PUEBLO, Colo. (March 7, 2019) – Senior Taylor Christensen (M, Colorado Springs, Colo.) scored four goals, which included the game-winner with three minutes remaining in regulation, as the Colorado State University-Pueblo women's lacrosse team defeated Concordia University, St. Paul 11-10 in the home opener Thursday at the Art and Lorraine Gonzales Stadium.
 
The ThunderWolves (1-2) allowed the first goal of the game, but countered with five unanswered to never trail the rest of the contest against the visiting Golden Bears (2-2). Possession helped the Pack get their first win of the season, as CSU-Pueblo totaled 16 draw controls to CSP's seven. The Pack also posted a better percentage in clearing the ball at 82.6 percent (19-for-23) to 69.2 percent (18-for-26).
 
CSU-Pueblo also had two less turnovers than the Golden Bears (24-22) and put four more shots on goal (25-21).  The ThunderWolves capitalized with three goals on eight free position shots. 
 
In addition to four goals on eight shots, Christensen totaled seven draw controls (tied for first on the team), five ground balls (led the team) and four of the team's nine caused turnovers (also a team-best).
 
Junior Elyse Ingram (M, San Jose, Calif.) was one of three players to score two goals. She also added an assist for three points on the night. She tied with Christensen for tops in draw controls with seven and also totaled three ground balls. She continues to lead the team in goals, now with six on the young season. 
 
Senior attack Allison Wurscher (Tigard, Ore.) recorded a two-goal game and added an assist. Sophomore Emily Eller (A, Keller, Texas) was huge down the stretch and scored two of the team's final three goals, which were less than two minutes apart. 
 
Senior goaltender Ane Marie Horton (Long Beach, Calif.) finished with 11 saves on 21 shots on frame. 
 
The Golden Bears scored just 1:45 into the contest and it took the Pack nearly eight minutes before a player-up goal by Christensen started the scoring and a five-goal run for CSU-Pueblo.
 
Junior Hope Lambert (D, Pueblo West, Colo.) tallied her first of the season to give the Pack a 2-1 lead, then goals by Wurscher, Christensen and Ingram had the home team ahead 5-1 just over the midway point of the first half. 
 
CSP would score once more before halftime and the ThunderWolves were leading 5-2 at the break. 
 
The Golden Bears scored the first two goals of the second half to cut the deficit to 5-4, but three unanswered handed CSU-Pueblo an 8-4 lead with 22:23 remaining. Christensen tallied the hat trick, then Ingram got her second of the night on a free position shot before Wurscher notched her second of the game. 
 
CSP got right back into the game with three goals in a span of five and a half minutes to cut the deficit to 8-7. Eller's first goal came at 14:08 to return the lead at two goals, then she scored again just 12 seconds after a Golden Bear goal to give the ThunderWolves a 10-8 lead with 12:47 remaining. 
 
The Pack defense did a solid job fending off the Golden Bears, but allowed two goals, which tied the game 10-10 with 4:11 remaining. Both teams had their opportunities, but it would be Christensen with 3:06 showing on the clock who would find the back of the net on a free position shot. 
 
The goal would prove to be the game-winning tally, as Horton came up big with a save with just 26 ticks remaining on the clock.  
 
When the final horn sounded the Pack celebrated their first win of the season and will now turn their attention to Notre Dame College (Ohio). The ThunderWolves and Falcons are set to do battle Monday at 2 p.m. at Gonzales Stadium. 

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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.