Feb. 28, 2003

DAVIS, Calif. -

Junior attack Patience Baldwin scored five goals -- all in the second half -- as Denver University defeated UC Davis, 16-13, in a women's Mountain Pacific Lacrosse League match at Aggie Field Friday. Baldwin's scoring spree helped the Pioneers overcome an 8-2 deficit in the first half.

The Aggies drop to 1-2 on the season, all in league play. Denver opens its season at 1-0.

Jaime Fitzpatrick led UC Davis with four goals and two assists for six total points, while Leslie Kado had three goals and a pair of assists. Kate Hanson had a goal and two assists. For Denver, Steph Greenlees bolstered Baldwin's output with four goals and Mariana Spry posted a 2-2-4 line.

Freshman Tiffany Lee scored her first collegiate goals, but her first score proved to be something of a bittersweet moment for the Aggies. With UC Davis holding a 7-2 lead in the 19th minute, two-time All-American Kelly Albin went down with a knee injury while cutting across the left side of the Pioneer cage. Lee entered the game to replace the fallen captain and punched in the ensuing free-position shot to lift her team to a 8-2 advantage.

"Losing Kelly was the turning point. It changed the momentum of the game," said UC Davis head coach Elaine Jones. "We were operating on all cylinders until then. It's tough. We lost our leader. Kelly is a big part of our offense and defense."

Denver scored six unanswered goals to end the first half to cut the Aggie lead to 8-7 at the break, then added three more in the opening minutes of the second period to take the lead for good. Lee scored her second goal to end a 15:32 UC Davis scoring drought and Leslie Kado added a free-position goal with 21:11 remaining to tie the game at 10-10.

Fitzpatrick converted a pass from Hanson in the 40th minute to regain the lead for UC Davis, but the Pioneers would score five straight -- including three straight by Baldwin -- to amass a 15-10 lead into the 54th minute. Hanson set up Fitzpatrick for a goal at 53:54, and Fitz returned the favor for Hanson a minute later, but Denver closed its net beyond that point. Spry added one final goal for DU at the 58:26 mark to seal the win.

Stephanie Schneider posted 10 saves in net for the Pioneers while Aggie goalie Kristen Braasch stopped nine shots in the opposite goal.

UC Davis faces its fourth straight D-I opponent when it hosts Holy Cross for a non-league game on March 15.

GOALS - DU: Patience Baldwin 5, Steph Greenlees 4, Mariana Spry 2, Tanya Fuchs 1, Jovan Drotar 1, Sarah Medwell 1, Courtnay Gerl 1, Alexis Shipman 1. UC Davis: Jamie Fitzpatrick 4, Leslie Kado 3, Tiffany Lee 2, Kate Hanson 1, Liz Collett 1, Naomi Coffman 1, Kelly Albin 1.

ASSISTS - DU: Tanya Fuchs 2, Mariana Spry 2, Jovan Drotar 1, Courtnay Gerl 1, Steph Greenlees 1, Crystal Jack 1, Sarah Medwell 1, Cara Sexton 1. UC Davis: Jaime Fitzpatrick 2, Kate Hanson 2, Leslie Kado 2, Liz Collett 1.

GOALIES - DU: Steph Schneider 10 saves, 13 goals (60:00). UC Davis: Kristen Braasch 9 saves, 16 goals (60:00).