The University of Denver women’s lacrosse team ended a winning season with a third-place finish at the Mountain Pacific Lacrosse League Championships May 4.

The team concluded their season with a win over University of California at Davis in the Mountain Pacific Lacrosse League playoff tournament.

“We were hoping for a higher finish, but we didn’t play as well as we had hoped against California-Berkeley [in the first round that Saturday],” said Head Coach Abby Burbank.

After a disappointing loss to University of California at Berkeley, the team came together to pull off the win against UC Davis.

“Sunday we really played as a group, and it made the difference,” said Coach Burbank.

The team ended the year with it’s first winning season since turning Division I with an 8-6 record.

Burbank attributed the team’s success to the players’ ability to turn opportunities into goals.

The Pioneers are ranked nationally for scoring. Junior attacker Patience Baldwin is currently ranked second in the nation for scoring.

Baldwin, along with teammates, sophomore midfielder Tanya Fuchs and senior midfielder Mariana Spry, was selected to join the All-Star Team.

Spry also received what Burbank called “well deserved recognition,” at the DU awards banquet. Burbank expects some nods for Pioneer players at the All-American award ceremony.

He was also impressed with junior defender Crystal Jack and sophomore defender Beth Cordova this season.

“[Crystal] is a smart player, she comes up with big plays,” said Burbank, “Beth played consistently all year.”

Next year the team will have to do without Spry and defender Sarah Medwell, both seniors, but they have signed eight new players to the team.