DENVER, Colo. – The Regis University Women's Lacrosse team, ranked #20 in the most recent IWLCA Top 25 Coaches Poll, and seeded No. 1 in the RMAC Championship Tournament, defeated No. 4 Colorado Mesa University, 17-10, in the tournament semifinals on Thursday afternoon. The Rangers improve to 13-5 (8-2 RMAC), while the Mavericks fall to 6-12 (5-5 RMAC).

HOW IT HAPPENED

Regis would land two shots on target before Maggie Schipfer opened the scoring. Though from there, the teams would trade goals, as Lexie Springman scored, and assisted an Aubrey Benton goal, and another Schipfer score. However, despite a forced turnover from Kyla Bieker, Mesa kept the game within one. Neither team would score over the final five minutes of the first, with Benton forcing two turnovers, and Abby Mays causing another.

Springman added another goal immediately in the second, going up, 5-3, but from there, CMU took over. The Mavericks scored the next four goals of the game on four straight shots. Shipfer ended the run with a goal assisted by Stella Geffre, and flipped the momentum as RU scored on three consecutive free position shot, one from Rome Villani, Springman, and Evie Tanella. Mesa was able to go the length of the field to sneak in a final goal before the half, shrinking the Regis lead to 9-8.

Brigit Goetsch saved a shot early in the second half, as Benton scored the first two goals of the period. Mays then caused a turnover that led to a Bieker goal, putting Regis up, 12-8. The Mavericks scored once in the quarter, but Goetsch stopped a free position attempt to end the third.

Mays forced a Maverick error to open the final period, and Springman turned that into a Ranger goal. Schipfer scored twice and Benton another time as RU strung together a four-goal run, leading 16-9 with under five minutes to play. Mesa scored one final goal, but Benton answered, and the Rangers secured the 17-10 win.

GAME NOTES

·         Springman led the Rangers with seven points, four goals and three assists

·         Benton and Schipfer both scored five times

·         Benton added four ground balls and three caused turnovers

·         Mays forced four turnovers to go with two GB

·         Goetsch saved six shots in the goal. Heather Hawkins saved nine for Mesa

UP NEXT

The Rangers host No. 3 Westminster University (Utah) in the RMAC Championship game on Saturday, April 25, first draw at 4 pm.