PUEBLO, Colo. — Despite a late push that cut the deficit to one goal in the fourth quarter, Colorado State University Pueblo women's lacrosse dropped an 11-8 decision to Colorado Mesa here Friday evening in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action at ALG Stadium.

With the setback, the ThunderWolves fall to 4-6 overall and 1-3 in the RMAC, while Colorado Mesa improved to 2-8 overall and 1-2 in the league. 

The eight goals are the most scored by the Pack against Colorado Mesa since tallying 10 goals in a 17-10 home loss on April 16, 2021. In addition, the three-goal final margin was the closest in the series since the Pack suffered a 12-10 loss to the Mavericks in Pueblo on April 3, 2016. 

Last season, the Pack lost to Colorado Mesa by scores of 17-2 and 20-5. 

CSP Pueblo started strong, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the opening three-plus minutes behind goals from sophomore midfielder Sydney Gunnels (Dallas, Texas/Coppell) and sophomore attacker Emily Doane (Lake Forest, Calif./El Toro). CMU, though, responded with a five-goal run to take a 5-2 lead with 6:11 left in the opening period. The Pack would cut the deficit to 5-3 with 3:43 left in the opening period after junior midfielder Sophia Rinn (Eagle, Colo./Eagle Valley) scored off a Gunnels assist. 

Freshman midfielder Ainsley Jackson (Anaheim, Calif./Canyon) opened the second period with a man-up free position goal to cut the Mavericks' lead to 5-4 just a little under five minutes into the second period. After CMU used goals from Maeve Miller and Devon Morris to push in front 7-4, the Pack added goals in the final two minutes of the period from freshman attacker Hillary Grehan (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Murdoch MacKay Collegiate) and Gunnels to cut CMU's lead to 7-6 at the half. The latter goal by Gunnels came with less than one second left on the clock. 

Both teams were held scoreless in a defensive third period as the teams combined to take nine shots and the goalies combined for five saves, including from Pack junior goalie Breonna Mason (Colorado Springs, Colo./Air Academy). Mason (2-4) finished the night with a season-high 15 saves and added three ground balls, and two caused turnovers as she played 60 minutes in goal.  

Colorado Mesa pushed its lead to 8-6 early in the fourth quarter, but the ThunderWolves again responded. Doane scored on a man-up opportunity, and Grehan added another free-position goal to cut the deficit to 9-8 with 6:31 remaining.

However, the Mavericks closed the game with two late goals, including one in the final seconds from Morris, to secure the 11-8 victory.

Gunnels, Doane, and Grehan each led CSU Pueblo with two goals, while Jackson and Rinn added one goal apiece. Gunnels also recorded two assists to finish with a team-high four points.

Colorado Mesa was paced by Morris with three goals, while Carson Dickey and Sofia Chock each added two scores.

Colorado Mesa held advantages in shots (32-15), ground balls (34-24) and draw controls (10-9), while CSU Pueblo edged the Mavericks in clears (20-of-27 to 18-of-20). 

Doane led the Pack with four ground balls, while Jackson had three draws, and Mason and junior defender Dylan Retzloff (Bend, Ore./Mountain View) each had two caused turnovers as the Pack had nine on the night. CMU had 13 caused turnovers in the win. 

Heather Hawkins (2-8) played all 60 minutes in goal as she finished with three saves and a ground ball for the Mavericks. 

The ThunderWolves will return to action Sunday when they host first-place Westminster (6-2 overall, 4-0 RMAC) for a 10 a.m. RMAC game at ALG Stadium. The Griffins extended the win streak to five straight game as they picked up a 20-8 win Friday afternoon at Fort Lewis.