LOS ANGELES -- The University of Denver women's lacrosse team fell to Mountain Pacific Sports Federation leader the [-/RV] USC Trojans, 16-4 on Sunday afternoon, at McAlister Field.

Denver (8-4, 3-2 MPSF) was not able to ruin USC's (10-3, 6-0 MPSF) senior day as the home team stayed in first place in the MPSF with the victory.

"We need to find a way to play two good teams in a weekend and walk away playing well against both teams," head coach Liza Kelly said.

The first half started off quickly as Monica Lucas (Kensington, Md.) scored 1:31 in to give Denver a 1-0 lead. USC answered just under a minute later to even the score at 1.

The next 12 minutes were a defensive battle as both teams were unable to find the back of the net until USC midfielder/attack Kylie Drexel scored with 15:24 remaining in the first half to give the Trojans a 2-1 lead that they would never relinquish. USC struck again to go up 3-1, before Nicole Martindale (Brooklin, Ontario) struck for the Pioneers to pull DU within 1, 3-2.

USC scored the next three goals to take a 6-2 lead at halftime.

Rachael Dillon (Mount Sinai, N.Y.) opened the scoring at the 28:42 mark of the second half to pull the Pioneers within 3, 6-3. USC answered back getting a goal from Cynthia Del Core to give the home team a four-goal advantage.

With the Pioneers trailing 8-3, USC goalie Gussie Johns took a yellow card and Jill Remenapp (Woodbine, Md.) converted on the ensuing free position shot, to cut the Trojans lead to 8-4, but that is as close as the Pioneers would get in the second half.

Goaltender Hannah Hook (Arnold, Md.) finished the day with four saves and falls to 8-4 on the season.

Denver will then finish its road swing next week with games at California (April 17) and Saint Mary's (April 19). Denver then wraps up its 2015 regular season campaign in the Mile High City against Oregon (April 24) and Fresno State (April 26).

For the second-consecutive season, Denver will host the MPSF Championship from April 30-May 3 at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium. Tickets to this event are currently available for purchase at the University of Denver ticket office.

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