DENVER – Senior Megan Carver (Baltimore, Md.) scored four goals and had two assists to lead the No. 19 University of Denver women's lacrosse team to a 15-7 victory over Canisius on Sunday, Feb. 15 at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium. Senior Karen Morton (Adelaide, Australia) recorded four goals and one assist, while senior Steph Coyne (Baltimore, Md.) had two goals and a pair of assists. Denver (1-2) finished with 49 shots, while holding Canisius to 14.

"I was pleased with our second half performance," women's lacrosse head coach Liza Kelly said. "We did a much better job with draw controls and with shooting."

Canisius (0-1) held the game tight through the first half. However, Denver took a 5-4 lead into the break after Morton scored with two seconds remaining. Denver pulled away in the second half, as junior Ali Flury (Arnold, Md.) started a 6-1 scoring streak on a free-position shot at 27:32.

Golden Griffs' goalie Allison Daley had 17 saves in the game, while Brianne Laffey scored a hat trick.

In support of breast cancer awareness with Under Armour Power in Pink, the Pioneers wore pink uniforms, while volunteers collected donations for the Komen Foundation of Denver.

The Pioneers head to Pittsburgh, Pa. for a pair of games against Binghamton on Friday, Feb. 20 at 11:00 a.m. and Duquesne on Sunday, Feb. 22 at 11:00 a.m.

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The Canisius College women's lacrosse team opened the 2009 season at No. 19 Denver, falling to the nationally-ranked Pioneers, 15-7. Denver outscored the Griffs 10-3 in the second half to turn a one-goal lead into the eight-goal margin of victory.

“We stuck to our game plan in the first half and played extremely well,” said Canisius head coach Scott Teeter. “Unfortunately, our luck ran out in the second half. We got away from our game plan and couldn't stop the pressure that Denver was putting on us.”

Sophomore Allison Daley (Peterborough, Ontario) put forth a strong effort in goal, recording 17 saves to anchor the Griffs' defensive effort. Daley stopped 10-of-15 first-half shots on goal to keep Canisius within striking distance in the opening period.

Sophomore Brianne Laffey (Pittsburgh, Pa.) registered her first career hat trick to lead the Canisius attack. Senior Ashley Gray (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) notched two goals to become the second player in school history to tally 100 career goals. Senior Chelsea Martinez (Bethpage, N.Y.) and sophomore Ashley Curtis (Peterborough, Ontario) also added a goal for the Griffs.

“I thought we really came together and played well as a team,” Gray said. “Denver is a good team and played well in the second half. We couldn't win a draw control in the second and it cost us the game today.”

Gray opened the scoring, notching the team's first goal of the season 5:41 into the contest to give the Griffs the early 1-0 advantage. After Denver answered with three-straight goals, Gray ignited a 3-1 Canisius run to knot the game at four. Martinez capped the run with her first goal of the season, tying the contest with just 1:03 left in the opening half.

Denver (1-2) scored the final goal of the half with just two seconds remaining to head into intermission with a 5-4 lead. The Pioneers then opened the second stanza by scoring the first two goals and five of the first six scores to claim a 10-5 advantage. Laffey scored all three of her goals during the second half but it was not enough as Denver won its first game of the season, 15-7.

Megan Carver led the Pioneers with six points on four goals and two assists, while Ali Flury and Karen Morton also added four scores. Denver won the battle in the draw circle, 14-8, including an 11-2 advantage in the second half.

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2009-02-15