Two teams will represent Colorado in the women’s NCAA lacrosse tournament.
The University of Colorado women, who won their first Big 12 championship on Saturday, will face Jacksonville at 4 p.m. Friday. And the University of Denver women, who won their sixth-straight Big East title on Saturday, will face Florida at 7 p.m. Friday. Both games will be in Boulder.
CU (14-3) defeated top-seed Florida, 8-6, on Saturday after a nearly three-hour weather delay in Gainesville, Fla. The nation’s top-ranked defense stifled Florida’s (15-3) offense, which was averaging 16 goals per game.
The Buffs’ Maddie Shoup, who was named the tournamentap Most Outstanding Player, scored four goals on eight shots, including the game-winner. She finished the tournament with eight goals, three ground balls, two caused turnovers, and one assist.
Shoup was joined on the All-Tournament team by teammates Lily Assini, Rowan Edson, Elena Oh, and Jess Peluso.
This will be Colorado’s fourth NCAA Tournament appearance, the first since 2019.
The Pioneer women defeated Georgetown, 12-4, in the Big East championship on Saturday at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium. It is DU’s sixth-straight conference tournament title, and its seventh overall.
The Pioneers jumped out to a red-hot start, turning defense into offense with Kyra Obert on a caused turnover, taking it down to the offensive end for the opening goal. Denver dominated defensively with four caused turnovers, and Caroline Keil added back-to-back goals to make it 4-0 after the first quarter.
Keil tacked on her third of the day before Georgetown responded to make it 5-1. Caroline Bowers got through the legs of Georgetown’s goalie off an assist from Keil to make it 6-2 at the half.
Lexi Gwaku started the second half with a big save on a free-position goal, her eighth save of the day. Keil continued to dominate for Denver with two more goals before Georgetown responded to make it 8-3 with one quarter remaining.
Eva Thomsen-Marr, Ryan Dineen and Olivia Ripple all found the back of the net in the final frame to secure the 12-4 win.
