Colorado University Athletics

Lacrosse Opens 2015 Season Wednesday, Hosts No. 19 Denver

Lacrosse Opens 2015 Season Wednesday, Hosts No. 19 Denver
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Game Notes vs. Denver

BOULDER GÇô The University of Colorado womenGÇÖs lacrosse team will open itGÇÖs 2015 season and conference play on Wednesday, Feb. 11 when the Buffaloes host No. 19 Denver at Kittredge Field. The first draw is set for 3 p.m. MT.

In the teamGÇÖs second year as a Division I program and led by head coach Ann Elliott, the Buffs return 19 from last yearGÇÖs roster, including all 12 starters. Elliott has also added 12 freshmen to young, but very talented team. The Buffaloes will look to improve on its debut season in which CU tallied 11 victories, finished tied for third place in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) and advance to the second round of the MPSF Tournament.

Denver is 0-1 after falling to No. 3 Syracuse in their first game of 2015. WednesdayGÇÖs contest will be the second meeting between the Buffs and Pioneers as CU will try to earn its first victory over the in-state foe.

A live stream and live stats of WednesdayGÇÖs contest will be available online at CUBuffs.com.

QUICKLY: The University of Colorado womenGÇÖs lacrosse team opens its 2015 season and conference schedule this week, hosting the 19th-ranked Denver Pioneers on Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 3 p.m. at Kittredge Field. The BuffaloesGÇÖ 2015 campaign marks the second year as a Division I program at Colorado.

INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES: For those members of the media wishing to interview the womenGÇÖs lacrosse team during the season, please contact Assistant Sports Information Director/Lacrosse Contact Ashley Braun at (303) 492-7525 or ashley.braun@colorado.edu

DONGÇÖT MISS A MINUTE: A live stream and live stats of WednesdayGÇÖs contest will be available online at CUBuffs.com.

COLORADO VS. DENVER: The Buffaloes will look to pick up their first win against the in-state foe and MPSF opponent Pioneers. In their only meeting last season, Colorado fell 15-4 when they played on DUGÇÖs turf. CUGÇÖs Marie Moore led the team, tallying two goals in the contest. WednesdayGÇÖs game will mark the first time the Pioneers travel to Boulder.

SCOUTING THE PIONEERS: Denver is 0-1 this season after dropping itGÇÖs first game of the year last week, 18-10 at No. 3 Syracuse. Junior Kiki Boone and freshman Nicole Martindale were the teamGÇÖs top scorers in the contest, scoring three goals each. Martindale was recognized for her performance, earning MPSF Rookie of the Week honors. Top returners for Denver include attacker Jill Remenapp, midfielder Rachael McKinnon and defender Christa Reese  who combined for 99 goals and 58 assists last season. Redshirt junior Hannah Hook also returns in goal from the 2014 roster,  where she started all 21 games, recording 171 saves and  an impressive 8.27 goals against average. Head Coach Liza Kelly is in her ninth season leading DU, where she has posted a 108-42 record.

WHOGÇÖS RETURNING: The Buffs return 19 (18 sophomores and one junior) for their 2015 campaign. All 12 starters are back in a black and gold uniform, led by sophomore, midfielder Johnna Fusco who recorded 62 points off 45 goals and 17 assists in CUGÇÖs debut season.  Fusco was first in goals, points and shots last year for Colorado. Six Buffs tallied double-digit goal totals in 2014 and each return to compete again this year, including Sarah Lautman, a junior midfielder and CUGÇÖs only upperclassman.

WHOGÇÖS NEW: CU welcomes 12 newcomers- all freshmen to its young squad. The new Buffaloes have come from all across the country with seven from the east coast, two Minnesota natives, one from the west coast and three Coloradans. The teamGÇÖs latest additions include seven midfielders, four attackers, a defender and one goalkeeper.

MPSF COACHESGÇÖ POLL: CU was picked to finish fifth in the 2015 Preseason Mountain Pacific Sports Federation WomenGÇÖs Lacrosse CoachesGÇÖ Poll. The Buffs received 46 points.  Reigning MPSF Champion Denver took the top spot, receiving seven of the possible 10 first-place votes.

1. Denver
2. Stanford
3. USC
4. Oregon
5. COLORADO
6. San Diego State
7. California
8. UC Davis
9. Fresno State
10. St. MaryGÇÖs

NEW COMPETITION: Colorado will face off against some new opponents this year, adding Marquette, Presbyterian, Northwestern, Michigan, Boston College and UMass Lowell to its schedule.

A LOOK BACK: In 2014, the inaugural season for the Colorado lacrosse program, the Buffaloes built a solid foundation as they continue to develop the program for the future. As a first year member of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, the Buffs turned in an impressive 11-8 overall record and finished tied for third in the league with a 6-3 mark. Colorado earned a spot in the MPSF Tournament and advanced to the semifinals after a thrilling overtime victory in the first round.

HOME SWEET HOME: In 2015, Colorado will look to continue taking advantage of its home field throughout the season. The Buffs boasted an impressive 6-2 mark at Kittredge Field during their inaugural campaign. CU posted identical 3-1 records against non-conference and conference opponents while playing at home.

CAPTAINS: The Buffs will turn to their three captains for leadership on and off the field this year. The 2015 co-captains are sophomores Sophia Gambitsky (goalkeeper), Marie Moore (midfielder) and Molly Rovzar (defender).

SUCCESSFUL SOENKSEN: Paige Soenksen, the 2014 MPSF Rookie of the Year, not only the anchor of CUGÇÖs defense last season, but also shined as one of the nationGÇÖs top shot blockers. Soenksen started all 19 of CUGÇÖs games, helping the Buffs to 11 wins. She ranked second in the nation in saves (203) and posted a .525 save percentage. She held a 10.08 goals-against average, spending over 1,095 minutes between the pipes. Soenksen earned back-to-back MPSF Rookie of the Week titles during the 2014 regular season as well. Her first came after a trip to her home state of California, where she combined for 28 saves and an incredible .609 save percentage in games against UC Davis and then-No. 8 Stanford. Against the Cardinal last year, Soenksen recorded a career-high and MPSF season-high-tying 19 saves. Continuing her strong defensive presence in the following week, Soenksen helped the Buffs to back-to-back overtime victories over USC and San Diego State. She tallied 27 saves and seven ground balls that weekend, recording a career-high four ground balls against SDSU. In CUGÇÖs double-overtime thriller MPSF quarterfinal against SDSU, Soenksen grabbed 10 saves, including seven in the first half alone.

MEET MARIE MOORE: A key return from the 2014 roster, Marie Moore turned in a solid freshman season in the BuffsGÇÖ inaugural year, earning a spot on the All-MPSF Second Team. Moore led the team with 68 draw controls, outpacing the nearest Buff by 18. Moore also had a team-high 43 ground balls and 15 caused turnovers.

DEFENSE IS KEY: Defense was a major part of the BuffsGÇÖ success during their 2014 campaign. Perri Baker, Maddie DeWinter and Molly Rovzar were consistent factors in CUGÇÖs defense. Baker proved strong on the draw, ranking third on the team with 28 draw controls, 29 ground balls and second with 14 caused turnovers. DeWinter was the only defensive field player to record points last season, netting her first collegiate goal and contributing an assist in CUGÇÖs 19-5 victory over St. MaryGÇÖs. In total during 2014, DeWinter had 28 ground balls, 15 caused turnovers and 11 draw controls. Rovzar held a balanced stat line with 17 ground balls, seven draw controls and six caused turnovers.

NEXT UP: Colorado continues its three-game homestand to open the season with a contest against Marquette at 12 p.m. at Kittredge Field on Saturday, Feb. 14. It will be the first time these two programs square-off.