DENVER – The No. 12 UIndy women's lacrosse team (18-2) fought until the end, but a second-half seven-goal deficit was too much to overcome at No. 2 Regis (19-0) in the NCAA Midwest Region semifinal on Friday afternoon. The Greyhounds dropped the regional opener, 17-14.
 
Riley McClure secured 13 draw controls, caused three turnovers, and scooped up a pair of ground balls, while Hannah Bunce and Hannah Burczyk each scored a game-high four goals.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Bunce opened the scoring for the Greyhounds, a responding effort 46 seconds after Regis found the scoreboard first. After two more Ranger goals, Burczyk ended the short-lived run to cut the deficit to 3-2.
 
Regis netted eight of the next 10 goals, but UIndy appeared to build momentum as the first half wound down. Julia O'Brien and Grace Gunneson snuck shots past RMAC Goalkeeper of the Year Elle Crawford to trail 11-6, but a green card with less than 10 seconds remaining in the half proved costly as Regis scored once again before the break.
 
The Greyhounds chipped away early in the second half, but failed to string together scores until the Rangers led, 16-9, with nearly 13 minutes left on the clock. UIndy rattled off five straight goals, with Bunce netting a pair, to cut it to just two with more than four minutes left.
 
UIndy forced a turnover on the defensive end, but could not capitalize on the other side before Regis scoring once more before the buzzer to win, 17-14.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Burczyk finishes her four-year career with 90 goals after scoring four times on Friday. The senior out of South Lyon, Mich. was one of 10 original-class Greyhounds that began the program in 2016. Burczyk scored a career-best 32 goals this season.
 
McClure led a strong defensive effort the Greyhounds, finishing with three caused turnovers and two ground balls. The Ancaster, Ontario product finished with 50 scoops and 49 caused turnovers her junior season, while winning 94 draws.
 
Bunce scored seven times since her return in the GLIAC semifinal against Concordia-St. Paul last weekend, and wraps up her rookie campaign with 24 goals in 16 games after four more netters against Regis.
 
MORE NOTES
Destinie Katz handed out another five assists, finishing this season with 73 helpers … Regis' attackers Andrew Macalalad and Ali Vanek each scored four times … UIndy dominated the draw circle, winning 24-of-31 efforts at midfield … senior defenders Hannah Reho and Lauren Wagner combined for five ground balls and three caused turnovers on Friday … the Greyhounds have now made back-to-back trips to the NCAA Midwest Regional in their first four seasons of existence.
 
HOUND BYTES
"In year four of a program," head coach James Delaney began in the post-game interview, "to be able to battle back with our backs against the wall in Denver, I couldn't be more proud to coach them and be associated with the University of Indianapolis.
 
"I was definitely a little nervous being in my first regional tournament game," Bunce said. "But I knew we would go down fighting. It's a shame we ended up losing, but we gave it our all."
 
Delaney on the sluggish start: "All the things we could say would just be an excuse. We got to come out and we got to execute in order to be successful. We dug a hole against a talented and well-coached team, but the fact we were able to come back says a ton about our team and our character."
 
"I could not be more proud of these girls and how we fought today," Burczyk said. "Coming in my freshman year, this wasn't even a thought. It's amazing what we've done in four years and I'm jealous of everyone that gets to come back with a fighting chance next year."
 
"Regis is on the national landscape, Lindenwood is on the national landscape," Delaney wrapped up the interview. "As a fourth-year team, I think we're on the national landscape. It's great for the region. I think we all believe we aren't going anywhere and we will continue to meet in this setup."
 
THAT'S A WRAP
Gunneson and Katz each tallied a program-record 112 points this season, while O'Brien finished third on the team with 65. Krista Temple recorded 55 points.
 
McClure's caused turnover and ground ball totals are also program records, while Peyton Romig's 229 draw controls is 77 more than her record-setting rookie campaign a year ago.
 
The Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) will announce its all-region honorees next week.