April 5, 2003

Box Score

DENVER - Junior Patience Baldwin (Baltimore, Md.) had five goals and first year Steph Greenlees (Lake Forest, Ill.) added four goals but it was not enough as the Denver Pioneers were defeated by the University of Delaware Fightn' Blue Hens 14-12 this afternoon at Pioneer Field.

The lose ends the Pioneers' three-game winning streak and drops them to 5-4, while Delaware improves to 6-5.

Sophomore Tanya Fuchs (Bay Shore, N.Y.) (2g) also worked over the Blue Hen defense to contribute two goals. Delaware had the edge in shots (38-24), holding Denver to only 12 opportunities each half.

The afternoon began with both teams trading three goals each, with Baldwin, Fuchs and Greenlees all scoring. Baldwin opened the scoring off a free position shot. Delaware responded with two goals of its own. Senior Sarah Medwell (Seattle, Wash.), one of two seniors honored before the game, fed Fuchs for her first goal of the day. Greenlees scored a minute later, but the Fightn' Hens responded again, tying the score at 3-3 with 11:19 remaining in the half.

The Pioneers scored three of the next four goals to take an early two-goal lead at 6-4. Senior Mariana Spry (Nashua, N.H.) started the run with a score in her last home game of her career. Baldwin and Greenlees each added their second goal of the afternoon giving Denver early control of the game.

Delaware finished the first half scoring the last two goals, tying the game at 6-6. The Fightn' Blue Hens continued to dominate play as the second half began, scoring two more goals to put them ahead for good.

Baldwin's third goal of the day with 25 minutes remaining broke the string and pulled the Pioneers to within one, but they would get no closer. Delaware scored twice more during the next five minutes, silencing the Denver faithful who came out for the last women's lacrosse home game of the season.

Fuchs and Baldwin reinstalled hope, each scoring again to close within one goal at 10-9 with 16 minutes left. The Blue Hens put the contest out of reach with four straight goals over the next eight minutes.

The Pioneers mounted a late rally that including two goals from Greenlees and one from Baldwin, but time just ran out on Denver.

Denver looks to rebound on Fri., April 11, when the Pioneers travel to Chestnut Hill, Mass. to battle the Boston College Eagles at 5:30 p.m. MT. The contest is the first of three road games to end the regular season.