WLAX v California (15 APR 16) - Highlights

Box Score| Season Stats

DENVER - The University of Denver women's lacrosse team defeated the California Golden Bears 16-0 Friday at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium for the Pioneers' first shutout since April 11, 2006 vs. Regis. Denver improves to 6-8 on the season and 3-4 in the MPSF.

Senior captain Christa Reese (Lutherville, Md.) and freshman Elizabeth Behrins (Basking Ridge, N.J.) each recorded hat tricks and dished an assist on the day, while redshirt sophomore Nicole Martindale (Brooklin, Ontario) notched two goals and two assists.

"It was a really exciting game to have on our senior weekend," head coach Liza Kelly said. "To be able get everybody in and have a shutout was pretty cool. We haven't had a shutout in a long time, but I'm really just pleased with how everybody played. I think our defense has been carrying us a lot this season, but it was really fun to see the attack do it for a change."

The Pioneers got on the board 0:22 into the game after Ellie Knott (Baltimore, Md.) was awarded the first draw and sent the ball forward to Reese, who scored to set the tone for the entire game.

The Denver offensive onslaught continued as the Pioneers tacked on four more goals in the first 5:27 to put the Pioneers up 5-0. DU linked together unassisted and free position goals to earn the advantage. Less than a minute after Reese's first goal, Riley Eggeman (Mission Viejo, Calif.) scored her first of the game, then Reese tallied her second on a free position attempt 1:12 later. Behrins scored her first of the game with 25:33 left in the first half, then Martindale buried a free position attempt 1:00 later for the Pioneers' fifth goal of the game

The Pioneers added three more goals in the 8:16 of the half. Martindale finished an assist from Behrins, and 2:10 later, Kendra Lanuza (Littleton, Colo.) scored her first of the game on a free position attempt. Casey White (Queensbury, N.Y.) closed out the first half with a well-placed goal on the run with 2:10 remaining in the first half.

Denver carried an 8-0 advantage halftime. The Pioneers also held the advantage in possession. DU won 7-of-9 draw controls, committed five fewer turnovers and picked up one more ground ball than the Golden Bears.

The Pioneers continued to dominate in the second half, once again outscoring California 8-0.

Denver's scoring was early and often in the second half, as Lanuza finished an assist from Reese 1:16 into the half to put DU up 9-0. Behrins added back-to-back goals to give Denver the running clock advantage and to complete her second career hat trick. Reese closed out the four-goal run in 7:37 with a free position goal for her hat trick.

Martindale dished out a pair of assists on consecutive goals to give DU the 14-0 lead. Senior Rachael McKinnon (Brooklin, Ontario) scored her lone goal of the game with 15:19 to play before Eggeman tallied her second goal 3:02 later for the first multi-goal game in her career.

Freshman Audrey Schreck (Charlottesville, Va.) closed out the game with a pair of unassisted goals to give the Pioneers the 16-0 victory over Cal, the highest scoring output of the season and first shutout under Kelly.

Denver outshot California 32-9 and converted on all four free position attempts. The Pioneers also won the draw control battle 12-6 and picked up 21 ground balls to the Golden Bears' 17.

Knott collected a career-high eight draw controls, while Reese tied her career high for ground balls with four. Freshman Nicki Wilkinson (Groton, Mass.) also tied a career-high with a game-leading three caused turnovers.

Goalie Maddy Stevenson (Bainbridge Island, Wash.) made four saves to keep the clean sheet for the Pioneers, and senior goalkeeper Bailey Dunning (Eden Prairie, Minn.) closed out the final 3:21 of the game in cage for Denver.

Denver will close out its home season with St. Mary's Saturday, April 16 at 3 p.m. MT in the Pioneers' senior day game. The game will be broadcast on Altitude TV with Brad Thompson on the call.

- JOIN THE DENVER PIONEER NATION -

Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 17 of Denver's NCAA Division I sports.

Like Denver Pioneersand Denver Women's Lacrosseon Facebook

Follow @DU_Pioneers and @DU_WLAX on Twitter

Pioneer Women's Lacrosse Home