DENVER, Colo. – The Regis University women's lacrosse team (19-0) have advanced to the Midwest Regional Championship of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II Women's Lacrosse Tournament after beating No. 4 seeded University of Indianapolis (18-2) 17-14 on Friday afternoon.
 
How It Happened: Regis got the scoring started as senior Sarah Lugo scored off of a pass from junior Andrea Macalalad less than three minutes after the opening draw. The Greyhounds would respond with a goal of their own, but the Rangers fired back with man-up goal from senior Wendy Donier at the 23:53 mark. Macalalad netted her first goal of the game a little over a minute later to put RU in front by two goals, 3-1. Back-to-back goals from junior Jessica Berg and Macalalad between the 18 and 15-minute mark extended the Regis lead to three goals 5-2.
 
After UIndy got their third goal of the half, junior Ali Vanek went off for three-straight goals to give the Rangers their largest lead of the game at that point, 8-3. RU outscored the Greyhounds 4-3 in the final seven minutes of the game leading to a 12-6 advantage at the break which was identical to score at halftime during the 2018 NCAA first-round matchup between these two teams in which Regis went on to win 21-6.
 
However, one-year later UIndy was determined not to replay the same situation that happened the year prior. Although the Rangers took a seven-goal lead (twice, 15-8 and 16-9) in the second half, the Greyhounds stormed back by converting five-straight goals to bring the margin to only two goals at 16-14 with 4:25 to go in regulation.
 
Both teams battled and put it all on the line during the final 4:25 in which the game went scoreless for three-straight minutes before senior Sarah Myres all but sealed the win for RU with her third goal of the game with 1:25 remaining on the clock. On the ensuing draw control, fellow senior Lauren Hurd raced to the ball to secure possession for Regis who ran out the clock in a 17-14 win over the University of Indianapolis.
 
Game Notes: Macalalad had one of her best games of the season as she posted four goals and two assists for six points in the game, going 1-for-1 on free-position opportunities. Vanek finished the game with four goals and one assist, securing one ground ball and one caused turnover. Berg played extremely well on both sides of the field matching her season-high of four points, and setting a new season-best with eight ground balls, while also causing three turnovers and grabbing one draw control. Donier had a team-high three assists to go along with her lone goal, three ground balls, two caused turnovers and a team-leading three draw controls.
 
In between the pipes sophomore goalkeeper Elle Crawford (W, 18-0) made six saves after facing 27 shots. She earns her 18^th win of the season, adding four ground balls and one caused turnover in the effort.
 
Up Next for the Rangers: The No. 1 seeded Regis University Rangers will face No. 3 seeded Colorado Mesa University in the Midwest Regional Championship at noon on Sunday, May 12 on the Regis University Lacrosse Field.

*Regis University Athletics would like to send our gratitude and appreciation to everyone at Metropolitan State University of Denver Athletics for their willingness in allowing the games to be played on their facility today.