Sure it was not the perfect season for DU women’s lacrosse, but it was very close as the team finished the season breaking many school records, including a school best 15-win season.
It was the beginning and end of the season that caused the Pioneers trouble as they started the season 2-2, and finished 2-3 and went 11-0 in between. Three of the five losses for DU this season were against ranked opponents, Northwestern (No. 1) and Stanford (No. 16).
This past weekend the women competed in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tournament and went in as the No. 1 seed. The Pioneers opened the tournament with a 14-6 victory against the University of Oregon to advance to the finals.
Freshman Karen Morton, who was awarded the MPSF Newcomer of the Year award early in the week led DU with five goals and two assists. Also in on the action was senior Steph Greenlees, who recorded four goals and one assist; freshman Steph Coyne, who put in three goals and assists, and senior Tanya Fuchs, who found the net twice. Denver had a 9-4 halftime lead and never looked back on their way to an easy 14-6 win.
In the championship game the Pioneers faced nationally ranked Stanford which had won the match-up earlier in the season, 11-9, closing the game with a 3-0 run.
This time around, things again were very similar as the Cardinal had a 6-4 halftime advantage and Denver came roaring back to cut the lead to 7-6 with 10:26 remaining in the game. Once again, Stanford ended the game on a roll, this time with a 5-0 run and an eventual MPSF championship.
Junior Kristie Leggio led the way with four goals and Morton and Coyne each added one apiece.
Three Pioneers made the all-tournament team including Morton, freshman Natasha Davies and sophomore Kelly O’Connell.
Not only did DU do well in awards at the tournament but swept the season awards for the MPSF. Head Coach Cathy Reese was awarded Coach of the Year, junior midfielder Kristie Leggio was named Player of the Year and Karen Morton received Newcomer of the Year award.
Denver will only lose Greenlees and Fuchs to graduation and will come back with a very experienced and talented group of players next season hungry to accomplish more school records.
