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, earned their seventh straight and ninth overall RMAC Tournament Championship Crown on Saturday evening, defeating No. 3 Westminster University, 14-5. The Rangers improve to (15-5, 8-2 RMAC), while the Griffins fall to (10-7, 7-4 RMAC).
The Rangers secure the RMAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Maggie Schipfer scored the first goal of the game, assisted by Krista Munsinger, and the Rangers never looked back. Evie Tanella and Munsinger forced turnovers, and Regis scored twice in under a minute, with goals from Rome Villani and Aubrey Benton. Brigit Goetsch saved a pair of shot, and RU kept up the hot start with another goal from both Tanella and Schipfer. RU closed the opening period with a final save from Goetsch.
Tanella scored less than a minute into the second, and while Goetsch held down the defensive end, the Rangers added to their lead with two scores from Kyla Bieker and another from Lexie Springman. Schipfer made it a 10-goal lead on an assist from Tanella, and an Aubrey Benton goal ended the half, putting RU up, 11-0.
Westminster came out of the break strong, scoring the only three goals of the third period. Abby Mays and Bieker both forced turnovers, and Elle Enselman recorded a draw control, but the lead shrank to 11-3.
The Rangers took back the momentum in the fourth, starting with two caused turnovers from Ayla Cole, followed by a Benton goal and a Rome Villani goal. Tanella scored the final Ranger goal of the match, and while Goetsch saved two attempts, WU scored two more goals. However, it came too late, and Regis won, 14-5.
GAME NOTES
· Tanella recorded six points from three goals and three assists
· Benton and Schipfer both scored three times and assisted one goal
· Munsinger controlled three draws and picked up two ground balls
· Mays forced three turnovers and collected four GB
· Goetsch saved 12 shots, and picked up six ground balls. She also surpassed 500 career saves in the game
· Lilliana Montano has three points for Westminster
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Colorado Mesa - Carson Dickey
UCCS - Jade Wilson
Westminster - Holly Shoughro
WU - Shaina Shoughro
WU - Olivia Petrosky
WU - Marianna Dick
Regis - Lexie Springman
Regis - Aubrey Benton
Regis - Evie Tanella
Regis - Maggie Schipfer
Regis - Brigit Goetsch (MVP)
UP NEXT
The Rangers await their placement in the NCAA Tournament. The selection show is set for May 3, while the First Round starts on May 7.
