ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University women's lacrosse team fell to the visiting Colorado College Tigers 17-7 earlier this evening. Sophomore Preetha Raj put up a career-best 12 saves in the effort.

The Panthers struck first as junior Lucy Schwartz scored a free position shot three minutes into the first half. The Tigers then answered with a 6-0 run to take a 6-1 lead with just under eight minutes left in the half.

Junior Leah Donnelly responded with her first goal of the game off a pass from freshman Meg Hanson. Colorado College added three more goals in the first before senior Danielle Zahn tallied the last goal of the half to cut the score to 9-3.

Chapman came out of the half time talk firing, scoring back-to-back goals in under three minutes to cut the deficit to four. The Tigers answered with another run, this time scoring five in a row to take a 14-5 lead. Freshman Vanessa Topete scored the next two consecutive goals, but the Panthers couldn't spark a comeback as Colorado College scored three to finish out the game.

Topete finished the game with a hat trick, the first of her career. She also tallied two ground balls and caused three turnovers to go along with the three goals. Senior Shelby Thompson got it done on the defensive end, tallying seven ground balls while also forcing three turnovers.

The Panthers return to Wilson Field on Monday, March 11 to host St. Mary's of Indiana at 4 p.m.

by Katie Bell
Sports Information Assistant

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