The offense got off to a fast start and never looked back. The first-ranked CSU women’s lacrosse team overwhelmed UNC Thursday night, beating them 20-1 in Greeley.

Captain Caroline Coulson netted two quick goals and sophomore attack Ali Slyne scored two of her own to give CSU a quick 4-0 lead over the Bears. By the time UNC scored, CSU was already up 6-0.

Contributions from Captain Maddie Garcia, senior Hayley Bernstein, sophomores Tiffany Paladin and Kelly Vaggalis, and freshman Kayla Fertman amounted to an impressive 15-1 first half lead.

“It was a very well-rounded performance,” said Garcia. “It is awesome when we can get goals from a lot of different people and not just the superstars.”

The Rams played a fantastic game Thursday night, spreading the wealth and showcasing the depth of talent on their team.

“They have a lot of really talented players that have been playing together for a while and have formed a great bond,” said UNC sophomore midfelder Leah Braaten.

For a much younger UNC team, playing against the powerhouse Rams can be a positive experience.

“CSU is a great role model for us. We tell our new players watch the CSU girls and see what they play like, and to try and learn from them,” said Braaten. “We see it as a great learning experience; we really look up to CSU’s team.”

At the midway point in the season, this was a statement game for CSU.

“This game proved to us that we are improving as a team, and helped solidify that we are the number one team in the nation,” said Garcia.

As it has done all year, the Rams defense proved to be nearly impenetrable. Anchored by Captain Sarah Langlie, CSU’s defense has become one of the most feared in the nation.

“Our defensive success has been about how well we work together as a unit. We play a zone so it’s important to have each other’s backs, which we do really well,” said Langlie.

The Rams’ offense and defense are able to feed off one another, challenging each other to reach their potential.

“When the offense is doing so well, it makes us more passionate about keeping goals from going in our side,” said Langlie. “When our attack is doing so well, we want to try and keep up with them.”

The Rams now have a two-week break until they compete in the Mile High Classic in Boulder, where they will face some of their toughest competition of the year.

“At this point in the season, everybody needs a break,” said Garcia. “We like to use this time to step back and relax.”

“Because of the break, we wanted to use today to focus on trying to work hard and play as a team,” said Langlie “I am really proud of my team and how we were able to come out with the great win.”

Women’s Lacrosse Beat Reporter Tyrus Coder can be reached at sports@collegian.com