DENVER -- The No. 4 Denver Pioneers women's lacrosse team used a 5-0 fourth quarter to half the Louisville Cardinals momentum to win 16-8 in its season opener at Peter Barton Stadium on Friday afternoon. 

The scoring started early for the Pioneers when Ryan Dineen found twine off of a pass from Penoyer after just 85 seconds of play. The goal started a five goal run for DU that lasted for the remainder of the first quarter. 

Graduate student Julia Gilbert registered her 22nd career hat trick in the first half of play to extend her streak to four consecutive games, dating back to the second round of the 2023 NCAA tournament, while Junior Lauren Black recorded three goals and a pair of helpers. 

Graduate student transfers Olivia Penoyer and Jane Earley made an early impact for Denver, totaling five goals and two assists between them. Earley's free position goal in the fourth quarter spearheaded a momentum shift for the Pioneers to go on a 5-0 run, while Penoyer recorded a point on three of the goals in the first quarter. Denver goalkeeper Emelia Bohi made six saves while Louisville's netminder Sara Addeche finished with 14 saves. 

The Pioneers led 10-4 at halftime but Louisville took back the momentum in the third to go on a 4-0 run and hold Denver nearly scoreless in the frame. Half of the Cardinals goals came off of free position opportunities.

DU earned 14 ground balls and caused 14 turnovers to Denver's four. McCaughey, Ripple and Colimore each forced a pair of turnovers. Senior Abby Jenkins had five draw controls while graduate student Sam Thacker registered four in the contest.

Kokoro Nakazawa led Louisville in scoring with three points on three goals. 

UP NEXT: The Pioneers travel to Ann Arbor to take on the No. 12 Michigan next Saturday at 10 a.m. MT.

NOTES
-The Pioneers improve to 1-0 to start the seson.
-Julia Gilbert recorded her fourth straight hat trick, a streak dating back to the second round of the NCAA Tournament against UAlbany.

SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
13:45 DU (1-0) - Ryan Dineen, assisted by Olivia Penoyer
12:43 DU (2-0) - Julia Gilbert
10:26 DU (3-0) - Olivia Penoyer, assisted by Sloane Kipp
7:59 DU (4-0) - Lauren Black (FPS)
5:57 DU (5-0) - Caroline Colimore (FPS)

Second Quarter
14:49 LU (5-1) - Alegra Catalano, assisted by Negai Nakazama
12:21 DU (6-1) - Julia Gilbert, assisted by Lauren Black
5:09 DU (7-1) - Julia Gilbert
3:28 LU (7-2) - Kokoro Nakazama (FPS)
2:55 DU (8-2) - Sloane Kipp assisted by Olivia Penoyer
2:45 LU (8-3) - Negai Nakazawa
2:10 DU (9-3) - Lauren Black
1:27 DU (10-3) - Olivia Penoyer
1:02 LU (10-4)  - Kokoro Nakazawa assisted by Izzy Seikel

Third Quarter
11:22 DU (11-4) - Olivia Ripple
9:53 LU (11-5)  - Kokoro Nakazawa (FPS)
8:18 LU (11-6)  - Tiffany Natoli (FPS)
3:36 LU (11-7)  - Kylea Dobson
2:33 LU (11-8)  - Nicole Perroni (FPS)

Fourth Quarter
12:07 DU (12-8) - Jane Earley (FPS)
9:27 DU (13-8) - Caroline Colimore 
8:41 DU (14-8) - Olivia Ripple (FPS)
6:48 DU (15-8) - Lauren Black assisted by Sloane Kipp
5:33 DU (16-8) - Jane Earley assisted by Lauren Black

TICKETS: Single-game tickets are on sale now by clicking here. Call the Denver Ticket Office at 303-871-4625 for group discounts of 10 or more people.
 
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