SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Despite a career-high five goals from freshman midfielder Ainsley Jackson (Anaheim, Callif./Canyon and a late fourth-quarter equalizer, the Colorado State University Pueblo women's lacrosse team dropped a hard-fought 15-14 decision on the road here Monday afternoon against Converse at Weisiger Stadium.

Monday's game completed a three-game trip to South Carolina to open the 2026 season as the Pack suffered its first loss of the season and is now 2-1 on the year, while Converse improved to 2-2 on the year.

The Pack, who trailed 3-1 after the opening period, outscored the Valkyries 11-9 in the second and third periods to force a 12-all tie heading into the final 15 minutes of play. Converse, though, outscored the Pack, 3-2 in the final period, including sealing the win with a man-up goal from Becky Reinhard with 7:31 left in the game. Monday's game featured seven ties and five lead changes.

After trailing 3-0 late in the opening quarter, CSU Pueblo responded behind an unassisted goal from sophomore attacker Emily Doane (Lake Forest, Calif./El Toro)  with 3:08 left in the opening to cut Converse's lead to 3-1.

The Pack continued to chip away in the second period as they tied the game at 6-6 after back-to-back goals from Jackson, including a free-position strike with 1:18 left in the half.

CSU Pueblo carried that momentum into the third period, as they scored the first goals of the period, including a man-up goal from freshman attacker Hillary Grehan (Winnipeg, Manitboa/Murdoch MacKay Collegiate) to take its first lead of the contest at 8-6 with 9:50 remaining. The two sides traded goals throughout the period, with Doane's third goal of the day giving the Pack a 12-11 advantage with 90 seconds left in the period. Converse, though, tied the game at 12-all about 12 seconds later on a goal by Reinhard.

Converse responded early in the fourth quarter with consecutive man-up goals to regain the lead before Jackson netted her fifth goal of the game on a free-position attempt to pull CSU Pueblo within one at 14-13 with 11:05 remaining. Sophomore midfielder Sydney Gunnels (Dallas, Texas/Coppell) later tied the contest at 14-14 with 9:52 remaining off an assist from Doane before Reinhard's eighth goal of the game midway through the fourth period gave the Valkyries a 15-14 lead that wouldn't surrender the remainder of the game.

Jackson led all CSU Pueblo scorers with five goals on nine shots and seven shots on goal, while Doane added three goals and three assists for a team-high six points and Gunnels also finished with three goals and an assist for four points. Junior midfielder Reese Wasmund (Portland, Ore./West Linn), redshirt freshman attacker Alexandria Bennett (Corona, Calif./Concordia-Irvine) and Grehan each added a goal in the setback.

Freshman Hannah Duffee (Wayport, Minn./St. Croix Preparatory Academy) played all 60 minutes in goal for the Pack and recorded five saves.

Converse was paced by eight goals on 11 shots by Reinhard, while Kaitlyn Oliver added four goals on four shots in the win.

As a team, CSU Pueblo outshot Converse 27-22 and held a 16-15 edge in draw controls with Jackson collecting a career-high six draws.

CSU Pueblo finished 16-of-21 on clears and converted three of seven free-position attempts in the contest and also won the ground ball battle, 16-15, with junior defender Dylan Retzloff (Bend, Ore./Mountain View) picking up a career-high five ground balls and was credited with three caused turnovers.

The Pack committed 23 turnovers and had 14 caused turnovers, including four from freshman defender Maelynn Saucedo (Eastvale, Calif./Eleanor Roosevelt).  

CSU Pueblo now take 15 days off before opening the home portion of its 2026 schedule with a 4 p.m. non-conference game on Monday, March 9 against Rockhurst University at the ALG Soccer/Lacrosse Stadium.