March 9, 2003

Box Score

DENVER - - The University of Denver women's lacrosse team (3-3) won its second home game in three attempts today, defeating the Saint Mary's College Gaels (2-4) by a score of 17-14 at Pioneer Field. Junior Patience Baldwin (Baltimore, Md.) again dominated the stats as she netted a team-high five goals. Sophomore Tanya Fuchs (Bay Shore, N.Y.) was a force as well, scoring four times and set up another two to lead the team in overall points with six. The Pioneers edged out the Gaels in most statistics, with Denver having an advantage in shots (36-30), groundballs (12-7), face-offs (18 of 33) and saves (9-6).

Saint Mary's College built an early lead in the game, with the team finding net at 27:32 and 22:41 to bring the score to 2-0. The tide shifted to the home team shortly after though, and Baldwin led the Pioneers on a five goal blitz where she achieved a hat trick within a nine minute span. Not to be outdone, the Gaels answered with three goals of their own in 58 seconds to re-gain the advantage. The pendulum of momentum returned to Denver though, as Fuchs scored two of the team's next three goals to give the Pioneers a 8-5 going into the half.

The first two minutes of the second stanza proved to be a taste of things to come with SMC scoring a goal, and Denver adding another two. Over the next 12 minutes, both teams exchanged five goals as the Pioneers stuffed every Gael attempt for a comeback. Baldwin's fifth tally and Fuchs's completion of a hat trick came during this span. Saint Mary's fought to mount one final comeback with goals at 8:30 and 6:48 but Denver held on, with freshman Steph Greenlees (Lake Forest, Ill.) recording her fourth goal off four shots and Fuchs adding another within a minute to put the team up 17-13. The Pioneer defense stiffened for the remaining 2:28 and only allowed one last goal by the Gaels with just over a minute and a half to play.

Denver's six-game home stand continues on Tuesday (March 11) when the squad takes on Bucknell at 3 p.m.

Final Score:Saint Mary's College-   14Denver-              17