Big Ten Play Opens Against No. 20 Ohio State Wednesday

EUGENE, Ore. – Oregon lacrosse will play its first conference game as a member of the Big Ten – and the first game of the 2025 Big Ten season – against No. 20 Ohio State on Wednesday at Papé Field.

GAME INFO
When: Wednesday, March 12
Where: Papé Field | Eugene, Ore.
Time: 5 p.m. PT
Watch: Big Ten Network
Live Stats: http://statb.us/b/574209

QUACK RECAP
Coming off a two-game skid, the Ducks quickly fell behind 6-0 to San Diego State. Freshman goalkeeper Kate Shields subbed in a lived up to her surname with 11 saves, including two crucial stops on free position attempts in the final seconds to seal the 17-16 comeback win. Bri Carrasquillo and Gabby Santucci set new career highs with six and four goals, respectively, while the Ducks dominated the draw control battle thanks to 10 from Rachel Pallo and six apiece by Kristiana Strtak and Anna Simmons, which set new career-best marks for both.

PAPÉ FIELD: DEFENDED
Defending Papé Field has been the motto for head coach Jessica Drummond since her arrival last season and the 2025 Ducks are doing just that. Oregon has started the season 5-0 on their home turf for just the third time in program history, joining the 2024 and 2012 to start perfect through five home contests. The Ducks are outscoring opponents 81-39 in Eugene, holding visitors to 7.8 goals per game while causing 43 turnovers. UO goalkeepers have fared better in front of the green nets as well, boasting a .480 save percentage on their home field.

» Averaging 16.2 goals per game at home.
» 21 of Anna Simmons' 25 goals have come on her home field.
» The 2024 Ducks held opponents under eight goals 10 times after doing so just three times in the three seasons prior. This year's squad has done so four times, each at Papé Field.
» Oregon had only allowed three goals or less two times since 2018 before doing so against Central Michigan.
» Coach Drummond has been a part of every 5-0 home start, having been a senior on the 2012 team that took home Oregon's first and only conference title.

SCORE BIG OR GO HOME
Oregon has started the 2025 season red-hot, outscoring nonconference opponents by a combined 103-69 margin. The Ducks' +34 goal differential ranks fourth in the Big Ten behind only No. 3 Northwestern, No. 5 Michigan and No. 20 USC. UO has been especially dangerous in the first half of games, as they have outscored opponents by a combined 62-34 margin in the opening 30 minutes.

» The quick-strike offense off the opening draw has proved to be effective for UO, as the Ducks have scored the first goal in six of seven games and done so in under a minute five times, with three of those coming in the first 15 seconds of play.
» Bri Carrasquillo (11) and Gabby Santucci (7) have combined for 18 goals in the last two games, with both matching or setting career highs in each outing.
» More than half of Carrasquillo's 20 goals this season have come in the last two games; ranks fifth in the Big Ten.
» The Ducks have scored 15 or more goals five times this season, including each of the last two outings.

ANNA SIMMONS: SUPERSTAR
Few players in the country have had a more explosive start to the season than midfielder Anna Simmons. Simmons scored six goals in the season opener, which matched her career high, before raising the bar her next time out by finding the back of the net seven times against Stetson to match the Oregon single-game record. The junior is tied for third in the Big Ten and 27th nationally with 25 goals scored this season while leading the Ducks with 17 ground balls, 14 caused turnovers and ranking second in draw controls (21).

» Named the Big Ten Midfielder of the Week each of the first three weeks of the season.
» Only player in the nation with 25-plus goals, 15-plus ground balls and 14-plus caused turnovers.
» Tied for the Big Ten lead in ground balls.
» Set career highs against Central Michigan with seven ground balls and five caused turnovers
» Her 20 goals in the first four games were the most in program history over any four-game stretch.
» Scored a hat trick in five of six games, four of which came in the first half.
» Set career highs in goals (33), assists (8), points (42), caused turnovers (21) and draw controls (38) in 2024.

COMMANDING THE CENTER CIRCLE
The Ducks have dominated the draw control battle so far this season, holding a 118-69 edge thanks in large part to the stellar play of Rachel Pallo. The junior has totaled 52 DCs to start the season and tied her own program record with 12 draw controls in the win over Columbia as the Ducks held a 21-4 advantage for the game.

» Tallied at least five DCs in six of seven games and recorded 10-plus three times, including last time out against San Diego State.
» Pallo moved up to fifth in program history with 143 DCs after nabbing ten against San Diego State.
» Though she lacks the games played necessary to qualify yet, her 3.67 draw controls per game through 39 games would be the most in program history. Carly O'Connell currently holds the UO record at 2.90.
» Both Anna Simmons and Kristiana Strtak tallied a career-high six draw controls against San Diego State as the Ducks held a 29-11 edge in the game as the duo and Pallo combined for 22 DCs.
» Lexi Jenkins recorded a career-high five draw controls against California and has tallied three or more DCs three times this season.

THE BEAT ON THE BUCKEYES
The Ducks will take on No. 20 Ohio State in their first conference game as members of the Big Ten and the first game of the 2025 Big Ten slate. Wednesday marks the third-ever meeting between the Ducks and Buckeyes and the first in Eugene. Ohio State has won both prior matchups, including the last time the two teams took the field in 2019, 11-5.

Ohio State enters Wednesday's matchup with an unblemished 6-0 mark after surviving in overtime last time out against Louisville, 10-9. Three Buckeyes - Kate Tyack (21), Zoe Coleman (11) and Kampbell Stone (11) - have recorded double-digit goals this season, while Tyack is tied for eighth in the Big Ten in goals scored. Brynn Ammerman leads the team and ranks second in the conference with 19 assists. Goalkeeper Jocelyn Torres enters with a 5-0 record and sports the highest save percentage (56.8) and lowest goals against average (6.05) among qualified conference GKs.