DAVIS, Calif. -- Senior attacker Steph Coyne recorded game highs of five goals and four assists to help Denver pull away from a one-goal margin to seize a 18-5 victory over UC Davis in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation women's lacrosse action at Aggie Stadium Sunday afternoon.

The Aggies fall to 4-10 for the year and 2-4 in conference games. The Pioneers improve to 9-6 overall and 3-2 in MPSF play.

Sophomore Gina Hoffmire tallied two goals to lead UC Davis offensively, while Christina Corsa added one goal and one assist. Sophomore goalkeeper Alyssa Cranska notched 11 saves in 52-plus minutes in front of the Aggie net.

For DU, senior midfielder Karen Morton chipped in four goals and an assist, Lexi Sanders had three goals and two assists, and Lauren Ciccomascolo added three goals with an assist. Sanders had her entire hat trick in the Pioneers' game-ending run of 12 unanswered goals.

UC Davis opened the game with a 2-0 lead, first as Jacklyn Taylor assisted Rachael Martinez on the initial possession, then on an unassisted Hoffmire goal seven minutes later. The Broncos responded with four straight scores, including two during a 12-on-11 opportunity, to take a 4-2 lead heading into the halftime break.

Corsa assisted junior Britt Farquharson in the 38th minute, then scored on an eight-meter attempt to pull the Aggies to within a 6-5 deficit. However, UC Davis never found the net the rest of the way. DU scored two goals in the 47th minute to bump its lead to 8-5, then Coyne and Morton had a goal and assist each in a string of four straight to extend the Pioneer advantage to 12-5.

The Pioneers proceeded to run up the score to the game's final 18-5 with six more goals in the final 3:14 of play. Sanders recorded two scores and two assists in that final push.

Denver freshman Kaiti Delaney won six of her team's 14 draw controls. The Pioneers were particularly effective in transition, clearing the midfield successfully on 17 of 17 opportunities.

UC Davis returns to action for a non-conference home game against MPSF member Saint Mary's on Thursday.

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DAVIS, Calif. – University of Denver women's lacrosse senior attacker Steph Coyne (Baltimore, Md.) scored a season-high nine points off five goals and four assists, as the Pioneers stormed past UC Davis on Sunday.

After UC Davis jumped to an early 2-0 lead, Denver ripped off four goals and headed to the locker room with a 5-2 lead after the first half.

The Pioneers dominated after the break, outscoring UC Davis 14-3, including 12 unanswered after the Aggies closed the gap to 6-5 with 19:56 remaining.

Coyne's nine points tied for the sixth highest single-game mark in DU history and marked the third time the attacker has recorded at least nine points.

Coyne's performance also moved her past Steph Greenlees into second place on Denver's all-time points list with 237 in her career, trailing only teammate and senior midfielder Karen Morton (Adelaide, Australia), who added four goals and an assist against UC Davis.

Junior midfielder Lexi Sanders (Greenwood Village, Colo.) contributed three goals and two assists, while freshman midfielder Lauren Ciccomascolo (Ladera Ranch, Calif.) had a hat trick and an assist.

Freshman goalkeeper Ashley Harmon (Boyertown, Pa.) made 13 saves in the contest to earn the win.

The Pioneers conclude their three-game road trip at Fresno State on April 13.

2009-04-12