After starting the season on the East Coast, the Fresno State lacrosse team dropped its home opener to the Denver Pioneers 20-5.

The Pioneers scored first in the contest and built up a 3-0 lead before Fresno State’s Kara Concheck served an assist to freshman Brooke Filgo to give the Bulldogs their first point of the contest. Nearly four minutes later, freshman Carol Dineen-Carlson shortened Denver’s lead to 3-2 with her first goal of her career.

After Denver broke Fresno State’s scoring streak, Concheck scored a goal of her own to keep the Bulldogs within a point. Nearly a minute after, Marcy Levatino tossed one to Anjelica Fuccillo, who found the net to tie the match at 4.

After the Pioneers and Bulldogs exchanged scores, Denver went on a 7-point run to end the half.

In the second half, Denver shut out the Bulldogs — adding seven points of its own — to win the game. Senior Meredith Harris led the team with five goals, and Jenn Etzel was responsible for five Pioneer points (five goals and two assists).

For Fresno State, Fuccilo led the team in goals (two), and both she and Concheck were responsible for two Bulldog points.

“I thought we came out really strong,” said Fresno State coach Jessica Pausewang. “Our biggest problem has been continuing to execute the game plan the whole time. We did a lot of great things on the field today. We just need to capitalize on our defensive stops.”

The Bulldogs will head to Los Angeles, Calif., to face Marist University on March 2.