No. 9 Pioneers Open Season With Comeback Win

Next Game:

at Vanderbilt

2/12/2023 | 11 A.M. MT

ESPN+

Feb. 12 (Sun) / 11 A.M. MT

at Vanderbilt

History { element.remove(); }); } else{ let elementsToRemove = document.querySelectorAll(‘.postgame_3_nextgame’); elementsToRemove.forEach(element => { element.remove(); }); } ]]> DENVER – The No. 9 Denver Pioneers women’s lacrosse team opened its 2023 season on Friday in comeback fashion, rallying to defeat the Louisville Cardinals 5-4 at the U of L Lacrosse Stadium.
 
Denver scored five unanswered goals and shutout Louisville in the second half in a defensive-focused contest by both teams. DU broke through the Cardinals’ defensive game in the final stanza as the squad recorded three of its goals in the fourth quarter.
 
Lauren Black tallied twice, while Julia Gilbert, Mollie Estepp and Ellie Curry also scored for the Pioneers. Goalkeeper Emelia Bohi made four saves, with three coming in the final 30 minutes.
 
DU’s defense held LU to just 14 shots and eight on goal in the contest, while grabbing 17 ground balls and forcing 11 turnovers. Abby Jenkins won five of the team’s seven draw controls in the outing.
 
Louisville led 3-0 after the first quarter and took a four-goal lead with 2:25 remaining in the second frame before Black netted the first marker of the year for the Pios 16 seconds later. Black added a second marker in the third stanza, and Denver used two goals in a matter of 44 seconds from Estepp and Gilbert to knot the outing at 4-4 with 9:05 left in regulation.
 
Curry scored the game-winner with a tremendous drive to the net with 7:51 to go, and DU’s defense held onto the lead, including in the closing seconds when Louisville had a free-position attempt.
 
Denver scored on two of its four free-position shots while Louisville connected on one of its four chances.
 
Nicole Perroni tallied twice for the Cardinals, which received seven saves from goalie Sara Addeche.
 
UP NEXT: The Pioneers begin their season with four-straight road contests and continue its trip on Sunday at 11 a.m. MT at Vanderbilt.
 
 
SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
10:29 LU (0-1) – Nicole Perroni, unassisted
2:26 LU (0-2) – Negai Nakazawa, assisted by Hannah Morris
0:08 LU (0-3) – Nicole Perroni, unassisted
 
Second Quarter
2:25 LU (0-4) – Lauren Figas (FPS)
1:59 DU (1-4) – Lauren Black, unassisted
 
Third Quarter
3:05 DU (2-4) – Lauren Black (FPS)
 
Fourth Quarter
9:49 DU (3-4) – Mollie Estepp, unassisted
9:05 DU (4-4) – Julia Gilbert (FPS)
7:51 DU (5-4) – Ellie Curry, unassisted
 
 
Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 18 of DU’s NCAA Division I sports
Like Denver Pioneers and Denver Women’s Lacrosse on Facebook
Follow @DU_Pioneers and @DU_WLAX on Twitter
Follow @DenverPioneers and @DU_WLAX on Instagram
 

Source