After a commanding opening stretch, Denver women’s lacrosse has quickly established itself as one of the most complete teams at the start of the 2026 season. A perfect 4-0 record has been fueled by relentless offensive pressure, depth across the lineup and a defense that consistently dictates the pace of play.
USC: Feb. 12
Denver opened its season with a statement, overpowering USC 15-4 in a game that was effectively decided within the first quarter.
The Crimson and Gold struck early and often, building a multi-goal lead in the opening minutes without ever allowing USC to settle in offensively. Junior midfielder Olivia Ripple delivered a standout performance with five goals, while senior attack Ryan Dineen added three more as part of a six-player scoring effort.
The defensive unit was just as dominant. Denver forced turnovers on USC’s first four possessions and held the Trojans scoreless through the first frame. Senior defense Landry Grover controlled the ground game, while sophomore goalie Lexi Gwaku made timely saves to shut down any attempt at a comeback.
By halftime, Denver held a 10-3 advantage and maintained full control the rest of the game.
Arizona State: Feb. 15
Two days later, Denver delivered another decisive performance, defeating Arizona State 14-7 to complete a dominant road trip.
The tone was set immediately with a 6-0 first quarter, as Denver controlled possession and tempo from the opening draw. Dineen and redshirt sophomore attack Caroline Keil each scored four goals, while Ripple contributed three goals and an assist.
Denver’s ability to control the midfield proved critical. The Crimson and Gold consistently won draw controls, limited Arizona State’s opportunities and dictated the flow of the game.
Defensively, Denver held Arizona State to just 21 total shots and maintained a clear advantage in shots on goal. Grover once again anchored the effort with multiple caused turnovers, while Gwaku remained steady in net.
Towson: Feb. 19
Denver returned home and extended its winning streak with a 15-11 victory over Towson, though the game presented a different kind of challenge.
The Crimson and Gold once again built an early cushion, jumping out to a 5-2 lead after the first quarter and extending it to 10-4 by halftime. Dineen and Keil each recorded first-half hat tricks, while Ripple continued her strong start with another multi-goal performance.
Through three quarters, Denver remained firmly in control, leading 13-6 entering the final period.
The closing stretch exposed some vulnerability. Towson capitalized on defensive breakdowns and went on a 5-0 run to end the game, narrowing what had been a comfortable lead. While the outcome was never truly in doubt, the late surge highlighted areas Denver will need to clean up moving forward.
Vanderbilt: Feb. 22
Denver continued its perfect start, improving to 4-0 with a 17-9 win over Vanderbilt in Nashville which is the program’s best start since 2023.
The Crimson and Gold built early momentum, leading 4-2 after the first quarter behind goals from sophomore attack Eva Thomsen-Marr, Keil and Ripple. While Vanderbilt briefly closed the gap in the second, Keil took over offensively, completing a hat trick before halftime and giving Denver a 7-5 edge at the break.
The third quarter proved decisive. After Vanderbilt trimmed the deficit to one, Denver responded with a dominant run. Ripple, Keil and Thomsen-Marr each found the back of the net again in a stretch that pushed the lead to 11-6 and reestablished control.
In the final frame, Denver put the game away. Keil finished with a career-high seven goals, while Ripple and Thomsen-Marr added late scores as part of a three-goal burst in the final 90 seconds.
Once again, Denver showed its ability to respond to pressure and close strong which is a sign of growth as the season progresses.
Looking Ahead
Denver has put themselves in a strong position early in the season, but sustaining this level of play will be the next challenge. Maintaining defensive intensity for a full four quarters and continuing to execute in late-game situations will be critical as competition increases and opponents begin to adjust.
Denver has already shown it can control games with its depth, pace and aggressive defensive style, but consistency, especially in closing out opponents, will define how far this team can go. Sharpening communication on the defensive end and limiting late-game lapses will be key priorities moving forward.
If Denver can build on their fast start while tightening those final-quarter moments, they have the potential to remain a force well beyond the opening weeks of the season.
The Crimson and Gold return home to Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium on March 1, where they will face High Point University in their next test.
