The Colorado College women's lacrosse team captured its third Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference title on Sunday with a 21-7 victory over Southwestern University in Irving, Texas.
 
Bella Beattie and Delia Freliech each scored four goals, while Bella Scola, Courtney Zell and Olivia Dossett added three apiece as the Tigers ended the 2021 campaign with a six-game winning streak.
 
"I am so proud of everyone on this team," head coach Susan Stuart said. "Players had to all pitch in throughout the season to play out of their normal positions, everyone had to play every game because of the short bench, but the amount of game experience that everyone gained this season was invaluable to our future success."  
 
Southwestern opened the scoring 1:09 into the contest with a goal from Deanna Hames, but the Tigers responded with five straight, including a pair from Beattie. Dossett scored with 16:14 left in the first half to put CC ahead 5-1.
 
After SU's Emma Pertuit cut the lead to 5-2 just 23 seconds later, Colorado College scored eight consecutive goals in the final 10:15 of the first half. Zell and Beattie each scored twice to give the Tigers a 13-2 lead at the break.
 
Southwestern scored the first two goals of the second half, but Sophie Murphy and Dossett connected to put the CC lead back to 11. After a pair of goals by the Pirates, Colorado College scored six of the last seven, including three by Freliech, who scored the final goal with 3:50 remaining in the game.
 
"It was a really fun game for us to watch as these Tigers took their creativity and skill to another level," Stuart said. "We saw over the back goals, one-timers, twizzler and behind the back passes and the confidence to take those risks in a championship game. It was great, fun, exciting lacrosse."
 
Natalie Slade made 12 saves for the Tigers, who outshot Southwestern 31-8 in the first half and 46-22 for the contest.
 
Beattie was named the offensive MVP of the SCAC Championships, while Abigail Turner earned defensive MVP honors.
 
"This season was taxing on everyone, but this group accepted and thrived in the uncertainty and created an amazing supportive, inclusive, creative and competitive culture that will certainly help in the future," Stuart said. "I also have to give credit to (assistant coach) Lucy Gerrity, who was a rock that gave us stability in the uncertain times, and assistant coach Rob Raphael, for his incredible positive energy all season."
  
  
Colorado College Standouts
Bella Beattie, Bridget Hanley and Annie Tucker led CC with two assists.
Beattie led all players with seven shots on goal.
Abigail Turner led the Tigers with five ground balls.
 
Southwestern University Standouts
Deanna Hames and Emma Pertuit each scored three goals.
Sofia Valdespino had 13 saves for Southwestern, while Tess Lewis had eight in relief.
 
Notes
Colorado College finished the 2021 season with a 6-2 record.
Southwestern finished with a 6-5 record.