After struggling to get much going offensively in the first couple of minutes, sophomore midfielder Kyle Rosa (Pomona HS; Arvada, CO) ripped a shot past Chapman goaltender Daniel Fitzpatrick to get things going. CSU stretched its lead out to 4-0 in a first quarter that saw most of the action on Chapman’s defensive side of the field. Junior Ryan MacDonald (Smoky Hill HS; Aurora, CO) scored the first of his two goals in the first quarter as well. With two tallies against the Panthers, MacDonald has scored eight points in the past three games, all coming on goals.

Stevens was excellent all afternoon, registering a remarkable six assists, including one absolute beauty to senior Brian Stone (Air Academy HS; Colorado Springs, CO) on a CSU man-up in the first half. Stone finished with three goals as well in a very workmanlike performance. Junior attackman Ben Wallace (Thomas Jefferson HS; Denver, CO) also pitched in with two goals, the second straight game he has accomplished that feat.

CSU’s defense continued to play well, even on the offensive side of the field. Senior long pole Ian Wilson (Arapahoe HS; Littleton, CO) found himself running up field with the ball in his stick several times. Wilson converted on his opportunities, scoring two goals and adding an assist to give him a season-high scoring performance for long poles. This was the second game in a row that a CSU defenseman has scored twice, with Adam Schnirel (Mt. Lebanon HS; Pittsburgh, PA) netting two on Thursday afternoon. Schnirel was great again, teaming up with freshman Andrew Stein (Columbine HS; Littleton, CO) and Wilson to form a very formidable close defense crew.

The Rams’ midfield unit was too much for Chapman to handle as several players enjoyed breakout games. Junior Joel Tromburg (Heritage HS; Littleton, CO) had a season-high two goals, both in the first half, to go along with 6 face-off wins in 7 attempts. He and junior Dylan Bowman (Fairview HS; Boulder, CO) played perhaps their best games of the season as Bowman scored three goals on the afternoon. Senior Pat Bird (Bishop O’Dowd HS; Oakland, CA) added one assist to go with a sparkling coast to coast run for a goal in the first half.

Chapman finally found the net with :23 left in the first half, but CSU answered right back with :04 left on the clock to take the wind out of the visiting team’s sails. The Rams defense pressured the Panthers into a lot of mistakes and kept control of the ball for the majority of the game. CSU’s defense has held opponents to less than 6 goals a game since the opening night loss to Oregon, thanks in part to junior goaltender Tyson Ehinger (Heritage HS; Littleton, CO), who has saved shots at a 67% clip and held teams to just 5.17 goals a game since returning to the nets. Ehinger made 6 saves through three quarters before giving way to sophomore Lance Simmons (Thunder Ridge HS; Highlands Ranch, CO), who stopped three shots in relief. Kirkpatrick made 14 saves in the loss.

The win for CSU (9-2 overall; 2-1 RMLC) was their fifth in a row as the Rams prepare for one more out of conference road trip this weekend. CSU will take on the #1 Michigan Wolverines on Saturday before tangling with #15 Lindenwood in St. Charles, MO on Sunday. Chapman, who has been recently besieged with eligibility issues that will bar them from postseason play, falls to 6-5 and will travel south to take on the University of Colorado on Tuesday. The Panthers had previously been ranked in the MCLA top 20.

                           Lacrosse Box Score (Final)

Chapman Univ. (6-5) vs.                           
Colorado State Univ. (9-2)                        
Date: Mar 31, 2007  
Attendance: 300               
Weather: Cool and Breezy                                         

SCORE BY PERIOD       1  2  3  4  Tot
-------------------------------------
Chapman Univ........  0  1  1  2 -  4
Colorado State Univ.  4  4  3  6 - 17

Chapman Univ. SCORING: 
GOALS: Clayton, Mike 1; Knodle, Nick 1; Marshall, Chris 1; French, Ryan 1.
ASSISTS: Felts, Steven 1.

Colorado State Univ. SCORING: 
GOALS: Stone, Brian 3; Bowman, Dylan 3; Wilson, Ian 2; MacDonald, Ryan 2; Tromburg, Joel 2; 
Wallace, Ben 2; Stevens, Danny 1; Bird, Pat 1; Rosa, Kyle 1.
ASSISTS: Stevens, Danny 6; Bird, Pat 1; Trude, Ryan 1; Wilson, Ian 1.

 

GOALTENDER SUMMARY
Chapman Univ.             Minutes   GA   W/L Saves
--------------------------------------------------
18 Kirkpatrick, Daniel.     60:00   17    L     14

Colorado State Univ.      Minutes   GA   W/L Saves
--------------------------------------------------
18 Ehinger, Tyson......     45:00    2    W      6
45 Simmons, Lance......     15:00    2           3

SHOTS BY PERIOD       1  2  3  4  Tot             
-------------------------------------             
Chapman Univ........  4  5  7 13 - 29             
Colorado State Univ. 12 13 12  6 - 43             

SAVES BY PERIOD       1  2  3  4  Tot
-------------------------------------
Chapman Univ........  4  7  3  0 - 14
Colorado State Univ.  1  2  3  3 -  9

GROUND BALLS BY PRD   1  2  3  4  Tot             
-------------------------------------             
Chapman Univ........  5 12 10 13 - 40             
Colorado State Univ. 17 15 11 11 - 54             

TURNOVERS BY PRD      1  2  3  4  Tot
-------------------------------------
Chapman Univ........  9 10 14  6 - 39
Colorado State Univ.  7  8  9  5 - 29

FACE-OFFS BY PRD       1     2     3     4     Total
----------------------------------------------------
Chapman Univ........  1-4   2-6   4-6   6-8  - 13-24
Colorado State Univ.  3-4   4-6   2-6   2-8  - 11-24

CLEARS BY PERIOD       1     2     3     4     Total
----------------------------------------------------
Chapman Univ........  2-7   9-9   7-11  1-1  - 19-28
Colorado State Univ.  6-6   8-8  10-10  6-8  - 30-32

EXTRA-MAN OPPS         1     2     3     4     Total
----------------------------------------------------
Chapman Univ........  0-2   0-0   0-0   1-1  -  1-3
Colorado State Univ.  0-2   1-2   0-1   1-1  -  2-6

PENALTIES - Chapman Univ. 6/5:00; Colorado State Univ. 3/3:00.

Officials: Muaney, Brian; Wansor, Dennis; Pratt, Dave. Scorer: Andy Flax.