University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
8-4
#3 University of Denver
13-0
Huskies Suffer First Conference Defeat in Top 25 Match-Up
4/8/2023 3:15:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
STORRS, Conn. – The UConn Women's Lacrosse team suffered their first BIG EAST loss in a Top 25 match-up versus the No.3 Denver Pioneers on Saturday afternoon at home. This game snapped their four-game win streak.
The Pioneers outshot the Huskies 30 to 22 in today's contest, taking 13 shots to UConn's four in the first quarter alone. UConn put points on the board first after a goal from Lia LaPrise, with an assist from Susan Lafountain at 10:12. Denver gained momentum after that, scoring three goals. A big stop from grad student goalkeeper, Landyn White, gave the Huskies what they needed to tie the game up; including a goal from senior, Kate Shaffer, at 3:42, her 100th career goal and only goal of the game. The Pioneers took control of the last three minutes of the quarter, putting four more into the back of the net, to make the score 7-3.
Denver started the second quarter adding to their scoring spree with a goal from Julia Gilbert, making it five in a row since the Huskies had added to their total. Momentum changed for UConn when Madelyn George and Grace Coon each had a goal to cut Denver's lead to three. Denver would then go on to score two more to end the half at 9-5.
The Pioneers scored twice more to start the second half on goals from Sloane Kipp and Raegan Wilson. LaPrise notched one into the back of the net to cut the lead at 11:30. Denver then capitalized on a free position shot to make the score 11-5. UConn would score again on a goal from George, before the Pioneers put another three points up on the board. At 1:45 to go in the third quarter, Rayea Davis shot a rocket past Emilia Bohi on a free position shot to make the score 13-7.
The game would remain at 13-7 for the first nine minutes of the final quarter. UConn's Lafountain, assisted from Coon, scored at 5:52 to put the Huskies back in the chase. White, again, put up a big stop on a free position attempt from Denver to keep the game at 13-8. Denver's Ryan Dineen then notched her hat trick on the day in the final five minutes of the game. Lafountain would score her second in a row to end the game at 14-7, Denver.
The Pioneers took over on draw controls, outdoing UConn 20-7. They also capitalized on free position shots, going 8 for 11 while the Huskies went 1 for 8 on the day. Ariana Kline, Julia Ozimek, and Landyn White kept the defense in the game. Kline had two caused turnovers and two ground balls, while Ozimek had three ground balls and one caused turnover. White made eight stops in the loss, with five ground balls and one caused turnover.
UConn will take to the skies next weekend as they travel to Milwaukee, Wisc. to take on the Marquette Golden Eagles in an 11:00 AM CST contest.
