No. 18 Denver, UC Davis Win Two In Season-Openers
Feb. 24, 2014
MPSF Lacrosse Release 2
# 18 DENVER (2-0 Overall, 2-0 MPSF) raced out to a 2-0 conference start with a 15-4 home win over Colorado and 20-5 road win at Fresno State. Sonorah Vineyard collected a career-high 11 draw controls in Fresno, just two off the all-time MPSF record. Meredith Harris totaled a career-high seven points in that game, five goals and two assists. Rachel McKinnon had four goals against the Buffaloes. The Pioneers did not allow a first-half goal against Colorado, or a second-half goal in Fresno.
UC DAVIS (2-0 Overall, 0-0 MPSF) is off to a 2-0 start with season-opening road victories at George Mason 9-8, and Old Dominion, 12-6. Freshman Melissa Kellan converted 10 of her first 13 collegiate shots through the two wins, including a 2014 MPSF-High seven goals against the Monarchs. That effort was tops for an Aggie freshman since 2004. Kai Murphy totaled 31 saves with a .689 save percentage, stopping 19 shots against ODU, tied for third in school history.
CALIFORNIA (1-0 Overall, 1-0 MPSF) picked up a season-opening MPSF road win at St. Mary's last Thursday, 20-14. Amelia Burke was five-for-six shooting off the bench, along with four draws. Bella Huther put away four goals and collected three groundballs, and a pair of draws and caused turnovers in her collegiate debut. Cal hosts San Diego State Friday in another conference game and the Bears' home opener.
# 13 STANFORD (2-0 Overall, 0-0 MPSF) Lyndsey Munoz made eight saves, had four ground balls, and caused a turnover in the Cardinal's 14-10 victory over Harvard on Saturday. Meg Lentz put away a career-high four goals. Stanford, up to 13th in this week's coaches' poll, hosts Vanderbilt Sunday (Mar. 2).
COLORADO (2-2 Overall, 0-0 MPSF) won its inaugural home game last Saturday (Feb. 22) against Regis, 13-10. Johnna Fusco had three goals, two assists, seven ground balls (tied for the most in the MPSF this year), and six draw controls. Paige Soenksen had nine saves at No. 18 Denver.
FRESNO STATE (1-2 Overall, 0-0 MPSF) Lisa Barnaba collected 16 saves at Wagner last Monday (Feb. 17). Anjelica Fuccillo scored twice against No. 18 Denver.
ST. MARY'S (0-2 Overall, 0-0 MPSF) Rachel Minarovich accumulated 11 draw controls against Harvard Sunday, just two shy of the all-time MPSF single-game record. Allie Debruhl scored four goals vs. Cal, while Krista Morgan added two with a pair of assists. The Gaels host another MPSF game Sunday (Mar. 2) against San Diego State. USC (0-0 Overall, 0-0 MPSF) hosts its first six games on the schedule this year, beginning Friday (Feb. 28) against Marist. The Trojans reached the MPSF Semifinals in their inaugural year of 2013.
OREGON (2-0 Overall, 0-0 MPSF) heads to Temple Saturday (Mar. 1) and Robert Morris Monday (Mar. 3). The Ducks got off to a quick start to begin the 2014 campaign, routing Stetson 23-3, and Coastal Carolina, 20-3 (Feb. 10 & 11). Shannon Propst dished out an MPSF record-tying and UO record nine assists against the Hatters, also becoming the Ducks' all-time leader with 79. Carly O'Connell recorded five goals, followed by Nikki Puszcz with four and Courtney Valdez with three. Propst, Puszcz and Valdez led with four goals each, while O'Connell, Casey Brogan, and Devon Frazer each chipped in a hat trick against the Chants. The 20-goal victory tied for the largest in program history.
SAN DIEGO STATE (2-0 Overall, 0-0 MPSF) travels for a pair of MPSF games this week, taking on St. Mary's and California. The Aztecs won their season opener (Feb. 16) for the first time in the three years of the program, taking down Davidson on the road, 11-10. Meris Walsh, Bailey Ewing and Andrea Killebrew scored two goals apiece. Katrina Reeves earned the victory in goal in her collegiate debut, tallying four saves, seven groundballs, and causing two turnovers. Christina Ricciardulli tallied five draw controls, two groundballs, two caused turnovers and one goal. Feb. 17, the Aztecs made it 2-0 with a 15-11 victory at Winthrop.