The loss is the Buffs first of the season, dropping their record to 2-1 overall and 1-1 in Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Conference play. The Cougars remain undefeated at 7-0 and are now 1-0 against conference opponents this year.
To go along with Blackburn and Beimford’s hat tricks, sophomore Jack Cranston also found the back of the cage for the Buffs. Sophomore goaltender Brad Macnee had another solid game in net, making 15 saves on 26 BYU shots.
“Brad had an unbelievable game and we need to play better team defense in order to support him and play successfully,” said Colorado head coach Mike Ryder. “It was a tough trip and we learned a lot about our team and how to improve all over the field.”
Cranston gave Colorado the 1-0 advantage five minutes into the game, but BYU scored the next three goals to take a two goal lead in the second quarter. Beimford scored midway in the second to cut the CU deficit to one, but Brigham Young answered back with a goal late in the quarter, giving them the 4-2 lead at the half.
Blackburn scored his first of the game nearly eight minutes into the third to make it once again a one goal contest, but the Cougars scored the next four to extend their lead to five.
Beimford and Blackburn both found the back of the net twice in the fourth quarter, but Colorado wasn’t able to close the gap as BYU held on for the 11-7 win.
Colorado will now head to the Pacific Northwest for three more games against ranked opponents. CU will begin the trip on Friday Mar. 18 versus No. 19 Simon Fraser in Sammamish, Wash., before playing two games in Lake Oswego, Ore. The Buffs will play No. 13 Minnesota Duluth on Saturday Mar. 19 and No. 20 Oregon on Monday Mar. 21 in a rematch of last season’s first round game of the national tournament.
The Buffs’ next home game will be on Mar. 25 against No. 18 Arizona at 7 p.m. at Kittredge Field in Boulder. CU will play No. 2 Arizona State two days later on Mar. 27.
