ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (March 5, 2022) – Colorado State University Pueblo women's lacrosse (0-2) fell to Missouri Western State University (1-3) 14-7 on the road Saturday afternoon. Caira Lessick led the ThunderWolves with four goals in the effort.
 
After the Griffons drew first blood, Caira Lessick netted her first goal of the season with a strong free position shot to tie it up at 1-1 early on. Another Griffon goal was followed by Ashley Hendricks scoring an unassisted goal with 6:49 to go in the opening quarter.
 
Baylee Mee won the ensuing draw control and immediately attacked the Griffons defense. Kendal Bruderer passed it over to Lessick who slung in a goal past the MWSU goalie. The Lessick goal temporarily gave the Pack a 3-2 lead in the opening quarter.
 
Lessick rifled in another goal before the clock expired in the first quarter and the ThunderWolves were tied with the Griffons at 4-4 after the opening frame.
 
Despite the CSU Pueblo squad carrying momentum into the second quarter, it was the Griffons who took command of the game.
 
Missouri Western State pushed in four goals in the second quarter and took an 8-4 advantage over the Pack headed into the third quarter.
 
The ThunderWolves were unable to make much headway headed out of the halftime break, as the Griffons continued to attack aggressively.
 
Mee was able to win a draw control and Vivian Reukauf, Hannah Huchette and Bruderer were able to gather up ground balls but the rebuttals on offense were turned away by the Griffons. MWSU netted four more goals in the third and put the Pack in a 12-4 deficit headed into the final quarter.
 
The Griffons found their way into the back of the net once again early in the fourth, but the ThunderWolves were able to find a response. Lindsey Locke drew a free position shot and sent in another goal for the Pack.
 
With 6:55 to play, Sedona Sargent sent home the sixth goal of the day for the CSU Pueblo cause. The Pack soon forced a turnover by the Griffons and Lessick sent in her fourth goal of the day unassisted with 5:22 to go in the quarter.
 
Unfortunately, the final push was not enough for CSU Pueblo and the Pack eventually fell 14-7 in the Saturday contest.
 
CSU Pueblo logged 15 shots and 13 on goal while the team also turned in a 15-20 performance in clear attempts on the afternoon contest. The Pack won 13 draw controls on the day to the Griffons' 11.
 
Lessick highlighted the Pack's offensive efforts with four goals while Annika Ponse made 10 saves for CSU Pueblo. 
 
The ThunderWolves look to bounce back Wednesday, as the Pack opens up RMAC play with a trip up to Regis University at 1:30 p.m.