PUEBLO, Colo. (Feb. 21, 2020) – The Colorado State University-Pueblo women's lacrosse team opens the 2020 season and home portion of its schedule Sunday, Feb. 23 at 12 p.m. (originally 2 p.m.) against Franklin Pierce University at Art and Lorraine Gonzales Stadium. Also, the team's Feb. 26 home game against Davenport University has been moved up to a 3:30 p.m. start.
 
THE PACK
 
The ThunderWolves were picked to finish fourth in the 2020 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, while seniors Ane Marie Horton (G, Long Beach Calif.) and Britney Smith (D, Oregon City, Ore.) and junior Olivia Tener (M, Boise, Idaho) were recognized as RMAC Players to Watch. Horton (All-RMAC Second Team) and Smith (All-RMAC Honorable Mention) join senior Elyse Ingram (HM, M, San Jose, Calif.) as returning All-RMAC players. Ingram played in eight games before missing the rest of the season due to injury. 
 
CSU-Pueblo lost its top two scorers to graduation, but returns 15 players for 2020. The core of the defense is back with Horton leading the way between the pipes. The Pack also added seven newcomers to the fold. CSU-Pueblo will lean on the leadership of six seniors this year, as the Pack enter their sixth season of existence. Junior Emily Eller (Keller, Texas) is the top returning scorer after she put up 24 goals and three assists for 27 points last season. Tener added 19 goals and two assists for 21 points. 
 
The ThunderWolves went 6-8 overall and 4-5 in RMAC play last season. The four conference victories established a new program record, while the Pack tied for fifth in the final league standings, also a program high. The ThunderWolves finished in a three-way tie for fifth and just missed making their first postseason appearance in program history (top six advanced to the RMAC Tournament) due to tiebreakers. 
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
 
Franklin Pierce is located in Rindge, New Hampshire and is a NCAA Division II institution that plays in the Northeast-10 Conference. FPU ranked 10th in the NE10 Preseason Coaches' Poll after the Ravens went 6-10 overall and 3-10 in league play in 2019. The team starts the year with a new head coach, former Regis University standout, Hilary Duda. FPU finished last season on a seven-game losing streak. The Ravens averaged 11.4 goals per game and allowed 13.7 goals per contest in 2019. Franklin Pierce didn't have a senior on the roster last year and returns 20 of the 21 players who suited up in a game. Sophomore Savannah Ernst returns after scoring 57 goals and adding seven assists for 64 points in her first collegiate season. 
 
The Ravens are set to play Regis University today before heading to Pueblo. 
 
UP NEXT
 
The ThunderWolves remain home Feb. 26 to host Davenport University beginning at 3:30 p.m. The game was originally scheduled for 6 p.m., but was moved up due to weather.

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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.