PUEBLO, Colo. (Feb. 23, 2020) – The Colorado State University-Pueblo women's lacrosse team fell in its home and season opener Sunday by the score of 13-7 to Franklin Pierce University. 
 
Junior Emily Eller (A, Keller, Texas) scored three goals for the ThunderWolves (0-1), while senior Ali Doyle (A, Portland, Ore.) totaled two goals and one assist. Senior goalie Ane Marie Horton (Long Beach, Calif.) totaled 17 saves in the loss. 
 
The Ravens (1-1) produced 30 shots on goal, while the Pack had 15. FPU won the circle with 14 draw controls to the home team's eight. Ground balls were close with Franklin Pierce picking up 24 and CSU-Pueblo recording 22. 
 
The ThunderWolves came out of the gates fast and needed just 36 seconds to claim their first goal of the season. Doyle was the first to score on an unassisted tally. Just 44 seconds later, Eller made it 2-0 when she netted her first goal of the season. 
 
With about seven minutes gone in the opening half, Eller grabbed another goal, this time on a free position shot, to give the Pack a 3-1 advantage. 
 
Three straight Raven goals handed the road team their first lead at 4-3, but freshman Nicole Caster (Beaverton, Ore.) would tie the game on her first collegiate goal with 9:37 remaining in the half. Doyle assisted on the player-up score. 
 
The Ravens responded just 13 seconds later to re-take the lead and then would add one more about two minutes before the half to open up a 6-4 lead heading into the break. 
 
FPU scored the first to goals of the second half to double-up the Pack, 8-4. With 16:50 left in regulation, Doyle scored her second goal of the game to cut the deficit to 8-5.
 
Eller tallied her hat trick on a player-up goal just 1:46 seconds later, but unfortunately there were two goals scored by the Ravens in-between the Pack goals and the scoreboard read, 10-6. 
 
Sophomore defender Ashley Hendricks (Hood River, Ore.) grabbed her first goal of the season with 5:25 left in the game to move the score to 11-7. FPU would score twice in the final three minutes to earn the 13-7 victory. 
 
Next up for the ThunderWolves is a nonconference home game Feb. 26 against Davenport University beginning at 3:30 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.