Colorado to Wrap Up Regular Season at Cincinnati

BOULDER – The Colorado lacrosse team (6-6, 2-1 Big 12) wraps up regular season conference play at Cincinnati (8-8, 1-3 Big 12) on Saturday, April 26. Opening draw against the Bearcats is set for 10 a.m. MT.

This is the first meeting between Cincinnati and Colorado in the programs' history. The Bearcats are the seventh unranked matchup for the Buffs this season, having already faced eight IWLCA-ranked opponents. The Buffs are 17-17 in games in the Eastern time zone, and are looking to share regular season conference champions with ASU and Florida, should the Sun Devils beat the fourth-ranked Gators this weekend.

Colorado took on two opponents last week in then-No. 24 Denver and UC Davis on Senior Day. The Buffs kept the Pioneers close the entire game, staying within two and finishing just short in the final two minutes, 9-8 (April 17). The Black and Gold scored 12 in the first half against the Aggies, and graduate attacker Madeline Pisani had a stand-out senior day with five goals and two assists. Junior midfielder Maddie Shoup fought hard on both ends of the field, earning a hat trick and four caused turnovers versus UC Davis (April 20).

THIS WEEK
GAME #15 • Saturday, April 26 • 10 a.m. MT
Colorado (7-7, 3-1 Big 12) vs. Cincinnati (8-8, 1-3 Big 12)
Nippert Stadium • Cincinnati, Ohio
SERIES RECORD: First Meeting
TV: ESPN+
OPPONENT WEBSITE: GoBearcats.com

OPENING DRAW (TL;DR)

CU is led by 12th-year head coach Ann Elliott Whidden, who has led the Buffs to a 129-74 (.635) record as CU's first and only head lacrosse coach. Coach Whidden has led the Buffs to three NCAA tournament appearances.
After stints in the MPSF and Pac-12, Colorado is playing the 2025 season in the Big 12 Conference for its inaugural lacrosse season. CU lacrosse is 67-27 (.713) all-time in conference play. Against current Big 12 schools, CU is 29-8 (.784) against all five all-time, having not yet played Cincinnati in previous years.
Gr. A Madeline Pisani had seven points with five goals and two assists against the Aggies, earning her fifth hat trick of the season and 19th of her career. She also had three assists and a goal versus the Pioneers. She is now ninth in CU career points with 142 (109g, 33a) and sixth for career goals. Pisani is fourth in the Big 12 for shots per game (6.71), sixth for assists per game (1.36), 10th for goals per game (2.43) and ninth for points per game (3.79).
Jr. M Maddie Shoup had five goals and six points over the two games, earning her fifth hat trick of the season, seventh of her career. Shoup also had four caused turnovers against UC Davis (April 20), tying for fourth for CTOs in a single game. She is eighth in the Big 12 for shots per game (5.93).
On the week, Jr. D Jess Peluso had 12 draw controls, six ground balls and four caused turnovers (April 17 & 20). Peluso leads the Buff defense and in the draw circle, currently third in the Big 12 for draw controls per game and 36th in the NCAA (5.93). She is also fifth in conference for ground balls per game with 1.93 and third for caused turnovers per game with 1.14. Peluso is now fifth in CU history for draw controls in a single season with 83.
Fr. GK Elena Oh is currently third in the Big 12 for goals against average with 9.87, and she is seventh in the Conference for save percentage .415 (78 saves). She is also fifth in conference for saves per game (6.50). Her numbers for goals against average put her at 20th in the NCAA.
Jr. M Lily Assini had two caused turnovers, a ground ball and a goal versus Denver, and she had two goals, one assist, one ground ball and a caused turnover against UC Davis. Assini is seventh in the Big 12 for assists per game (1.14).
Jr. M Molly Reed had a goal, an assist, five draw controls and a caused turnover against UC Davis. She also had a goal, a ground ball and four draw controls against Denver. Reed is fifth in the Big 12 for CTOs/game (1.07).
So. A Teagan Ryan recorded her fourth hat trick of both season and career against the Aggies. Sr. D Katie McLean also caused four turnovers against then-No. 24 Denver, tying with Shoup.
Jr. D Mack Hanlon had two caused turnovers and four ground balls over the two games. Hanlon is seventh in the Big 12 for CTOs/game (1.00).

ROAM WITH THE BUFFS: The Buffs' game against the Bearcats will be broadcast on ESPN+. Fans can also follow the Colorado game through live stats with links available at CUBuffs.com.

FIRST YEAR, FIRST HOSTS: The Colorado lacrosse team clinched a spot in the Inaugural Big 12 Championship after its win over UC Davis on Sunday, April 20. The Buffs also have the privilege of hosting this championship in its first year at Prentup Field on May 1 and 3. In the 12th year of the program, this is the 12th time the Black and Gold have made it to a conference tournament. The Buffs are 11-10 in conference tournament games and were the 2018 Pac-12 Conference Champions. Having clinched a spot in the Big 12 Championship, the Buffs become one of four teams admitted to the conference championship. The winner of the inaugural championship gets an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, much like in the Pac-12. The Championship will consist of two semifinal games – May 1 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. – and one final game to determine the NCAA bid – May 3 at 1 p.m. Tickets for the 2025 Big 12 Championship are on sale now, and credential requests are open until April 28.

EYES ON THE PRIZE: Jr. D Jess Peluso sits at 83 draws on the season (88 in her career), and Fr. GK Elena Oh is at 78 saves -- both on the approach to 100 in their respective categories.

WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER: As a team, the Buffs registered more shots on goal than both the Pioneers (15-13) and the Aggies (35-15). The Black and Gold had one more ground ball than Denver (18-17) and 21 to UC Davis' 13. CU also won in the circle, managing 13 draw controls to Denver's eight and 17 to UC Davis' 11. Colorado is 21st in the NCAA for draw control percentage (.570).

IN THE CIRCLE: Overall, the Buffs lead their opponents in the draw circle. Colorado has collected 199 draw controls thus far this season while their opponents have 150. Juniors Jess Peluso, Lily Assini and Molly Reed, and sophomore Averi Gardner total for 152 of those draws with 83, 31, 32 and 35, respectively.

#2 SISTER SHOUP: Jr. M Maddie Shoup's fellow college lacrosse enthusiast in her family is her younger sister, Gracie, who plays lacrosse a Lehigh. Shoup is also a Pennsylvania High School Lacrosse State Champion (2022) and after graduation she aspires to work for a Philadelphia sports team.

#12 WHOLE LOTTA REEDS: Jr. M Molly Reed and three of her four sisters all play or played collegiate lacrosse. Her oldest sister Reilly played four years at Virginia Tech and took her fifth year at Pittsburgh. The next oldest, Flynn, played four years at East Carolina and took her fifth year at UNC. Her twin sister, Regan, currently plays lacrosse at East Carolina. The youngest sister, Camden, is 15 and plays lacrosse at the high school and club level.

#26 TELL ME MORLEY: Fr. M Jenna Morely has lacrosse running in her veins. Her mother, Nicole, played lacrosse and field hockey at UPenn (1987-88), and her father, Arthur, played lacrosse at Salisbury (1986-88). Her sister, Jayne, played lacrosse at Harvard (2020-22). Fun fact: Jenna can juggle, and she has two cats named Boo and Ollie.

#51 & #52 BOULDER BROWER: After living in the Bay Area, Calif., for most of high school, sisters Jr. G Caity Brower and Fr. A Addison Brower are moving back to Boulder. Their mother, Kristin Brower, and two uncles, James and Tom Mazzarisi, are all CU alumni. Another uncle, Mark Brower, was a hockey goalie for Providence College (1995-1999). Caity is also a NorCal All-American, USA Lacrosse All-American and an Under Armour All-American (2019), and Addie is a USA Lacrosse All-American and helped San Ramon High School to back-to-back NCS Championship victories (2023, 2024).

For more information on the Colorado women's lacrosse team, a complete schedule and results, please visit CUBuffs.com. Fans of the Buffs can follow the team on Instagram and on Twitter @CUBuffsWLax.

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Players Mentioned

Lily Assini

Addison Brower

Caity Brower

Averi Gardner

Mack Hanlon

Katie McLean

Elena Oh

Jess Peluso

Madeline Pisani

Molly Reed

Teagan Ryan

Maddie Shoup