DURANGO, Colo. (April 24, 2016) – With a guaranteed spot in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament on the line, Colorado State University-Pueblo could not lock up their first post-season bid as they lost to Fort Lewis College by a 15-8 final.
Following Sunday's loss, the Pack and Skyhawks both stand 3-3 in RMAC games. Now in order to make the RMAC Tournament, CSU-Pueblo (8-7) will need a win and a Fort Lewis (7-5) loss in their season finale.
The Pack got an early lead 4:29 into the game. Allison Wurscher (Fr., Tigard, Ore.) rifled in her 32nd goal of the season to give the ThunderWolves a 1-0 edge. Wurscher leads the Pack with 52 points.
Fort Lewis responded. The Skyhawks potted three goals in less than a minute to take the lead. Allye Webb (So., Colorado Springs, Colo.) scored on a free position attempt to bring the Pack back within one. After Webb's goal, the Skyhawks unleashed a seven-goal run that lasted almost 16 minutes. Fort's Lewis' run gave them a 10-2 lead, they would never relinquish.
With 20 seconds left in the first half, Webb launched in her second goal of the game to make it 10-3 score at halftime. Webb now has 36 goals on the season, second most on the Pack.
CSU-Pueblo scored four of the first six goals of the second half to cut the Skyhawks lead to 12-7. Chloe Sharko (Fr., Naperville, Ill.) collected the first goal of the second half. The Pack's second goal after intermission came courtesy of Sami LaBella (Fr., Pleasanton, Calif.). LaBella now has 23 goals, while Sharko has five goals in 2016.
Taylor Christensen (Fr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) buried the Pack's next two goals. Christensen added two more ground balls in Sunday's game as well. She entered the weekend as the nation's leader in ground balls per game (4.20).
With less than five minutes left, Leah Neumann (So., Naperville, Ill.) found the back of the net with her team-leading 38th goal of the season. Neumann's strike made it a 13-8 lead for the Skyhawks. Neumann also caused two turnovers for the Pack.
Though the Pack tried to claw their way back into it, they could not get another goal on the board. The Skyhawks scored the game's final two tallies to claim a 15-8 lead.
Co-Captain Rachael Welzin (So., Farmington, Minn.) delivered an incredible defensive performance. Welzin secured seven ground balls for the Pack. She also controlled two draws.
Daniella Calvo (So., Spring, Texas) picked up four ground balls and captured three draws. Calvo also caused a turnover in the loss.
As a team, the Pack was outshot 34-20. Fort Lewis also held 15-9 advantage in draw controls.
CSU-Pueblo will conclude its regular season Friday when they travel to No.15 Regis University for a 12 p.m. showdown with the Rangers. The Pack will make its first RMAC Tournament appearance if they can knock off Regis and Fort Lewis loses to Adams State.
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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.
