University of Oregon
7-5
Virginia
7-4
Ducks Edged by Virginia in Non-Conference Finale
03/29/17 | Women's Lacrosse
OREGON GOT OFF TO A FAST START, BUT COULDN'T KEEP PACE WITH NO. 15/17 VIRGINIA DOWN THE STRETCH IN A 15-6 LOSS
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The Oregon women's lacrosse team wrapped up a stretch of eight straight road games and its non-conference schedule on Wednesday with a 15-6 loss to No. 15/17 Virginia at Klockner Stadium.
How it Happened: The Ducks (7-5) got off to a fast start, scoring three goals in a span of less than two minutes to race out to a 3-0 lead. Shannon Williams, the MPSF leader in goals and points, got things going for Oregon with a goal less than two minutes into the game, and added another at the 26:59 mark with a tremendous back-handed goal in traffic. Thirty-five seconds later, Williams found Mariah Gatti for a goal to extend the Ducks' lead.
Virginia (7-4) responded with two goals to make it a one-goal game before senior Bella Pyne scored with 15:56 left in the half to push Oregon's lead to two. A pair of Cavalier goals in a span of just 10 seconds tied the game, and another score gave Virginia the lead with four minutes to go. The Ducks got a free-position shot with 11 seconds left to try and tie it, but were turned away and the Cavaliers took a 5-4 lead into the break.
It was Virginia that got off to a quick start in the second half, scoring two goals in the opening minute to extend its lead to 7-4. The Cavaliers added another goal at the 24:06 mark to push their scoring run to 6-0 and take a four-goal lead. Junior Jill Zubillaga ended Virginia's run with 19:42 to play, scoring off another assist by Williams to pull the Ducks within three, but the Cavaliers brought their lead back to four five minutes later with a goal.
Gatti scored her second of the game with 11:43 remaining to get Oregon back within three, but Virginia answered once again with two quick goals to make it 11-6. The Cavaliers would finish the game on a 6-0 run to pull away for the win.
Who Stood Out: Williams finished the game with a team-high four points, scoring twice and dishing out two assists, to build on her MPSF-leading totals in goals (37) and points (53). Gatti also scored twice to give her 30 goals this season, moving her into a tie for second on the team with Pyne, who scored once. Zubillaga added the sixth goal of the day for the Ducks. Senior goalie Becca Katzen matched her career-high with 12 saves.
What it Means: Oregon finishes its eight-game road trip with a 4-4 record, and enters the homestretch of the regular season at 6-4 overall and in fourth place (3-1) in the MPSF with four conference games remaining. The Ducks went 4-4 against non-conference opponents.
Notable: Cambi Cukar was held without an assist, and remains four shy of matching the UO all-time record with 110 for her career … Zubillaga now has 11 goals in the last five games after not scoring in her first 26 career games … Pyne led the Ducks with four draw controls … The Ducks were out-shot by the Cavaliers, 36-15 … Virginia controlled the draw controls throughout the day, 17-6 … Virginia's Avery Shoemaker finished with a game-high five goals.
Up Next: The Ducks return home to face No. USC next Friday, April 7 (1 p.m.), in their first game at Pape Field since February 19. Oregon's game against the Trojans is the first of four conference games to close out the regular season.
