Buffs Begin Three-Game Road Trip, Face Michigan Sunday
BOULDER - The University of Colorado lacrosse team begins a three-game road trip on Sunday, March 22, first traveling to Ann Arbor to battle the Michigan Wolverines. The first draw is set for 1 p.m. MT.
The Buffaloes improved to 3-2 on the season after defeating New Hampshire, 10-9 on Tuesday (March 17). Freshman Darby Kiernan continues to impress during her debut season. She led the Buffs in scoring with three goals in the game against the Wildcats to record her second career hat trick.
The Wolverines enter the contest at 5-3 on the season and have won five of their last six games. Michigan is led by sophomore Kim Coughlan, who has recorded a team-high 23 points with 20 goals and three assists in 2015.
Sunday's game will mark the first meeting between the two young programs. Michigan is also in its second year as a Division I sport.
The Big Ten Network will televise the match. Dean Linke has the call alongside Kara Lentz. Live stats will be available online at CUBuffs.com.
QUICKLY: The University of Colorado lacrosse team (3-2) begins a three-game road trip, with its first game on Sunday, March 22 to face the Michigan Wolverines in Ann Arbor, Mich. First draw is set for 1 p.m. MT. The Buffaloes will go for their second straight win after defeating New Hampshire, 10-9 at home on Tuesday.
INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES: For those members of the media wishing to interview the women's lacrosse team during the season, please contact Assistant Sports Information Director/Lacrosse Contact Ashley Braun at (303) 492-7525 or ashley.braun@colorado.edu.
DON'T MISS A MINUTE: Sunday's game will be televised on the Big Ten Network. Dean Linke has the call alongside Kara Lentz. Live stats will also be available online at CUBuffs.com.
COLORADO VS. MICHIGAN: The contest on Sunday will be the first meeting between the Buffs and Wolverines.
SCOUTING THE WOLVERINES: After falling in its first two games to open the season, Michigan has won five of its last six to post a 5-3 overall record. The Wolverines are coming off a 10-7 road victory over Marquette. They trailed 6-2 at halftime and then went on to outscore the Golden Eagles 8-1 in the second half to claim the win. Michigan is led by sophomore Kim Coughlan on the offensive end. She has a team-high 23 points, with 20 goals and three assists. Four other Wolverines have already scored 10 or more goals this season. Allison Silber is the goalkeeper of record in all eight games for the Wolverines. She has recorded 52 saves and posted a .388 save percentage.
LAST TIME OUT: The Buffs defeated New Hampshire, 10-9 at Kittredge Field on Tuesday afternoon. Colorado led 10-7 with five minutes to play before the Wildcats reeled off two straight to cut the lead to one. In the final 15 seconds, UNH had the possession with a chance to tie, but freshman Kelsie Garrison made the defensive play of the game, coming up with the steal to secure the victory. Freshman Darby Kiernan tallied her second career hat trick, while Blair Sisk, Cali Castagnola and Katie Macleay each had a pair of goals.
PROGRAM FIRSTS: In the Buffaloes' game against Presbyterian on March 2, CU turned in a record setting performance for the black and gold, posting the largest margin of victory (19), allowed the fewest number of goals (0), shots (5), assists (0) and points (0) by an opponent and tallied their first shutout in program history. The Buffs also recorded the second most points in a single-game (25) and tied a program record with 19 goals.
HATRICKS ALL AROUND: Five Buffaloes have recorded hat tricks this season. Johnna Fusco leads the pack with four in five games. Freshman Darby Kiernan has two. Sophomore Cali Castagnola along with freshmen Taylor Oliver and Blair Sisk have one each.
MAKING AN IMPACT: Freshmen Darby Kiernan, Taylor Oliver and Blair Sisk have made every minute count while on the playing field, making immediate contributions in their first season on the team. Kiernan has started all five games and is tied for second with 10 goals and three assists. Sisk has started four games and is third on the team in scoring, tallying eight goals and has 10 points, which is third on the team. Oliver saw her first playing time against Presbyterian and scored three goals on three shots.
FIERCE FUSCO: Sophomore Johnna Fusco continues to be a force each week. She leads the Buffaloes in goals (15), points (17), shots (30), shots on goal (26) and is 7-12 on free position shots. She also is tied for second in assists (2) and is second in draw controls (11). The attacker has recorded a hat trick in four of five games. She ranks second in the MPSF in goals per game (3.50 average) and first in shots per game, averaging seven in each contest.
MULTI-GOAL PERFORMANCES: Seven different Buffs have recorded at least one multi-goal game in 2015. Fusco and Kiernan have four, Sisk has three, Castagnola and Macleay with two, and Oliver and Link have one multi-goal performance a piece.
NEW COMPETITION: Colorado has six first-time opponents on its schedule this year- Marquette, Presbyterian, Northwestern, Michigan, Boston College and UMass Lowell The Buffs are 2-1 thus far against them, with wins against Marquette and Presbyterian.
MPSF COACHES' POLL: CU was picked to finish fifth in the 2015 Preseason Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Women's Lacrosse Coaches' Poll. The Buffs received 46 points. Reigning MPSF Champion Denver took the top spot, receiving seven of the possible 10 first-place votes.
1. Denver
2. Stanford
3. USC
4. Oregon
5. COLORADO
6. San Diego State
7. California
8. UC Davis
9. Fresno State
10. St. Mary's
NEXT UP: Colorado continues its road trip, heading to the east coast to battle currently, third-ranked Boston College on Wednesday, March 25 at 2 p.m. MT.
COLORADO'S RECORD WHEN:
Home.........................................................................................................3-1
Away..........................................................................................................0-1
Leading at halftime...............................................................................3-1
Tied at halftime......................................................................................0-1
Trailing at halftime...............................................................................0-0
Against conference opponents........................................................0-1
Against non-conference opponents...............................................3-1
Against ranked opponents.................................................................0-2
Scoring five or more goals.................................................................3-2
Scoring 10 or more goals....................................................................3-0
Scoring 15 or more goals....................................................................1-0
Scoring first..............................................................................................2-0
Opponent scores first...........................................................................1-2
Winning draw control battle.............................................................1-1
Losing draw control battle.................................................................2-1
Recording more shots...........................................................................2-0
Recording fewer shots..........................................................................1-2