MURFREESBORO, N.C (March 27, 2015) - For the first time in its program's young history, the Colorado State University-Pueblo women's lacrosse team won back-to-back games after defeating Chowan University (N.C) on the road 14-10 at Hawks Field Friday.
With the win the ThunderWolves improve to 3-7 and finish their three game road trip 2-1, while the Hawks drop to 3-5.
The Pack had a plethora of contributors in the contest, freshman Allye Webb (M, Colorado Springs, Colo.) led the way by tying a program best with a season-high five goals. Eight ThunderWolves' in total reached the back of the net, Maxine Bartholomew (Fr., A, Elk Grove, Calif.) and Kiana Kelii (Fr., A, Bloomington, Minn.) were behind Webb with two apiece.
Daniella Calvo (Fr., D, Spring, Texas) netted her first collegiate goal, while Skylur Marshall (Fr., A, Aurora, Colo.), Alix Zierden (Fr., M, Elk River, Minn.), Rachael Welzin (Fr., M, Farmington, Minn.) and Rachael Cannon (Fr., M, Temperance, Minn.) all had one. Marshall though had three points on the game dishing out two assists.
Freshman goaltender Nicole Burkhauser (Auburn, Wash.) saved 50 percent of the shots that came her way, as she rounded up 10 saves on 20 attempts.
Mackenzie Reid led the way for Chowan, as she poured in four goals.
CSU-Pueblo won the turnover battle with 25 caused turnovers versus its 18 and had a distinct advantage in shots on goal, as they were plus 11 (31-20). The groundball advantage was no different, as the ThunderWolves outdueled the Hawks 30-19.
The Pack jumped on the Hawks right out of the gate, as Marshall wasted no time getting on the board and scored 21 seconds into the contest. Chowan responded quickly though, as they scored a 1:22 later to tie it up 1-1 early on. The ThunderWolves replied with two quick scores, this time from Kelii and Webb to take a 3-1 advantage with 23:20 to go in the first frame.
In the next 2:40 of gameplay Chowan cut the deficit 3-2 off a Reid goal, but six minutes later Webb scored again to begin a 4-0 run to raise the lead 7-2 with 7:21 to go in the half. During the stretch Webb had two, while Zierden and Bartholomew each pitched in one.
Chowan wasn't fazed by the large deficit and closed the stanza on a 3-0 run to trail 7-5 going into halftime.
Opening the second frame the Pack didn't waste any time jumping back on the board, as Bartholomew tallied her second goal of the contest 1:33 into the period. After that Webb reached the back of the net to regain a four-point lead 9-5 with 26:05 remaining.
The Hawks scored a minute later, but CSU-Pueblo answered with another 4-0 run to lead 13-6 for their largest of the contest. Welzin, Zierden, Webb, and Calvo were all in on the mix.
In the final 9:20 of the match the Hawks outscored the ThunderWolves 4-1, but the seven-goal deficit proved to be too much and the Pack held on for the 14-10 victory. The 14 goals scored marks the highest in program history.
Up next, the Pack return home Wednesday, April 1 to begin their final homestand of the year, as they'll host Colorado College at 6 p.m. and finish the home schedule next April 3 at 7 p.m. against Adams State University.
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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Colorado State University – Pueblo competes in 22 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
