PUEBLO, Colo. (April 12, 2016) – An offensive explosion helped Colorado State University-Pueblo women's lacrosse defeat Rockhurst University 20-16 Tuesday at Art & Lorraine Gonzales Stadium. The 20 goals set a new Pack record for goals in a game. Their previous best was 18 set March 22, 2016 at Westminster.
CSU-Pueblo improved to 7-5 on the season. They now have a 2-1 record in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference games. Rockhurst fell to 6-7 (0-4 RMAC).
Freshman, Allison Wurscher (Tigard, Ore.) recorded her second sock trick of the season with six goals. Wurscher also chipped in a pair of assists. She leads the Pack with a school record 42 points. Wurscher has 25 goals and 17 assists on the season.
Sophomore Co-captain Leah Neumann (Naperville, Ill.) fired in four goals and added an assist. Neumann also got to seven draws. She also forced two turnovers and secured two ground balls. She currently holds the record for most goals in a season with 33 in 2016.
Former Pack record holder, Allye Webb (So., Colorado Springs, Colo.) kept pace with Neumann, scoring four goals and picking up an assist. Webb has exceeded her totals from 2015 with 30 goals and six assists. She had 28 goals and four helpers in 2015.
Defensively Rachael Welzin (So., Farmington, Minn.) took over the game. Welzin controlled five draws and won several more. She also caused four turnovers and snagged four ground balls. Offensively, Welzin chipped in a goal and an assist.
Alix Zierden (So., Elk River, Minn.) also recorded a hat trick. She now has 20 goals on the campaign. Zierden has reached the 20-goal plateau in both of her two seasons with the Pack.
Sami LaBella (Pleasanton, Calif.) had two goals and two assists. She now has 19 goals and eight assists in her debut season. LaBella also gathered two draws.
The Pack fell behind early as Rockhurst jumped out to a 5-2 lead. CSU-Pueblo answered with back-to-back goals to come back within one.
Rockhurst reopened the lead to 7-5 with 7:47 left in the first half. This would be Rockhurst's final goal of the opening frame. The ThunderWolves netted the last five goals of the first half to take a 10-7 lead into intermission.
In the second half, CSU-Pueblo launched in the first three tallies. The Pack's 8-0 run lasted 15 minutes of game time and helped them open up a 13-7 lead.
After the Hawks finally ended the Pack's run with a goal at 22:43 of the second half, the Pack potted three more goals. CSU-Pueblo's 11-1 run helped the Pack double up the Hawks 16-8 with 17:03 left in regulation.
Rockhurst rallied with five of the game's next six goals. With the Hawks, closing in Wurscher took over. She scored five of her six goals in the second half to power the Pack to a 20-16 win.
CSU-Pueblo caused 13 Rockhurst turnovers as the Hawks gave the ball away 28 times. Entering the game, the Pack ranked 10th in the nation in caused turnovers per game.
The Pack also held a 21-16 edge in draw controls including a 13-4 advantage in the first half. Rockhurst faced 40 Pack shots on the afternoon, while only throwing 28 on the cage.
As a team the Pack secured 25 ground balls compared to just 18 for the Hawks. Ellie O'Brien(San Diego, Calif.) led the Pack with seven ground balls. Freshmen Taylor Christensen (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and LaBella each grabbed three grounders
Christensen also controlled four draws for the Pack. She and O'Brien entered the game ranked first and second in the RMAC in ground balls.
Ane Marie Horton (Fr., Long beach, Calif.) claimed her seventh win of the season. Her record now stands at 7-4 after making 12 saves Tuesday.
The Pack will take the field at Art & Lorraine Gonzales Stadium for the final time in 2016, Thursday when they host No. 6 ranked Lindenwood University. CSU-Pueblo's home finale will start at 4 p.m. Thursday.
- 30 –
As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Colorado State University – Pueblo competes in 22 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
