Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
6-1
Marist
3-5
Buffs Return To Action With 19-4 Rout Of Marist
March 22, 2016 | Lacrosse
BOULDER - Coming off a two-week hiatus, Colorado's lacrosse team stormed back into action with a 19-4 thrashing over Marist on Monday afternoon at Kittredge Field. The win moved the Buffaloes to 6-1 on the season, their fourth consecutive win. Marist, a powerful team from the East Coast, dropped to 3-5 with its second consecutive loss on its trip to the West Coast.
"I think we were rested," head coach Ann Elliott said of this being the team's first game since March 5. "We have had a tough first six games being on the road, playing a lot in a short period of time. That two weeks off kind of resting and focusing on ourselves I think paid off and hopefully that will help us in the second part of the season."
CU finished the game with the second-most goals scored in school history, coming two shy of the record of 21 set last season against St. Mary's (Calif.). The Buffaloes were led by Johnna Fusco, who had four goals and two assists, Carly Cox with three goals and an assist, Darby Kiernan with three goals, and Katie Macleay, who had a goal and a season-high four assists. In total, 10 different players scored for the Buffs.
Things started slowly, however, as Marist took the opening draw and scored just 12 seconds into the game. It was all Colorado after that, as the Buffs scored 11 straight goals to close out the first half and the first four of the second half. Fusco got on the board in record-breaking fashion, scoring two goals in a span of nine seconds at 26:01 and 25:52 of the first half. After a score from Sarah Lautman, Kiernan scored three straight goals as the Buffs led 6-1 with 12:32 left in the first half.
"I think I have played in enough games where that has happened to me as a player that you realize it's really about what you do next," head coach Ann Elliott said of Marist's early score. "I think that our kids were prepared for today. We haven't played in a couple weeks and it was just them kicking in and I thought after that they did well offensively and defensively. I'm proud of our effort today and we have to keep getting better."
Cox scored twice in the final nine minutes and Macleay, Fusco and Lautman also scored during that stretch.
Fusco opened the scoring in the second half at 26:34, two minutes before Amanda Salvadore scored her first goal of the season. Cox netted her third score at 22:51, and a goal from the team's leading scorer Cali Castagnola at 21:09 put Colorado in front 15-1. That was CU's largest lead of the game until Sophia Castillo scored with 1:39 left to put CU in front by 15 goals at 19-4. Caroline Perry and Miranda Stinson also scored in the game's final 15 minutes.
Paige Soenksen came up big defensively, helping the Buffs take the momentum early in the contest. She made three of her four saves in the first half and played the first 54 minutes on goal. Freshman Julia Lisella saw her first collegiate action in goal, making one save in 6:19.
"I think any time we can get our goalies in the game and get them some experience is always good, especially since she is a freshmen and that is important and key," Elliott said. "[Julia] is one thing away from going right in and I think that was a great opportunity for us and she is always ready and steps up."
Marie Moore had a strong game in the midfield, leading the team with six draw controls, four ground balls, and tying Sarah Brown for a team-best three caused turnovers.
Colorado held Marist's leading scorer Allison Gionta to two goals. Gionta entered the game with 25 in seven games this season. CU also held Kara McHugh, who had 21 goals on the year, to just one score.
In total CU outshot the Red Foxes 32-to-12 and forced Marist into 16 turnovers, while committing just 10.
Despite the great start to the season, the team is careful not to get too caught up in its record.
"I just think it's a step in the right direction," Fusco said. "We're 6-1 now so that puts us in a great place and gives us a lot of confidence as a team. It's going to be hard work, but you can't underestimate anyone so were going to have to work just as hard."
Fusco also benefitted from the time off after missing CU's previous game on March 5 against Central Connecticut with a leg injury. "If it was any other time during the season it would hurt me a lot and it was just the perfect time for me to get hurt since we did have two weeks off and I could completely recover and not strain it even more in other game."
The Buffaloes will be back in action at No. 7 Northwestern on Thursday at 7 p.m. CT/6 p.m. MT.
