Sophmore Cali Castagnola takes a shot during the Buff’s 16 -14 loss to the Stanford Cardinal at Kittredge Field on April 5, 2015. (Robert Hylton/CU Independent)

The University of Colorado’s women’s lacrosse team played a tight home game against No. 13 Stanford University on Sunday at Kittredge Field.

The Buffs and the Cardinal both fought hard in a tight game, but Stanford came out on top 16-14.

The Buffaloes took a two-point lead early on in the game with goals by sophomore midfielder Marie Moore and freshman midfielder Blair Sisk. But it wasn’t long before the Cardinal came back and took their first lead of the game (4-3). Moore had two goals in the first half within ten minutes of one another.

Despite the Buffs having nine turnovers in the first half and a total of 21 turnovers in the game, they ended the first half leading the Cardinals 9-8.

“That is what we focus on a lot,” Moore said on Colorado’s strong first half. “Starting off strong to try and win the game. Playing hard and fighting hard for the ball are very important in the first half.”

Within the first minute of the second half, Stanford gained possession and scored a goal to tie the game (9-9). Stanford took control and maintained the lead in the second half, but sophomore attacker Johnna Fusco had an answer for the Cardinal. Fusco made two goals back to back, tying the game both times.

“It was just play by play this game,” said Fusco. “I just had to make big plays and then move onto the next one. That’s how we had to think going into the whole game.”

Despite both Fusco and Moore scoring six points combined, the Buffs lost to the Cardinals 16-14.

Colorado had a total of 23 shot attempts in the contest, while Stanford outshot the Buffaloes with 36 shot attempts.

Even though the Buffs did not come out on top, head coach Ann Elliot sees a team that is still growing in the program’s second year.

“I think our team from last year to this year is a different team,” said Elliot. “We have a little bit more depth and we can compete with teams that are fast and athletic way better than we could last year and we will continue to build on that.”

The Buffaloes go to California next weekend to play USC on April 10 and San Diego State April 12.

Contact CU Independent Staff Sports Writer Lisa Marcum at lisa.marcum@colorado.edu