SAINT LEO, Fla.— Sophomore
Kaylee Kittle scored a career-high four times to lead the Colorado Mesa University women's lacrosse team in Tuesday night's 17-7 season-opening defeat at tenth-ranked Saint Leo University here at the Lions' University Turf Stadium.
The Lions improved to 1-1 on the young season with the win and took advantage of eight free position shot goals on 13 attempts from 22 fouls and ten cards throughout the evening.
The Mavs scored one free position shot goal on two attempts.
Avery Irlbeck,
Tessa Pearson and
Cameron Flynn also scored for the Mavs while sophomore goalkeeper
Heather Hawkins made ten saves while claiming five ground balls. Sophomore
Sadie Chappuis also had two ground balls and two caused turnovers.
Carson Dickey also had three draw controls.
Pearson was one of three Maverick freshman (
Lilly Osterman,
Zia Smith) making their collegiate debuts. Osterman, Chappuis and
Courtney Havel registered assists in Tuesday's game.
The Lions finished the night with a 34-25 edge in total shots. Both teams finished with 12 ground balls.
The hosts jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first four minutes before Kittle scored her first goal from a free position shot with 9:22 left in the first quarter. She also sliced the deficit to 4-2 with the final goal of the opening quarter at the 1:01 mark.
SLU also led 8-4 at the half and scored six of the seven third quarter goals to build a 14-5 lead. Pearson broke up a pair of 3-0 runs with her third quarter goal from Havel.
Kittle, who scored one time in nine games as a reserve as a freshman in 2025, then scored a pair of unassisted goals in the fourth quarter.
Sophia Wood led the Lions with four goals while Jan Nuss added three. Holly Hill also had a 4-point night with a goal and three assists. Jessica Harclerdoe made eight saves in over 45 minutes of work in net.
The Mavericks will continue their season-opening swing through Florida as they will make the jaunt to Winter Park for a Friday night match-up with 19
th-ranked Rollins College (1-0).
