GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (May 7, 2021) – The Colorado State University Pueblo men's lacrosse team suffered a 16-6 loss at the hands of Westminster College Friday in the semifinal round of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament in Grand Junction, Colorado. 
 
The ThunderWolves (3-5) totaled 37 shots with 15 landing on frame. The Griffins (6-5) recorded 50 shots with 30 on goal. WC picked up 42 ground balls, while the Pack had 33. The Griffins also won face offs with 17 to the ThunderWovles' nine. 
 
POSTGAME COMMENT
"it was a tough one for us tonight," said CSU Pueblo Head Coach Sean Blair. "Obviously it wasn't the result we wanted. However, this was a great experience for a majority of our young bench who had yet to experience an RMAC tournament. Offensively we had chances, but weren't able to score the ball as we've been accustomed to in the past. Hats off to a well-coached Westminster team." 
 
"For us, I am proud of how our younger players stepped up and navigated this season. We had plenty of adversity that we were faced with and our guys played through it. What is exciting is the pieces that we return meshing with the incoming class we have. This resilient group is still hungry and I look forward to the product we put on the field in 2022."
 
PLAYER PERFORMANCES  
Freshman Connor Owen (M, Keller, Texas) scored twice and dished out an assist. He totaled 12 shots and picked up two ground balls. 
 
Freshman Logan Naves (A, Highlands Ranch, Colo.) came off the bench and had two assists. He added two ground balls. 
 
Ethan Ferrie (So., Littleton, Colo.) faced 25 shots and made 13 saves. He also added three ground balls. 
 
Senior Michael DeMaio (D, Gambrills, Md.) caused two turnovers and added three ground balls. 
 
Senior Tavian Watson (LSM, Aurora, Colo.) led the team with four ground balls and he caused one turnover. 

Freshman Tyler Gardner (M, Erie, Colo.) totaled nine face off wins and collected three ground balls. 
  
SUMMARY
Both teams had quality scoring chances in opening minutes, but neither team would score until 4:30 into the game. The Griffins netted three goals within 1:07 of game time and with 9:29 left in the first it was 3-0. 
 
The score remained 3-0 after the opening 15 minutes, then two early second quarter goals handed Westminster a 5-0 lead. 
 
Freshman Kaelen Santana (M, Tualtin, Ore.) got the Pack on the board with 10:07 remaining in the first half, as he was assisted by Aaron Clark (Fr., A, Spring Branch, Texas).
 
WC scored the next two goals and led 7-1 before midfielder Ian Noonan (So.) scored a goal on an assist from Matt Lutz (So., M, Austin, Texas) with 3:13 remaining. 
 
The Griffins would add two more to their tally before the half and led 9-2 at the break.
 
Three goals in the first four and a half minutes of the third had Westminster leading 12-2 before the ThunderWolves netted the next three goals. 
 
Owen scored his first of the game with 7:48 showing on the clock. He was assisted by Naves. Logan Wells (Fr., A, Centennial, Colo.) closed the scoring of the third quarter with a man-up goal with 2:45 remaining. He was assisted by Boston Dumas (Jr., M, Ogden, Utah).
 
Just 1:08 into the fourth Owen scored his second goal and was again helped by Naves. CSU Pueblo trailed 12-5 at that point, but it would be the Griffins who would score next to lead 13-5 with 12:17 left. 
 
Dumas netted a goal with 8:34 remaining in regulation on a dish from Owen. 
 
The Griffins went on to score the final three goals of the game to win 16-6. 
 
-- PACK --