SHAWNEE, Okla. (March 22, 2017) – Colorado State University-Pueblo Women's Lacrosse dominated Oklahoma Baptist University Wednesday, 19-10 for the Pack's first win of 2017.
The 19 goals marked a season-high for the Pack as they moved to 1-4 on the season. CSU-Pueblo also earned its first Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory of the year, improving to 1-2 in conference games. The Bison slipped to 2-7 (0-5 RMAC).
Freshman Elyse Ingram (San Jose, Calif.) set the tone for the Pack with five goals. The five scores marked the most of Ingram's young CSU-Pueblo career. Ingram secured four ground balls and caused three turnovers. She also controlled two draws to lead the Pack to victory.
Leah Neumann (Jr., Naperville, Ill.) and Allison Wurscher (Tigard, Ore.) both collected a team-best seven points. Wurscher netted four goals and dished out three assists, while Neumann zipped in three goals with four assists. Neumann controlled three draws, while Wurscher had three ground balls.
Daniella Calvo (Jr., Spring, Texas) continued to control the game defensively. Calvo forced four turnovers. She also came up with five ground balls and a draw control. Entering the game, Calvo ranked second in the RMAC with 3.5 ground balls per game and 2.25 caused turnovers per game.
Taylor Wertz (Jr., Lamar, Colo.) matched Calvo with a team-best four caused turnovers. Wertz also snagged two ground balls.
Taylor Christensen (So., Colorado Springs, Colo.) led the Pack with six draw controls. Christensen also scored two goals and passed out three assists.
After earning IWLCA Player of the Week honors last week, Rachael Welzin (Jr., Farmington, Minn.) added four ground balls to her season total, 12. Welzin also forced three turnovers. She also handed out an assist.
Maxine Bartholomew (Jr., Elk Grove, Calif.) scored her first two goals in over year after her 2016 season was cut short due to injury. Batholomew also caused a turnover.
Alix Zierden (Jr., Elk River, Minn.),
Ali Doyle (Fr., Portland, Ore.) and
Allie Butler (So., Mission Viejo, Calif.) all finished with a goal and an assist. Zierden caused three turnovers, while Butler found three ground balls.
In just her second lacrosse game, April McDonough (Jr., Frisco, Texas) earned her first win in goal for the Pack. McDonough made nine saves on 19 shots to even her record at 1-1. Courtney Barnickle took the loss for the Bison, making just five saves on 21 shots.
The Pack jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Ingram and Neumann. Oklahoma Baptist answered with three consecutive goals to take a 3-2 lead. Butler ended the Bison run with a goal to tie it at three.
After another Bison goal, the Pack pounced with a three-goal run of its own to go in front 6-4. CSU-Pueblo would score the final three goals of the first half to bring a 10-6 lead into the break.
CSU-Pueblo would extend its goal streak to seven in a row as the Pack fired in the first four goals of the second half to make it 14-6. Though the Bison bounced back with a three-goal run, the Pack scored five of the final six goal of the game to tame the Bison and secure a 19-10 win.
The ThunderWolves will try to make it two in a row Friday when they visit Rockhurst University. This RMAC showdown between the Pack and the Hawks starts at 3 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.
