Colorado College utilized a superb defensive effort and its abundance of depth to defeat Illinois Wesleyan University, 17-8, on Friday afternoon at Washburn Field.

The Tigers, ranked No. 24 by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association, improved to 5-0.

The Titans entered the game averaging 16.7 goals per game, but managed only four in each half against CC's swarming defense.

Despite trailing 10-4 a little more than five minutes into the second half, IWU's attack created some momentum with three consecutive goals. Dani Engelbreit started the run with the last of her four goals, and then markers from Landry Elliott and Grainne Kelly pulled the Titans to within three with 19:08 remaining.

That, however, was a close as Illinois Wesleyan would get because the Tiger defense dialed up its intensity and played nearly 19 minutes of shutout ball.  

Following a timeout, junior attacker Allie Thuet set up freshman midfielder Molly Dibble's tally that extended Colorado College's lead to 11-7, and then junior attacker Eva King scored less than a minute later to make the lead five.

Thuet added back-to-back goals to give CC a 14-7 cushion, and then the Tigers capped their 7-0 run with a pair of markers off the stick of freshman attacker Maggie O'Donnell and one from freshman attacker Bella Beattie.

For the game, IWU committed 29 turnovers, 18 of which were caused by the Tigers.

Sophomore midfielder Avery Bell led Colorado College with three caused turnovers, while junior midfielder Robin Hilderman, sophomore defender Sydney Lane, senior midfielder Ellie Meyer, junior midfielder Laura Pejza and King each forced a pair.

Defense also was at premium during the first 17 minutes with both teams managing only a pair of goals.

However, shortly after Engelbreit leveled the score at 2-2 with 12:54 remaining in the first half, King set up tallies by Thuet and Beattie, and then scored once herself to put the Tigers ahead to stay.  

Engelbreit struck again with 7:30 remaining in the half to pull the Titans to within two, but sophomore midfielder Sophie Murphy and O'Donnell scored 35 seconds apart to give CC a 7-4 cushion.

After Illinois Wesleyan got one back when Engelbreit set up a marker from Claudia Richman, Meyer closed out the first-half scoring and then goals form junior attacker Rachel Sheridan and sophomore midfielder Caroline Keller gave the Tigers a 10-4 lead a little more than five minutes into the second half.

Thuet produced five points with three goals and an assist, while King scored twice and set up three others. O'Donnell also recorded three goals.

Meyer and Beattie added two goals apiece.

Pezja recorded a game-high six draw controls, while junior defender Cassis Schafer and King grabbed four ground balls.

After the Titans cut their six-goal deficit to three with three consecutive goals early in the second half, the Colorado College clamped down and allowed only one more IWU score during the final 19 minutes.

Sophomore goaltender Alena Stern finished with seven saves for the Tigers.

Engelbreit did her best to keep the Titans within scoring distance, finishing the contest with a game-high four goals and five points.

Kelly entered the game with 19 goals and 14 assists, but managed just one tally against CC's aggressive defense.

Sophomore Janaye Godfrey made nine of IWU's 11 saves before giving way to freshman Sydney MacDonald with a little more than 10 minutes remaining in the game.

Illinois Wesleyan slipped to 5-2.

Colorado College plays host to Marian University on Monday at 3 p.m.