LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The UC Davis Women's Lacrosse team was eliminated from 2024 Pac-12 Title contention on Wednesday night, falling to No. 3 seed Colorado, 13-10. The Aggies finish their sole season in the Pac-12 with a 9-8 overall record and 2-6 record against conference opponents.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Aggies found themselves behind by three goals in the early going, before Cami Johnson notched a goal on a free position attempt with just over a minute remaining in the opening quarter.
Johnson converted another free position shot on UC Davis' first possession out of the period break to draw back within a goal, 3-2.
It was all Colorado for the next ten minutes, as the Buffaloes rattled off five consecutive goals, taking a commanding 8-2 lead towards the end of the first half.
Reese Loseke and Natalie Markman put in back-to-back goals with less than two minutes to go in the half, cutting into the Colorado lead.
The Aggie momentum continued to build coming out of the break, as the Aggies scored the first three goals of the third quarter in just seventy seconds of game time. In a blink of an eye, the Aggies were right back in the game, down just a goal, 8-7.
The second half scoring run began with an Ellie Raffo goal off a Grace Gebhardt assist. Rhea Cosand controlled the ensuing draw, zipping down the field to put in a score. Johnson drew and converted on a free position shot to finish off a hat trick.
Colorado regrouped and stemmed the Aggie underdog momentum, putting in a goal to build a slight cushion, 9-7. That cushion didn't last long as Johnson tossed in another free position goal for her fourth of the game, setting a new career high.
Both sides traded goals again, this time with Ella Brislin answering back for the Aggies on yet another free position shot. Colorado scored again to take an 11-9 lead into the final quarter.
The UC Davis offense was stymied in the fourth, as Colorado expanded their lead to four after a nearly ten minute scoring drought in the middle of the period. Markman found the back of the net for her second goal of the evening, but the three goal deficit that remained proved too much, as Colorado held possession for the remainder of the contest.
NOTABLE
- Ashley Laing turned in one of the finest performances of her illustrious five-year career, making 15 saves and scooping four ground balls.
- Gebhardt was held in check for much of the evening offensively, but still led the team in assists, with two.
- Hailey Dommers was a defensive standout, causing four turnovers and picking up two ground balls.
- Katie Jones pitched in on the defensive end as well, recording two caused turnovers and two ground balls.
UP NEXT
The Aggies' 2024 season comes to an end tonight. UC Davis will transition into the Big 12 conference next season.
