DENVER, Colo. – On a bright and sunny Saturday afternoon, the No.16 ranked Regis University women's lacrosse team (8-1, 1-0 RMAC) hosted Colorado Mesa University (6-3, 2-2 RMAC) and came out with their first conference victory of the season, beating the Mavericks 11-9.

Regis won the non-conference matchup between the two teams earlier this season, and both teams put on a show as they battled hard for the full 60-minute game. CMU got on the board first as they scored the opening goal five minutes into the first half. 

Freshman Wendy Donier, as she has done all season long, responded with a goal to tie the game and put the Rangers on the scoreboard. The Mavericks then scored their second goal of the game a little over two minutes later. 

RU put back to back goals into the net as senior Emily Elkins, and junior Anna Takushi put Regis ahead 3-2 for their first lead of the game. CMU followed suit as they netted two straight goals to take the lead back. At halftime, the Mavericks had a 6-4 lead and what seemed like all of the momentum.

This changed quickly in the second half as the Rangers came out with a sense of urgency to protect their home field. Goals from Donier, and sophomore Jada Bonner tied the game at six goals apiece five minutes into the second half.

Two goals from the visitors put CMU up 8-6, but RU was far from giving up. Donier took a pass from senior Hilary Duda and netted her third goal of the game to bring Regis within one goal. 30 seconds later, senior Abbey Chimenti netted her first goal of the game, tying the score at eight goals with 20 minutes left in the game.

That is when RU put it together offensively and defensively. After allowing another goal with 19 minutes left, the Regis defense locked it down and prevented the Mavericks from scoring the rest of the game. Offensively, the Rangers tied the game when Takushi netted her second goal of the day, and then Elkins sealed the deal with two goals in the final five minutes to give the home team their eighth victory of the year.

Sophomore Kenley Harrington played all 60 minutes between the pipes and improved to 8-1 on the season. Bonner led the team defensively causing three turnovers, but Duda, sophomore Hailey Nyquist, juniors Katie Coleman and Tierra Romero, and senior Katie Larson all had two caused turnovers apiece.

RU dominated in many aspects of the game including taking 32 shots compared to 17 for the visitors. The home team also scooped up six more ground balls, and won 12 more draw controls than CMU on the day.

The women's lacrosse team will return to action tomorrow, Sunday, April 3 to face Adams State University at 1 p.m.