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BOULDER, Colo. — The University of Colorado women’s lacrosse team played an emotional home opener Sunday, beating San Diego State, 17-12.

It was the team’s first game in Boulder since losing a team leader in a crash.

Julia Sarcona, 21, was driving in Boulder Canyon on Jan. 13 when she lost control and hit a tree. She died at the scene.

“It’s definitely a day that I’ll always remember,” coach Ann Elliot said. “It’s a tough day. You have a player call you, and tell you what happened to their friend, it’s hard.”

“It’s been a tough month, one that’s been up and down,” senior Blair Sisk said.

Sisk scored the team’s first goal, celebrating with her teammates near a large “JS” logo painted on the field.

“When I look down it makes my heart a little warm,” Sisk said. “It’s a good thing that it’s on our field, because you know that that emotion, you can harness it.”

Sarcona’s No. 15 was also visible on the team’s warmup jerseys, and on a flag hanging in the corner of the field.