Ducks Top Sun Devils in Overtime Thriller

Saturday, February 7

Eugene, OR

11:00 AM

University of Oregon

1-0

Arizona State University

0-1

Arizona St.

Oregon

02/07/26 | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score 1 - Oregon 12, ASU 11 (OT)Photo Gallery

By: Kate Cooney

EUGENE, Ore. – The Oregon women's lacrosse team scored six unanswered goals in the second half to storm back and defeat Arizona State, 12-11, in an overtime thriller on Saturday in its 2026 season opener at Papé Field.

Senior Anna Simmons led the offensive charge in a massive comeback victory, punctuated by the game-winning goal in overtime. The Ducks (1-0) erased deficits of 6-1 and 11-5 to come from behind and win, with Simmons and junior Gabby Santucci tying for the team lead with four goals apiece.

Simmons completed Oregon's comeback win with her third consecutive goal and fourth score of the day, converting a free position shot with 15 seconds on the clock in overtime.

"Starting off not super hot, but then really digging in our heels and getting an overtime win is huge, especially against a good team," Simmons said. "It elevates our confidence, elevates our level of play and elevates our standard. It's great momentum going into the season and a great way to start it off."

Goalie Kate Shields was outstanding for the Ducks after coming off the bench to start the second quarter. The sophomore totaled 10 saves on the day for the second time in her career and finished with a stellar .625 save percentage.

With the win, the Ducks maintained an unblemished record in home openers at Papé Field while improving to 12-1 in season openers since 2014.

How It Happened: Not even a minute into the second quarter, the Ducks trailed by a daunting 6-1 after an early score from Santucci. Shields entered the cage for the Ducks following the first period, replacing transfer goalie Francesca Viteritti who made the start for Oregon.

"It's not easy to not be the starting goalie and go in to the pressure of the second quarter," Drummond said. "Kate is just calm and consistent, that's what we know. She can go in there, get the job done and just be smooth and consistent."

Simmons and Jenae Sperling began Oregon's first effort at an offensive revival, scoring within a minute of each other to cut Arizona State's lead in half. Freshman Nya McElroy found the back of the net for the first time in her collegiate career, and Santucci collected her second score of the day to end the half down by three. Oregon and Arizona State finished the first half with an even 14 shots, but the Sun Devils won eight draws to Oregon's six.

Arizona State came out firing in the second half, scoring three unanswered goals in the first seven minutes. Trailing 11-5, Oregon found their much-needed spark as senior Emma Ing converted a free position shot, kickstarting a 6-0 scoring run for the Ducks. Lexi Jenkins added herself to the list of Ducks to score with her first career goal coming with less than 30 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Shields helped anchor the Oregon defense, picking up four saves in the third quarter. Simmons and Jadyn Laing each caused a pair of key turnovers, pulling the momentum away from ASU. McElroy took over draw control duties for Oregon, which helped the Ducks maintain possession in the second half.

Santucci opened the fourth quarter with back-to-back goals just 40 seconds apart to bring the Ducks within two. Simmons took advantage of a free position shot deflected off ASU's keeper for a quick put-back score, narrowing the Arizona State lead to one. Another free position opportunity was all Simmons needed to tie up the game. With 4:47 remaining, Arizona State made a crucial foul against Simmons, who popped up and weaved her way to the cage for the Ducks' 11^th goal of the day.

Shields was unwavering in the cage for Oregon and made three saves during the five-minute overtime period.

With 15 seconds remaining in overtime period, Simmons was found again at the free position line. Simmons wasted no time scoring her fourth goal of the day and found the back of the net for the fourth time in a picture-perfect finale.

"It was just so Anna," Drummond said. "She's so confident. For her to be able to walk on that field as a senior, you know she can get the job done. That's something I said to her when we were going to overtime. I know she was gassed, but I knew she could finish the game."

Quotables:
"We knew Arizona State was good. They were getting votes for the top 25 and we knew that going into this. To be able to turn around and win in the second half was incredible." – Head Coach Jessica Drummond

"After the game, I told them that Arizona State is a really good team, but we are a really good team too. To be able to finish the game in overtime, to be disciplined like that. We had some cards, but being able to adjust and keep fighting was so awesome. That is exactly what the culture of this team is." – Head Coach Jessica Drummond

"Coming in off the bench, you obviously have to make a quick mental switch, but we practice so many hours on the field. I thought, 'I need to go out there and play my game and do the best I can for my team.' The other two goalies, Kaley Gunning and Francesca Viteritti, are amazing supporters. They have my back, and we all have each other's' backs. Oregon lacrosse is such a supportive environment that it doesn't matter who's on or off the field. We're all there for each other all the time." – GK Kate Shields

Notables: The Ducks improve to 12-1 in season openers since the 2014 season and 10-0 at Papé Field, outscoring opponents 196-99 in that span … Arizona State moves to 7-2 in season openers since the program's foundation, their only previous loss coming to then-No. 11 Michigan on the road in 2022 … Lexi Jenkins' third quarter goal marked the first in her career … Jenkins and Anna Simmons each have 32 consecutive starts after today's game … Gabby Santucci has recorded four consecutive hat tricks and three consecutive games with four goals … Kate Shields recorded 10-plus saves for the second time in her career.

Next Up: Oregon will take its first road trip of the season to California next weekend for a pair of matches hosted by San Diego State. The Ducks will face Fairleigh Dickinson in a neutral site match on Feb. 14, and then face the hosting Aztecs on Feb. 16 before kicking off a seven-game homestead beginning with California on Feb. 19.