2017 Was A Season To Remember For CU Lacrosse

BOULDER - Just four years removed from becoming an NCAA Division I program, the 2017 Colorado lacrosse team enjoyed a record setting season. Under the direction of IWCLA West/Midwest Region Coach of the Year, Ann Elliott, the Buffs complied a 16-4 record and climbed to as high as No. 4 in the polls on their way to the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance. There was no doubt plenty to celebrate in CU's magical 2017 season.

As the Buffs prepare for their alumni scrimmage on Saturday, Oct. 7, it seems like the perfect time to look back at the season.

CU opened the campaign at home against ninth-ranked and perennial powerhouse Northwestern, a team that handled the Buffs in both 2015 and 2016. It was a back and forth contest from opening whistle, with Northwestern taking a 6-5 lead into halftime. The second half unfolded in similar fashion, with senior goalie Paige Soenksen stealing the show with 19 saves. The game went into overtime with the score tied 10-10. Darby Kiernan controlled the overtime draw for CU, and Johnna Fusco found Katie Macleay for the game-winning goal 55 second into overtime. CU's sidelines emptied as the team celebrated the program's first victory over a ranked opponent. Soenksen was honored as the USL National Player of the Week for her defensive performance, while the program earned its first national ranking after the monumental win, coming in at 14th in the Inside Lacrosse poll and 11th in the U.S. Lacrosse poll.

The Buffs then travelled to Florida for games against 16^th-ranked Massachesetts and Stetson. In the first game of the road trip, CU quickly fell behind to UMass, 2-0, but rallied to take a 5-3 lead before halftime. UMass tied the game early in the second but Fusco put the Buffs back on top(6-5) on a free position shot. CU never looked back, winning the game 11-7. Kiernan and Fusco combined for eight Colorado points (7 goals and an assist) as CU moved to 2-0 with a pair of wins over ranked opponents.

In the next game against Stetson, the Buffs controlled the game from the opening draw. CU scored six goals in the first five minutes to put the game out of reach, eventually winning 22-3.

CU headed home to open conference play against UC-Davis after the road-trip. The Buffs handled UCD 18-5 with Fusco and junior Carly Cox each chipped in four goals, and Kiernan and Macleay scoring three apiece.

Up next was undefeated and 14^th ranked Denver. Macleay opened the scoring for CU less than two minutes in and the game quickly turned into a statement game for the Buffs. CU took a 10-1 lead into the halftime break and went on to win 14-3. Fusco scored five goals, with Macleay and Kiernan each adding three. The next game against Marquette saw the Buffs taking control early again, going on to win 20-6.

Sitting at 6-0 after the best start in program history, the Buffs climbed into the top 10 of both the coaches and media poll setting the stage for another huge matchup with No. 6 Penn State in State College, Pa. CU fell behind 6-2 in the first half but brought the game within two (7-5) by halftime. The Buffs evened the score at 7-7, but Penn State answered to take an 8-7 lead. Then, sophomore Miranda Stinson opened up the scoring as CU scored seven straight markers to take a commanding 14-8. The Buffs never trailed again, winning by a final score of 16-11. Stinson accounted for a CU-record nine points in the upset and received numerous national player of the week honors for her performance, while Soenksen stopped 16 of the 27 shots she faced to earn MPSF Defensive Player of the Week distinctions.

CU climbed to fourth in the polls after the win over PSU and the 8-0 Buffs backed up the national ranking. Four Colorado players (Macley, Kiernan, Cali Castagnola, and Blair Sisk) recorded hat tricks in a dominant 18-6 win over Winthrop. Up next was an Oregon team with unbeaten record against MPSF foes. CU jumped out to a 5-0 lead and Colorado's defense held off every Oregon push; juniors Sarah Brown and Kelsie Garrison combined to cause six turnovers, while Soenksen made eight saves. On the offensive end, a career-best five-goal game from Cox propelled the Buffs to a 16-11 victory over Oregon. CU closed out the three-game home stand with another impressive 19-6 victory over Fresno State, in which the Buffs outshot their opponent 49-11.

The fourth-rated Buffs had improved to 10-0 but would have to play six of their final seven games on the road. Up first was a 5-3 Delaware team that was hungry for an upset. It was a low-scoring, back and fourth game, with CU taking a 4-3 halftime lead. The pattern continued in the second half as Delaware held an 8-7 edge with just over 12 minutes remaining. Then, CU took control in the final minutes with a pair of goals from Castagnola and one from Fusco, while Colorado defense held Delaware scoreless to preserve a 9-7 victory. Defensively, Olivia Aschman finished the game with three caused turnovers, while Garrison and Fusco combined to win six ground balls.

Up next, the Buffs would have another top-10 opponent in fifth-ranked Stony Brook. Stony Brook jumped out in front early in rainy, frigid conditions, and while CU brought the score to within one at 7-6, the Buffs never gained control of the lead, suffering their first loss of the season by a final score of 10-6.

CU headed back to Boulder for the final home game of the season. The Colorado program's first class of four-year seniors celebrated their final game at Kittredge Field with a decisive 13-8 win over conference rival Stanford, their first ever over the Cardinal. Stanford got on the board first, but CU answered with six straight goals to take a 6-1. The Cardinal rallied to bring the score to 6-5 early in the second half, but CU never relinquished the lead, answering with four goals to put the game out of reach at 10-5. Fusco made the most of her senior day finishing with four goals, while Kiernan also added four goals. It was a fitting way for the senior class to end their careers at home.

Another top-10 road matchup awaited the Buffs, this time against No. 9 Southern California in the L.A. Coliseum. CU opened the game strong and built a 5-4 lead by halftime behind goals from Kiernan (2), Fusco, Garrison, and Stinson. USC took control in the second half, however, holding the Buffs scoreless to win 11-5. After suffering just their second loss of the season, the 12-2 Buffs bounced back with a convincing win over San Diego State. Fusco scored five goals, Kiernan and Macleay added three a piece, and Marie Moore had two as Colorado handled the Aztecs 17-5.

CU then faced off against St. Mary's, a game that the Buffs controlled from the opening whistle. Colorado put together a dominant performance in all facets of the game as the Buffs had 13 goal scorers, and eight players scoring more than once; CU put up a school-record 24 goals on the scoreboard to beat St. Mary's 24-3. The Buffs closed the regular season with another statement victory over Cal, winning 18-6. The game was close in the early going, before CU took control. Kiernan and Stinson both recorded four goals in the game, while Garrison snagged five ground balls and caused two turnovers.

CU compiled the best regular season record in school history at 15-2 and earned the 2-seed in the MPSF Tournament. Fresh off a first-round bye, the Buffs would face Stanford, the team that ended each of CU's prior three season in the MPSF tournament. It was a closely contested game with neither team gaining more than a one-goal advantage until Stanford took a 10-8 lead with 14:45 remaining. CU and Stanford exchanged goals with Stanford holding the advantage 11-10 with eight minutes remaining in the game. Stinson took control from there, scoring three of the next four CU goals to put the Buffs on top 14-11. CU conceded two late goals, but held on to defeat Stanford 14-13 and move onto the MPSF Championship game. Brown forced a career-best six turnovers and won six ground balls to lead the Buffs defensively.

USC awaited the Buffs in the championship game. USC picked up where they left off against CU, as the Trojans stretched their lead to 13-5 early in the second half. Colorado mounted a furious comeback, scoring four straight to bring the score to 13-9. Two quick USC goals extended the USC lead to 15-9, but the Buffs answered again to draw back to 15-11. It wasn't enough, however, as CU conceded once more and fell 16-11. Fusco, Stinson, and Brown were all named to the All-MPSF Tournament Team.

CU's record-setting season earned them the program's first birth in the NCAA Tournament, where they would meet a familiar foe in UMass. The game saw CU gain an early advantage, but UMass battled back to take a 6-5 halftime lead. Kiernan evened the score at 6-6 early in the second half, but UMass answered by scoring the next five goals. Colorado went on to fall 13-7 to UMass, ending a magical season for the Buffaloes. Despite the loss, a disappointed Elliot was able to reflect on what the team accomplished, "There is a lot to be proud of this year, especially for this senior class. We will celebrate everything they have done and have achieved over the last four years."

There was no doubt plenty to celebrate over Colorado's record-setting 2017 season. CU ended the season ranked 16^th in the IWCLA Coaches Poll, the first postseason ranking in school history. Brown, Kiernan and Soenksen earned first-team All-West/Midwest Region recognition, with Fusco and Stinson being named to the second-team. Brown, Kiernan and Soenksen also received IWLCA All-America distinction, with Brown making second-team, and Soenksen and Kiernan making third-team. Elliott was recognized as the IWCLA West/Midwest Region and MPSF Coach of the Year.

Players Mentioned

Olivia Aschman

Sarah Brown

Cali Castagnola

Carly Cox

Johnna Fusco

Kelsie Garrison

Darby Kiernan

Katie Macleay

Marie Moore

Blair Sisk

Paige Soenksen

Miranda Stinson

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