Second Half Surge Lifts No. 15 Colorado Over Ducks

Friday, March 23

Eugene, OR

5:00 PM

University of Oregon

4-4, 2-3

Colorado

7-3, 4-1

Colorado

Oregon

Second Half Surge Lifts No. 15 Colorado Over Ducks

03/23/18 | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score Box Score: Oregon 9, Colorado 14

EUGENE, Ore. – After an even first half, No. 15 Colorado pulled away from the Oregon women's lacrosse team in the final period, outscoring the Ducks 8-3, to defeat UO 14-9 Friday night at Pape' Field.

"I thought we came out with a lot of fight and stuck to our game plan," said head coach Katrina Dowd. "Brittany [Read] in the cage played excellent, especially in that first half. The rhythm of our team in terms of our defense fueling our offense was great. In the second half, I think we kind of lost that rhythm. We went cold offensively. We had two shot clock violations in a row and they scored on both of them and we didn't really recover from there."

How it Happened: The Ducks (4-4, 2-3) fell in a hole early as the Buffaloes jumped out to a 3-0 lead, scoring all three goals within a minute and a half of one another.

UO finally got on the board following a free position goal from senior Natalie Modly. Fellow captain JoJo Hesketh pulled the Ducks within one, netting an incredible behind-the-back no-look goal as she streaked across the front of the net to make it 3-2.

Colorado scored one more goal before the Ducks went on a 3-0 run to take the lead. Modly recorded her second goal of the game during UO's run, bookended by two goals from Shannon Williams.

The two squads traded goals, with freshman Lillian Stump recording her second career goal, before CU's Darby Kiernan tied the game, 6-6, scoring with just 11 seconds left in the half.

Mariah Gatti put the Ducks back in front at the start of the second half, scoring off the assist from Williams at the 27:49 mark.

The Buffaloes proceeded to take control of the game scoring six goals over the next 20 minutes, capped off by Kiernan's third goal of the game to make it 12-7 with 5:48. CU's Samanth Nemirov was a huge factor for the Buffaloes run scoring four of their six goals.

Both Hesketh and Jill Zubillaga managed to find the back of the net in the final five minutes, but Colorado scored two more as well to earn the final score of 14-9.

Who Stood Out: Williams finished the game with five points, recording two goals and three assists … Cambi Cukar tied her season-high for the third time dishing out four assists … Despite recording the loss, goalkeeper Brittany Read finished the game with 12 saves, her third straight game with 10 or more saves.

Box Score: Colorado outshot UO 41-20 … The Buffaloes earned 10 free position shots, converting only three for goals … CU won the battle in the circle 15-10 with Kiernan recording 12 draw controls while Biller earned eight.

Quotable: Head coach Katrina Dowd
On Colorado's play…
"I think they are an excellent team. They came out in the second half and their top players stepped up for them big in Samantha Nemirov. Darby Kiernan on the draw circle, same thing, was fueling her team coming up with draws."

On playing from behind in the second half…
"It was a lot for us to recover, but we fought and I think, as a team, we are making great strides in Pac-12 play to be able to hang with ranked opponents. We'll continue to fight and get better from it."

Up Next: The Ducks hit the road for spring break, opening a three-match road trip by making up their previously cancelled game at No. 14 Towson Monday, March 26, at 3 p.m. PT.