Season Ends With Quarterfinals Loss to SDSU

Thursday, April 27

Los Angeles, Calif.

4:00 PM

University of Oregon

9-8

San Diego State

10-7

San Diego State

Oregon

Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

04/27/17 | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score Box: SDSU 18, Oregon 13

OREGON SAW ITS 2017 COME TO END ON THURSDAY WITH AN 18-13 LOSS TO SAN DIEGO STATE IN THE QUARTERFINALS OF THE MPSF TOURNAMENT

By: Nate Krueger

LOS ANGELES – The Oregon women's lacrosse team saw its 2017 season come to an end on Thursday with an 18-13 loss to San Diego State in the quarterfinals of the MPSF Tournament at McAlister Field.

The Ducks close the season with a 9-8 overall record under first-year head coach Katrina Dowd after going 5-3 in the MPSF in the regular season to earn the No. 4 seed in the tournament.

How it Happened: SDSU (10-7) got things going early, taking an early 2-0 advantage within the first two minutes of play. Oregon responded with three unanswered goals over the next four minutes to take the lead. Shannon Williams scored the first goal of the day for the Ducks before Cambi Cukar followed with back-to-back goals, including one on a free-position shot.

The Aztecs answered the Ducks' run with one of their own, ripping of five unanswered goals to move ahead, 6-3. Cukar and Williams each found the net again for the Ducks sandwiched around an Aztec goal, but SDSU once again went on a run with four more unanswered goals to take control at halftime, 11-5.

The Ducks came out hot in the second half, going on a 5-1 run to pull within a pair of goals, 12-10. Bella Pyne got the second half started with her first score of the game before Cukar scored again four her fourth. After an SDSU score, Pyne scored again on a free-position shot, and Williams scored twice, one off a Cukar assist and one on a free-position shot.

San Diego State wouldn't allow the Ducks to get any closer, though, as the Aztecs scored five goals in a row to take their biggest lead of the day, 17-10, with less than nine minutes left. Oregon received goals from Jill Zubillaga, Mariah Gatti and Cukar down the stretch, but it wasn't enough as the Aztecs held on and advanced to face top-seeded USC tomorrow in the semifinals.

Who Stood Out: Cukar was tremendous offensively, scoring a lifetime-best eight points with a career-high five goals and three assists. Williams was effective as usual on the attack, scoring four goals. Pyne found the net twice while leading the team with three caused turnovers, and Gatti and Zubillaga each scored once. Freshman Julia Bolte also tallied an assist.

Williams Completes Tremendous Sophomore Season: An all-MPSF first-team selection at attacker, Williams was fantastic offensively all season for the Ducks. Williams broke the UO single-season record for goals with 51 and, with four points against SDSU, also broke the Oregon single-season record for points with 72. Williams recorded three goals or more 10 times in 17 games for the Ducks, and she also added 21 assists to finish third on the team.

Cukar Ends Junior Season in Style: Cukar capped yet another great season with a career-day against the Aztecs. Cukar finished the year with 42 assists, the most in the MPSF, and is the Oregon all-time leader with 124 in her career with another year of eligibility remaining. With a career-high eight points today, Cukar moved into ninth in Oregon history with 154 through three seasons. Cukar earned all-MPSF honors for the second-straight year, landing on the second-team this season.

Notable: Pyne, who joined Williams on the all-MPSF first-team, finished the season with 43 goals, second-most on the team … Pyne finished her Oregon career with 100 goals and 116 points … The Ducks made a switch to freshman goalie Maddie Clark after the first 20 minutes of action. Clark made five saves against 11 goals in 40 minutes … Bolte finished her freshman season with 24 assists, second on the team to Cukar.