In the semifinals of the RMAC Tournamnent, the women’s lacrosse team saw its season come to an end Friday in agonizing fashion: a 3-goal defeat to the Fort Lewis Skyhawks.

The Skyhawks opened the game hot, scoring two goals before the first Maverick goal came from Tayler Lansdown.

Not rattled, the Skyhawks found the back of the net three times before Ashley Eickhoff sent one in for the Mavs. Fort Lewis would score once again before the end of the half to put the score at 6-2.

The Mavs would come back in the second half, outscoring the Skyhawks 3-2. However, the effort wasn’t enough as the Mavs fell 8-5. The Skyhawks edged out the Mavs in shots (21-19), and the Mavs controlled more draws (9-6).

“This year we definitely played together as a team, and defensively we had a stellar season,” Attack Keri Kopchik said. “For one of the first times, we have had some depth in our bench, and that makes a big difference.”

The 8-7 finish for the Mavs is an improvement from the 4-11 mark last season.

“We are well on our way to being the team we want to be. We have had a big improvement from last year, and, luckily, we are only losing three seniors, but we definitely have some shoes to fill,” Kopchik said. “If we come together as a team and our offensive players rise to the occasion, we will be successful. From this year, we have found we can accomplish anything we set our minds to. As players, we all have a reason for playing, and if we all can remember what that reason is, the success will come.”

miawilson@mavs.coloradomesa.edu