GOOD NEWS :Denver defeats women’s lacrosse in the BIG EAST semifinals, 7–7.

STORRS, CT At Joseph J. Morrone Stadium today, the Denver Pioneers (18-0, 6-0 BE) defeated the Villanova Wildcats (11-6, 3-3 BE) 12-7. Isabella Francati, Cara Moreau, Addie Fischer, and Sami Carey scored goals for Villanova.

as well as Caroline Curnal. Denver’s 12 goals were scored by Sloane Kipp, Ryan Dineen, Ellie Curry, Kayla Derose, Julia Gilbert, and Lauren Black. Olivia Conquest, the goalie for Villanova, made two saves before Cate Gallagher, with a.600 save percentage, replaced her. Amelia Ricciuti led Villanova in defensive play with two turnovers induced and two groundballs. Both groups engaged in physical, aggressive play.

Head coach Jill Batcheller responds, “Today we asked our team to play 60 minutes for their teammates and that is exactly what they did until the last second on the clock,” in response to a question concerning the team’s performance. This group gave it their best on the pitch. That’s evident in the way we helped one another out and out-ground balled a formidable opponent.

To start the game, Denver took control of the draw. They fired their first shot, charging down the field, but it was blocked by Conquest. Emelia Bohi, Denver’s goaltender, intercepted Villanova’s ball, but the Wildcats promptly forced a turnover, denying the Pioneers any momentum. Francati obtained a free-position shot with roughly twenty seconds remaining on the shot clock, and he buried it to score the game’s opening goal. Kipp put one on the board for the Pioneers about a minute later. Denver’s Dineen was given a free-position shot shortly after, and she sent it past Conquest to give the Pioneers their first lead of the game. The final two objectives of the first