Fort Lewis College stormed out to a 5-1 lead and grew it to 8-4 in the opening half Friday on a cold afternoon in Colorado Springs. But the Skyhawks let the Mountain Lions pounce on an opportunity to get back in the match in the final three minutes before halftime.

University of Colorado at Colorado Springs would score three goals in a row before halftime and then outscored the Skyhawks 11-7 in the second half, including seven in a row during a key stretch, to earn an 18-15 win in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference women’s lacrosse match.

UCCS (6-1, 2-1 RMAC) turned a 13-9 deficit into a 16-13 lead when Angela Naughton poured in three goals and Kiera Lowe scored two more from the 17:42 mark of the second half until there was 9:20 to play. That proved to be the difference in the win.

FLC (2-4, 1-3 RMAC) started hot in a game that was delayed to remove snow from the UCCS field. Ann Nelson had two quick goals to establish the Skyhawks scoring early. She finished with two goals and one assist.

Maren Clark would lead FLC in scoring with four goals. Caprietta Abbadessa and Abby Escandon each had two goals, too.

Also scoring for FLC was Rebecca Kiyokawa, Liv Crawford, Haley Dostie, Ellie Martinez and Autumn Rymerson.

JoJo Lutz and Averi Basso led FLC with four groundballs each. Kiyokawa won eight draw controls.

Basso was the losing goalie. She made 14 saves, while Kennedy Travis got the win for UCCS. She allowed nine goals and made four saves. Madison McGriff played 13 minutes and allowed six goals and made one save.

Naughton scored a match-high five goals for UCCS, and Lowe and Mallory Corrigna each had three. Lowe also had three assists, while Naughton had two.

Earlier in the season, FLC lost 13-12 at home to the same UCCS squad in a non-conference game.

Now, the Skyhawks will prepare to play No. 12 Regis at 3:30 p.m. Sunday on the same field at UCCS. The Skyhawks will return home to play at 1 p.m. Friday against Westminster College.

jlivingston@durangoherald.com