COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. – Dominican women's lacrosse opened their 2024 season facing off against the Mountain Lions of University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Monday afternoon. The Penguins are coming off a 11-0 inaugural season, and this game against UCCS marked Dominican women's lacrosse first ever match-up as a member of NCAA DII along with being the first NCAA DII women's lacrosse program in California.

The Mountain Lions would end up pulling out the 15 to 14 victory, but the Penguins gave them all they could handle. Virginia Tech transfer Jacelyn Lazore got Dominican on the board first as she scored from the free position. The graduate student would finish the day with a game-high four goals. Stella Artukovich and Nora White followed Lazore's footsteps, and each scored from the free position to end the first period.

The Penguins finished the game with more ground balls (25) and assists (7) than the Mountain Lions. One of those assists came in the second period when White found and slashing Siena Fairbanks who put one through the back of the net for the Penguins fifth point.

Coming out for the second half, the Penguins offense started to click. Dominican would score five times thanks in part to Lazore and junior Brooke Vafi. Vafi would finish tied with Artukovich with three goals on the day. Heading into the last period the game was all knotted at 10.

Vafi broke the tie seconds into the fourth period as White dished out another assist who found Vafi breaking free within the UCCS defense. Sophomore Siena Fairbanks found the back of the net to give the Penguins a one-point lead with 1:45 to go. The Mountain Lions would score with 50 seconds left in the game, and again in overtime to claim the victory.

Dominican is back in action March 7^th when they face Colorado State University Pueblo at 4 p.m. MST.