In the final non-conference matchup of the regular season, the No. 3 University of Denver women’s lacrosse team barred the cold temperatures of Peter Barton Stadium and weathered the attack from the Stanford Cardinals to improve to their fourteenth win of the season. The Crimson and Gold defeated the Cardinals 15-8 in the contest.

In the polls this week, which were released on Monday, Denver stayed third in both the Inside Lacrosse Women/IWLCA Division I and the Nike/USA Lacrosse magazine polls. 

Historically, Denver came into the game winning their last six matches against Stanford but all-time, Stanford has edged out Denver in 18 of their 32 meetings.

Coming into the contest, Denver has been one of the best teams in the country defensively. They rank second in the country in forced turnovers per game, forcing 12.62 turnovers out of their opponents this season. This is the most in school history since the team did it back in 2021 when the team forced 11 turnovers per game to open up the season. 

Stanford started the contest moving quickly and opening up one of the best defenses in the country. It only took 34 seconds for Allish Kelly to take an anchor shot and find the back of the net for the Cardinals. 

After the first goal, Stanford continued their momentum with fluent passing and putting Denver in early foul trouble. They would score the next two goals and lift them to an early 3-0 lead. 

Denver became relentless though on defense and forced the Cardinal offense to commit a charge via quick precise double teams. With just 51 seconds left in the quarter, sophomore goalie Emelia Bohi (Bethesda, Md.) quickly reacted to a shot and snagged a stop to halt the early momentum of Stanford. 

With 11 seconds left in the quarter, junior attack Sloane Kipp (Dallas, Texas) strikes the first goal of the game for Denver after she fired a low shot into the back of the net.

Denver decreased the lead by one to start the quarter thanks to sophomore attack Lauren Black (New Westminster, B.C.)  who powered through the middle of the field with full force inside the crease and evaded two defenders to put the ball in the net. 

DU scored the next three goals to end the second half and would take a five-goal lead heading into the intermission. Goals from Black, senior attack Julia Gilbert (Mclean, Va.), and senior midfielder Ellie Curry (Lutherville, Md.) lifted Denver to their successful second quarter. 

Black, Gilbert, and Curry each scored a goal to open up in the third quarter and pushed the pace for the Crimson and Gold to widen their lead up to five. 

Denver scored three goals before Stanford finally answered with a goal to start the fourth quarter but then Denver would go on an even wider run as the minutes waned from the fourth quarter. 

The three-hat trickers (Black, Gilbert and Curry) would score goals alongside freshman attack Ryan Dineen (Huntingtown, Md.) who widened the lead up to seven in the contest. 

In a back-and-forth effort, Stanford never conceded in the game and pushed DU on their heels at times. Stanford scored five goals in the fourth quarter, the most they scored in a quarter all game, but it was never enough for the Cardinals to make a comeback.  

Junior draw specialist Abby Jenkins (Richmond, Va.) was clutch in draw controls and picked up 8 draw advantages, adding on to her school record in the statistic. 

With 43 seconds left in the contest, Kipp scores a late consolation goal to complete her hat trick and give the Crimson and Gold the 15-8 win. 

After the trouncing of the Cardinals, the team traveled to Cincinnati, Ohio to take on Xavier University for the first time in school history. The Big East opponent proved to be no challenge for Denver and the team destroyed the Musketeers, 23-6 en route to the second-largest scoring affair in school history. Kipp and Gilbert picked up another hat trick in the annihilating victory.

DU’s next matchup is this Saturday against Georgetown University at Peter Barton Stadium and the team will be honoring its seniors in the contest on Senior Day.