous earliest mark of 13:19.
CU never trailed in the game, though it would take much more than a 4-0 start for the victory. The Pioneers got within one goal three times during the game.
Kiernan scored two goals in the first half and added a key goal late in the second half to net her 11th career hat trick. The sophomore gave CU a 5-1 lead and then scored with 4:07 remaining in the first half for a 7-5 lead.
Freshmen Sophia Castillo and Miranda Stinson both scored in the final minute go send the Buffaloes into the locker room with a 9-6 lead at halftime.
Both teams went on the defensive in the second half. DU struck first nearly 10 minutes into the half and no one scored again until Kiernan found the net with 6:54 remaining in the game for a 10-7 lead.
Stinson's second goal of the game with 3:11 left put the Buffs ahead 11-8 and that goal would prove crucial as DU scored with 2:01 remaining and again with 59 seconds to go.
The Pioneers won the final faceoff, but Sarah Brown forced a turnover with 29 seconds left and the Buffs were able to play keep-away as the final seconds ticked off the clock.
Paige Soenksen made six saves to earn the win in goal for Colorado. Brown and freshman Olivia Aschman each forced three turnovers to pace the defense.
"I thought our defense did well," Elliott said. "We played hard. Denver has a lot of weapons and a lot of good new players that we didn't really know going in. I thought our defense played well. We've got to do a better job of giving them some rest by converting in our transition and a little more effectively resting them by possessions on offense and we'll do that moving forward."
Marie Moore had a team-high three assists.
Colorado will play at Fresno State on Sunday, Feb. 21, in another conference game before beginning a stretch of seven straight non-conference games.
