Sports Hey PDX March 1, 2025 0 Comments

Game Recap: Duck Lacrosse Splits Week 2025

Ducks Dominate Homestand Finale, Cruise Past Central Michigan 14-3

Oregon lacrosse wrapped up a flawless 4-0 homestand in commanding fashion, rolling past Central Michigan 14-3 at Papé Field on Saturday. The Ducks headed into their first road trip of the season with momentum, having outscored their opponents 64-23 through four games.

Oregon controlled the game from the start, outshooting the Chippewas 36-17 while forcing 13 turnovers. Senior goalie Paige Crowther anchored the defense with seven saves, allowing just three goals.

On the offensive end, Jenae Sperling led the charge with four goals, while eight different Ducks found the back of the net—including three freshmen scoring their first career goals.

Game Recap

The Ducks wasted no time setting the tone, as Rachel Pallo scored just 13 seconds in. Leading scorer Anna Simmons netted two goals in the first quarter, completing her hat trick later for her 20th goal of the season.

Sperling extended the lead early in the second, and Central Michigan didn’t get on the board until more than two minutes into the period. Oregon kept the pressure on, with Bri Carrasquillo scoring twice before halftime and freshman Hazel Baker notching her first collegiate goal to give the Ducks a 9-2 lead at the break.

Oregon continued to pull away in the second half, with Simmons, Sperling, and Liv Kozitza adding goals in the third to stretch the lead to 12-3. In the fourth, freshmen Audrey Thompson and Reilly Cormier joined Baker in recording their first career goals, capping a dominant performance.

Ducks’ Fast Start Fades in 10-7 Loss to Cal

Oregon lacrosse came out firing but couldn’t sustain its early dominance, falling 10-7 to California on Thursday. The Ducks raced out to a commanding 6-1 lead in the first quarter, outshooting Cal 11-3, but were outscored 9-1 over the final three quarters, dropping to 4-1 on the season.

Freshman Liv Kozitza led the offensive effort with her first collegiate hat trick, adding three ground balls and a caused turnover. Despite holding advantages in draw controls (12-3) and total shots (32-21), the Ducks were undone by a season-high 20 turnovers and an uncharacteristic 1-for-8 performance on free-position shots.

Game Recap

Oregon wasted no time establishing control, as Anna Simmons netted her 21st goal of the season to put the Ducks on the board first. Cal responded, but Kozitza struck twice within a minute to extend the lead to 3-1. Lyla Hurley followed with her fourth goal of the year before assisting Jenae Sperling, and Madysyn Sweeney capitalized on a Cal yellow card to give Oregon a 6-1 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

Momentum shifted after the break, with the Ducks managing just one shot in the second quarter while Cal rattled off four straight goals. Oregon clung to a 6-5 lead at halftime but couldn’t regain its early rhythm.

The Golden Bears added three more unanswered goals in the third before Kozitza finally broke the drought with her third goal, cutting the deficit to 8-7. Oregon continued to pressure, firing six more shots on target, but couldn’t find a way past Cal’s goalkeeper. A late Golden Bears goal at the end of the third and another in the fourth sealed the Ducks’ first loss of the season.

Notable Performances

Liv Kozitza has scored in all five collegiate games, recording multiple goals twice.
Paige Crowther played the full 60 minutes in goal, making five saves and a career-high six ground balls.
Lexi Jenkins set a new career high with five draw controls, while Rachel Pallo added four.
Jenae Sperling has recorded six points in her last two games and nine in her last four.
Anna Simmons extended her scoring streak to six straight games, dating back to last season.