The 22nd-ranked DU women’s lacrosse team traveled to Storrs, Conn. last weekend for a two-game series against the University of Connecticut Huskies. Denver won both games, with a triple-overtime 14-13 victory on Friday and another solid performance on Sunday, winning 11-7.
Despite DU not having lost since their first game of the season on Feb. 28 versus Colorado, the two teams looked more evenly matched than their records may have suggested.
Denver came out roaring in the first half, scoring 5 goals in the first 6:35 of the game. Graduate student attack Kailey Conry (Needham, Mass.) opened the scoring a minute in with what would be the first of two goals and three attempts that day.
Junior attack Kayla DeRose (Gaithersburg, M.D.) was up next in what would also be her first of two goals in the game. A goal from sophomore attack Julia Gilbert (McLean, Va.) followed by two back-to-back goals from senior attack Bea Behrins (Basking Ridge, N.J.) gave DU a commanding 5-0 lead. The Huskies then picked up some momentum of their own, going on a 6-2 run, cutting DU’s lead to 1 at the half.
In the second half, Denver picked up steam with 3 of the first 4 goals, including the completion of Behrins’ hat trick. The teams were back and forth for much of the half. Behrins answered a UConn run with her fourth of the day and 100th of her career while DeRose’s second of the afternoon answered another UConn goal to make it 12-9 DU with 11:44 to play. The Huskies scored three unanswered goals to send the game into overtime.
After a slow first overtime, senior goalkeeper Amelia Cole (Alexandria, Va.) got 2 saves to start the second overtime. But, neither team was able to make any offensive moves, sending the game into a third overtime. Behrins won the game for Denver after flinging the ball into the top corner and gave Denver the victory.
Sunday’s game was more of a defensive battle by comparison, with both teams combining for 7 goals in the first half, whereas Friday’s game had 13.
DU opened the scoring with Conry once again, but this time, it wasn’t until nearly halfway through the first half. The Huskies’ Kyra Place scored the final goal of the half and gave UConn a 4-3 lead.
Denver’s 4 straight goals in the second half put them back on top 7-4, including 2 from Gilbert who completed a hat trick. Back-to-back goals from the Huskies cut Denver’s lead to 1 with 8:04 to go. To close out the game, DU went on a 4 goal run to secure the 11-7 victory.
Denver improved to 8-1 and is undefeated in the Big East conference. The team will continue their road trip to face off against Marquette on April 16 and 18.
