KANSAS CITY, Mo.— Courtney Havel scored five goals while Caroline Ohngemach added three and pair of assists to lead the Colorado Mesa University women's lacrosse team's efforts in a tight 16-14 loss at Rockhurst University in frigid conditions on Friday afternoon here at the Hawks' Bourke Field.
 
The game was the season-opener for both teams as the Hawks used a 6-goal spurt in the first half to build a 10-5 lead while holding off the Mavs for the rest of the way. 
 
Elise Magee scored six goals throughout the game, played with a temperature of 38 degrees at the first draw.  She had three straight goals in the Hawks' game-winning run putting the Hawks ahead 7-5 with back-to-back markers just 45 seconds apart late in a high-scoring first quarter.
 
The Hawks then opened up a 10-5 lead with 6:31 left in the second before the Mavs rallied to cut the gap to 11-8 by halftime.
 
However, the Hawks scored three of the first goals in the second half to build their lead back to five (14-9).  CMU then scored three straight through Ali Bryant, Havel and Ohngemach to pull within 14-12 with 12 minutes to goal before the Hawks were able to hold on to the win.
 
CMU finished the day with a 36-29 advantage in shots, but had trouble beating Hawk goalkeeper Mae Beins, who made 11 saves, including seven in the first half alone. 
 
The rest of the team statistics were quite event with both teams claiming 22 groundballs while committing the same number of turnovers.  The draw controls were also even at 16 apiece as Bryant and Ohngemach both had four.
 
Bryant also scored two goals and registered two assists while Ohngemach caused four turnovers.
 
Justine Anderson joined Bryant with two goals while Courteney Murray and Ella Freemon also scored for the Mavs.
 
Goalies Shannon Murphy and Heather Hawkins both made three saves for CMU.
 
The Hawks' win was the first in 13 all-time meetings between the teams, former Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference rivals.
 
The Mavs will remain in the region for another game, heading just north to St. Joseph for a Sunday match-up with Missouri Western State.  That game is now slated to begin at Noon CST (11 a.m. Mountain) and has been moved inside to the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex.