Boulder, Colo. – The No. 14 Denver Pioneers women's lacrosse team fell 14-7 to the Colorado Buffaloes in its 2021 season opener on Sunday at Kittredge Field.
 
Turning Point
In their first game in 354 days, the Pioneers allowed six goals in the final 10:00 to let a 8-7 deficit grow to a seven-goal margin as Colorado took the win against DU for the first time since 2017.
 
First Half
Free-position opportunities dictated the first half. The Pioneers went 0/3 on their chances and the Buffaloes went 3/3 on theirs. Denver fell behind 3-0 before Bea Behrins scored the Pioneers' first goal of 2021 with a snipe at 17:47. The Buffs scored twice more to make it 5-1 by the 9:57 mark, at which point Denver switched to the offensive scoring three of the last four goals of the half. Kayla DeRose & Ellie Curry's goals came within two minutes of the halftime buzzer. Eliza Radochonski also picked up her first goal of the season.  
 
Second Half
CU started the second half with Sadie Grozier's third free position goal of the game, but Denver responded with a pair of tallies from players making their Pioneer debuts. Freshman Lily Montemarano make it 7-5, then grad transfer Kailey Conry added another to pull Denver within a goal. Radochonski scored her second goal of the game at 19:00, but the goal that made it 8-7 marked the Crimson & Gold's final tally of the game. The Buffs responded with six straight goals to make it a 14-7 final.
 
Significant Stats
-Denver committed 26 fouls to Colorado's 12
-The Pioneers had six different goal scorers
-Five freshmen made their NCAA debuts: Montemarano, Anna Palmisano, Sara Palmisano,Sloane Kipp, Abby Jenkins & Bryn McCaughey
-Vic Macres made five saves in her NCAA debut
 
UP NEXT: Denver hosts Arizona State on Sunday, March 7.

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