Rams Can’t Regain Ground in RMLC Opener
Despite winning the transition battle and keeping pace on faceoffs, offensive turnovers by the Rams gave the Cougars too many opportunities to pull away and protect their lead in Friday’s contest.
Plays on the Field
Possession and opportunities were plentiful to start the game for Colorado State, going 7-0 on clears and 2-2 in the faceoff circle.
Though Chuck Bibaud (#33) would get 5 key saves and a caused turnover in the opening quarter, the Cougars were able to build a 3-0 lead while the Rams offense struggled to find the back of the net.
It would be midway through the second quarter before the Rams got on the scoresheet. Sophomore Jack Rego (#22) would draw a crowd before flipping the ball to Tanner Marsh (#91) who would bury a low shot from the outside.
#91 Tanner Marsh gets the Rams on the board with an outside shot sent low pic.twitter.com/m96uXexcn4
— CSU Men’s Lacrosse (@CSUMensLAX) April 25, 2026
By halftime, BYU was only able to add two more goals to their lead as Joe Dixon (#41), Kai Skaer (#76), and Kaden Rahne (#20) were all able to cause turnovers, collect ground balls, and help contribute to successful transition efforts.
BYU scored the first two goals in the second half, but the Rams would get back on the board with a goal from Junior Lochlan Rogers (#7) who turned a wing dodge into an opportunity to fake out the BYU keeper and finish from in close.
#7 Lochlan Rogers sneaks inside and finishes on the doorstep pic.twitter.com/UsqduvM0F3
— CSU Men’s Lacrosse (@CSUMensLAX) April 25, 2026
While the Cougars had a slight faceoff advantage in the third quarter, LSM Danny Schneider (#3) would restore some balance in the middle of the field with caused turnovers and ground balls.
The Cougars would score another pair before Senior Mason Daly (#18) would score from the same wing as Rogers had previously, burying a shot before being shoved into the crease.
#18 Mason Daly gets pushed but still finds the back of the net pic.twitter.com/kiWSCJV6k7
— CSU Men’s Lacrosse (@CSUMensLAX) April 25, 2026
The teams would then trade goals, BYU scoring one before Tanner Marsh would answer by picking of a pass in transition before scoring his second goal of the night. Brigham Young would hold onto their 10-4 advantage going into the final quarter.
Marsh gets his second after picking off the pass and taking it the distance pic.twitter.com/QuepYLANQK
— CSU Men’s Lacrosse (@CSUMensLAX) April 25, 2026
In the fourth quarter, Ben Magsamen (#50) and the faceoff unit was a significant factor with 3-1 split at the dot, finishing at 70% for the night (7-3 overall).
Senior Defenseman Will Scott (#55) was also a contributing factor in the middle of the field, causing a turnover when the Cougars tried to push the pace in transition.
The Rams would strike first when Lochlan Rogers dodged down the alley and utilized a head-fake to open the net and hit his target.
Rogers buries a beautiful leaner on the far pipe for his second of the night pic.twitter.com/YVeG3rb0VL
— CSU Men’s Lacrosse (@CSUMensLAX) April 25, 2026
The consecutive goals by the Rams would be answered by BYU scoring three in a row, eliminating any momentum that CSU had started to build.
Freshman Brandon Krause (#10) would end BYU’s streak, collecting a shot deflection on the crease and quick-sticking it into the back of the net.
#10 Brandon Krause gets on the scoresheet with the rebound + quickstick pic.twitter.com/jQ77X94ynX
— CSU Men’s Lacrosse (@CSUMensLAX) April 25, 2026
Before the conclusion of the contest, Colorado State would tally one final goal. Good ball movement resulted in Jack Rego being able to set up Sophomore Jimmy Ponicki (#34) with a shot from the center of the field that beat the Cougar keeper low.
#34 Jimmy Ponicki with a well-placed shot on the feed from Rego pic.twitter.com/hVFaRLfAhC
— CSU Men’s Lacrosse (@CSUMensLAX) April 25, 2026
While both teams had their share of offensive and defensive sets throughout the contest, it was the Cougars who were able to capitalize more consistently and methodically pull away, walking away with a 14-7 victory.
