PUEBLO, Colo. (March 18, 2016) –On a snowy Friday, Colorado State University-Pueblo women's lacrosse stayed hot as they made program history with their third consecutive win, knocking off Oklahoma Baptist University, 17-2. The Pack matched a program record with 17 goals as they now have the longest winning streak in program history.
CSU-Pueblo ended its six –game homestand in style as they also set a school record for least goals allowed. The Pack has already matched its 2015 win total with a 4-2 record. The Pack holds their highest winning percentage in school history with 10 games still to come.
Allye Webb (So., Colorado Springs, Colo.) led the Pack with five goals and an assist. Webb has tallied a team-high 16 goals. She has 20 points in 2016.
Freshman Allison Wurscher (Tigard, Ore.)potted two goals and dished out three assists. The reigning RMAC Offensive Player of the Week has a team-best 24 points on the season.
CSU-Pueblo's defense controlled the game as the Pack only allowed five shots on goal. The Pack forced 19 turnovers as Oklahoma Baptist gave it away 40 times. Freshmen Taylor Christensen (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Ellie O'Brien (San Deigo, Calif.), and Sami LaBella (Pleasanton, Calif.) all forced four turnovers to lead the team.
LaBella set a program record with nine ground ball pick-ups, breaking the previous record of eight set by Rachael Welzin (So., Farmington, Minn.) LaBella also added two goals as she netted her 10th marker of the season.
The Pack held a 37-21 advantage in ground balls. Christensen, O'Brien, and Daniella Calvo (So., Spring, Texas) each grabbed five grounders. O'Brien entered the game third in the nation with 4.40 ground balls per game.
Leah Neumann (So., Naperville, Ill.) pocketed a hat trick in the win. Neumann now has 15 goals this season, second most on the team. She also controlled a team-high four draws.
The ThunderWolves got on the board first as Alix Zierden (So., Elk River, Minn.)fired home a feed from Webb. Webb got a goal to put the Pack up 2-0 before the Bison answered to cut the Pack lead to 2-1.
CSU-Pueblo put the next five strikes on the scoreboard to carry a 7-1 lead into the break. The Pack outshot the Bison 21-7 in the first half.
Oklahoma Baptist wasted no time getting one back in the second half. The Bison drove the opening draw down the field and scored just 19 seconds into the frame. However, this shot would be Oklahoma Baptist's last shot on goal in the game.
The Pack scored the next 10 goals as they ran away with a 17-2 win. CSU-Pueblo finished with a 34-11 advantage in shot attempts, cashing in on 10 of their 13 tries in the second half.
Ane Marie Horton (Fr., Long Beach, Calif.) earned her fourth win of the season, despite playing only 17 minutes and making one save. Horton now holds a 4-1 record. Nicole Burkhauser (So., Auburn, Wash.) stopped two of the three shots she saw in 43 minutes of relief.
Abigail Holak (So., Duluth, Minn.) secured four ground balls and caused three turnovers. Calvo finished with a goal and an assist for the Pack. Zierden put home two goals for CSU-Pueblo.
After a record setting day, the ThunderWolves will hit the road for the first time in the 2016 regular season when they visit Westminster College March 22. The Pack's meeting with the Griffins will start at 4 p.m.
CSU-Pueblo will return home Friday March 25 when the host Regis University at the Art & Lorraine Gonzales Stadium. The Pack and Rangers will clash at 2 p.m.
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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
