April 30, 2010

Final Stats

DENVER, Colo. - Redshirt freshman and MPSF Newcomer of the Year honoree Kara Secora scored three first-half goals to help top-seeded Denver protect a 10-4 lead en route to a 14-9 victory over UC Davis in the semifinal round of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation women's lacrosse tournament at Peter Barton Stadum Friday evening.

The Aggies finish their season at 11-6, compiling their highest win total since 2004. The Pioneers, ranked No. 18 in the most recent deBeer/Inside Lacrosse media poll, improve to 13-4 overall.

Senior Molly Lapolla led UC Davis with three goals and an assist. Freshman Elizabeth Datino added two goals and an assist, while junior Gina Hoffmire posted a 2-0-2 line. Freshman Hannah Mirza and senior Britt Farquharson each had a goal to round out the Aggie scoring. Junior Lauren Boyle tallied four caused turnovers on defense.

For host DU, Ali Flury and Bonnie Wells each posted hat tricks to match Secora's total. Sophomore attacker Lauren Ciccomascolo recorded two goals and two assists, while senior Lexi Sanders led all players with three assists.

The Aggies fought back from a 3-0 hole to creep to within a 4-3 deficit with 10 minutes remaining in the first half. But the Pioneers scored five of the next six before the break to hold a 9-4 halftime break, then Sanders assisted Tulley Stapp minutes into the second half to extend the DU lead to six.

Hoffmire and Lapolla each netted two goals during the next 20 minutes of play to pull UC Davis to a two-goal shortfall with six minutes remaining. However, the Aggies never cut further into the Denver lead -- the Pioneers scored three straight goals down the stretch and won the subsequent draw on each, preventing UC Davis from crossing the offensive restraining line.

DU outshot its guest by a 22-10 margin and forced 15 turnovers, as the Aggies were successful in just two of seven clear attempts before halftime. UC Davis recovered with 5-for-12 shooting after the intermission and committed just four second-half turnovers, but the Pioneers won eight of the 11 draws to protect their lead.

Junior Alyssa Cranska collected a season-best 13 saves in the contest, facing 35 Denver shots. Hoffmire finishes the season with 50 goals, becoming just the fourth player in school history to reach that plateau. Cal Aggie Athletics Hall of Famer Allison Stonebarger was the first, scoring exactly 50 in both 1998 and 1999. More recently, Katie McMahon hit that milestone in each of her four seasons.

The Pioneers advance to Sunday's MPSF title game. Stanford clipped third-seeded Cal in the opposite semifinal to earn a championship-game berth. The MPSF winner will host Atlantic-10 champion UMass in an NCAA play-in game on May 8.

MOUNTAIN PACIFIC SPORTS FEDERATION WOMEN'S LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIP - SEMIFINAL #2

GOALS - UC Davis: Molly Lapolla 3, Elizabeth Datino 2, Gina Hoffmire 2, Britt Farquharson 1, Hannah Mirza 1. DU: Ali Flury 3, Kara Secora 3, Bonnie Wells 3, Lauren Ciccomascolo 2, Lexi Sanders 1, Tulley Stapp 1, Becca Steinberg 1.

ASSISTS - UC Davis: Christina Corsa 1, Elizabeth Datino 1, Molla Lapolla 1. DU: Lexi Sanders 3, Lauren Ciccomascolo 2, Tulley Stapp 1.

GOALIES - UC Davis: Alyssa Cranska 13 saves, 14 goals against (60:00). DU: Ashley Harman 10 saves, 9 goals against (60:00).