Denver women’s lacrosse (4-3) met #5 Michigan for a mid-day squeaker at Peter Barton Stadium. Denver jumped out to an early lead but Big Blue clawed their way back in the second half. Denver broke away from a fourth-quarter tie, 8-8, outscoring Big Blue 4-2 down the stretch, to earn a hard-fought 13-11 victory.

Denver raced out to a 4-1 first-quarter lead. Lauren Black scored first for the Crimson and Gold with her eighteenth tally of the season, 1-0. Two minutes later, Olivie Ripple tickled the twine, 2-0. Ripple scored again a minute later as the Pioneers went on a scoring tear, 3-0. Calli Norris stopped the bleeding for Michigan with a free-position goal with under eight minutes left in the quarter, 3-1. Lauren Black bookended the first quarter scoring, 4-1, DU.

Black continued the scoring barrage a minute into the second quarter, 5-1. Michigan came back with two-consecutive goals to cut into the Denver lead, 5-3. Denver responded with a run of their own when Reagan Wilson scored with the man-advantage and Caroline Bowers scored with 6:16 left until the halftime break. #5 Michigan, not to be counted out, countered with two goals in the final four minutes to draw closer to DU, 7-5.

Big Blue outscored DU in the third quarter 3-1 to draw even, setting up the dramatic fourth quarter. Denver’s only goal was a free-position strike from Eva Thomsen-Marr in the final five minutes of the quarter.

Michigan took the lead twice early in the final quarter but Lauren Black and Olivia Ripple kept pulling the game even. Ryan Dineen on the man-up put Denver in front for good, 11-10, with 9:43 remaining. The Pioneers got insurance with goals from Eva Thomsen-Marr and Lauren Black as the game moved into the final five minutes of play, 13-10. DU’s defense held strong, only allowing a final goal from the visitors at 3:06, to cement the final score 13-11 as Denver’s defense stiffened over the final minutes.

DU’s Lauren Black’s 5 goals and 15 turnovers by Big Blue at the hands of Denver’s Pink Defense were the difference. Denver countered Michigan’s 16-9 draw control advantage by winning 16 out of 23 ground balls.

Next up is a game against Fairfield at 11:00 am MT Sunday at Peter Barton Stadium.