DENVER Senior Karen Morton (Adelaide, Australia) had five points as the University of Denver Pioneers defeated Saint Mary’s College 20-7 in both teams’ Mountain Pacific Sports Federation season-opener at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Denver (7-4, 1-0 MPSF) received goals from 13 different Pioneers, led by Morton’s four-goal, one-assist game. Senior Dani Espinosa (Colorado Springs, Colo.) also added four goals, and sophomore Kristen Keravich (Glenwood, Md.) had two.

Morton tallied a hat trick in the opening seven minutes of the game, and DU took a 9-0 lead before Saint Mary’s got on the board with 11:34 remaining in the first half on a goal by Juliet Munroe.

 

Denver took a 15-2 lead into the half after receiving goals from 11 different Pioneers in the first half alone.

 

Saint Mary’s (1-7, 0-1 MPSF) was led by Munroe’s three-goal effort. P.J. Hainley and Amy Daniels each added two goals to round out the scoring for the Gaels.

 

Three Pioneers scored their first points of the season in the victory over the Gaels. Freshman defender Morgan Johnson (Englewood, Colo.) tallied her first collegiate goal, while senior defender Katelynn Taggart (Bay Shore, N.Y.) and sophomore midfielder Savannah Khanna (Littleton, Colo.) each netted their first goals of the season.

 

DU goalkeepers freshman Ashley Harman (Boyertown, Pa.) and junior Katie Gold (Centennial, Colo.) combined for five saves, while Hilary Gardner made six for the Gaels.

 

The Pioneers continue their three-game homestand with a 1 p.m. game against California on Saturday, March 28.

 

 

- PIONEERS -