THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Cal Lutheran Women's Lacrosse set a new program record with 11 goals, but was unable to complete a late comeback against the Cougars of Chatham University and fell 16-11 on Saturday afternoon.
Chatham controlled the opening draw and scored on their first possession. The Cougars were also able to capitalize on two free position shots to end the first quarter with a 3-0 lead.
In the second, the Cougars stretched the lead to 5-0 with 13:44 left in the half. That is when the Regal's career leader in goals, Giselle Bonilla, found the back of the net for her first goal of the season.
Chatham scored two more to bring the score to 7-1 when Cal Lutheran began to find their stride. Freshman Josie Oparanaku scored her second and third goals of the season to make the score 7-3. Then a disallowed Chatham goal and a forced turnover directly from the goalie by Bonilla led to her 16th career goal with just 4 seconds left. With that, Cal Lutheran carried the momentum into the break with the score 7-4.
Coming out of the half, the Cougars were again able to start faster and create some space scoring two goals before freshman Sydney Shin scored after forcing a free position to bring it to -59. Three more Chatham goals ended the period with the Regals down 12-5.
The fourth quarter saw the game open up as Cal Lutheran pushed back hard. Freshman Kendall Fleming scored her first collegiate goal on a free position just 45 seconds in. Then sophomore Meghan Angus scored her first of the season.
The Cougars answered back with a goal of their own, but freshman Anna Ripka beat the Chatham netminder before Shin scored her second of the game and Oparanaku netted her third to keep the pressure on at 10-13.
Chatham weathered the storm, adding two more goals before the Angus scored her second of the game. A late goal from the Cougars brought the game to a conclusion as an 11-16 win for Chatham University.
Cal Lutheran's record 11 goal output was complimented by 10 caused turnovers and 20 ground balls on defense. In Goal, Bella Bravo followed her program record 19 saves in the team's last game with 14 saves on Saturday to give her a SCIAC leading 39 saves on the season.
The Regals will be back on the field in a road match against Redlands on Saturday the 11th at 1:00 pm.
Box Score: CU 16, CLU 11
Team Instagram: regals_lacrosse
CLU Instagram: clusports
Team Twitter: CLUwLacrosse
CLU Twitter: clusports
CLU Facebook: clusports
Hashtags: #clusports #ownthethrone #goregals #gokingsmen #theSCIAC #ncaad3
