Ducks to Host Second Ranked Opponent of 2026

Saturday, March 21

Eugene, OR

12:00 PM

University of Oregon

Northwestern

Buy Tickets

03/18/26 | Women's Lacrosse

Game Notes

EUGENE, Ore. – The Ducks wrap up a seven game homestand with a conference matchup against the No. 11 ranked Northwestern Wildcats.

Oregon (6-3, 0-1) has yet to earn a win against the highly touted team through three past matchups with the Wildcats (5-3, 0-1). The most recent meeting was a 10-19 loss for Oregon in Evanston last season. Although the teams have met three times before, the trip to Eugene will be the first for Northwestern.

GAME INFO
When: Saturday, March 22
Where: Papé Field | Eugene, Ore.
Time: 12 p.m. PT
Watch: https://www.bigtenplus.com/en-int/page/home
Live Stats: https://www.statbroadcast.com/events/statmonitr.php?gid=ore

Big Ten Brings Big Competition
As Oregon searches for its first win as members of the Big Ten Conference, the Ducks face a challenging spring slate. Seven Big Ten teams are ranked in the IWLCA Top-25, including No. 3 Maryland who made a trip to Eugene last week. The Ducks held their own against the Terrapins, thanks to a hat trick from Gabby Santucci and a gritty performance in the cage from Francesca Viteritti, who anchored a defense that caused 15 turnovers.

Share the Wealth
Eighteen different Ducks have contributed goals to Oregon's offensive success this season, with 13 Oregon players claiming more than one score. Anna Simmons leads the team with 17 goals, while Gabby Santucci and Emma Ing and Lyla Hurley have also reached double digits. Ing's six scores against San Diego State are the most by a Duck in a single game this season. Avery Young has netted nine while Lilly Fortin and Lyla Hurley have eight apiece. Fortin also is the first Duck to reach double digit assists, with 12 total through six games.

» As a team, Oregon has totaled 110 goals through eight games and is shooting .406 with 196 shots on goal.

Victory for Viteritti
Transfer goalkeeper Francesca Viteritti earned three consecuitve wins after a breakout game against UC Davis. Viteritti, who had been splitting time with sophomore Kate Shields, made her first start since the season opener after a strong defensive performance against Eastern Michigan. The redshirt junior played all 60 minutes against Davis, earning her first victory as a Duck and the best game of her career Viteritti recorded six saves on 23 shots faced and added a caused turnover and three ground balls, anchoring the Oregon defense to secure the win. Viteritti was a solidifying force in the win against Delaware State, and combined with Shields and freshman Kaley Gunning to allow just three goals. Viteritti returned to the cage and allowed just one goal against Kent State, the fourth game with one score or less in program history. She set a new career-high against Maryland, making seven saves on 27 shots faced.

» Viteritti has maintained an 9.69 goals against average, the fifth best in the Big Ten.

B1G Impact
Senior Anna Simmons was recognized as the Big Ten Midfielder of the Week in back-to-back weeks for the second time in as many seasons. Leading the offensive charge in Oregon's massive comeback win against Arizona State, the Washington native scored three goals to cap the Ducks' 6-0 scoring run at the end of regulation play and then secured the sudden-death win for Oregon, netting her fourth score off a free-position shot with 15 seconds on the clock in overtime. The senior was recognized again in week two after she added two goals in each of the next two games, playing a crucial role in Oregon's success at San Diego State. Simmons joined Lexi Jenkins and Gabby Santucci who were named to the Big Ten Preseason Players to Watch list.

» Simmons was named the Big Ten Midfielder of the Week each of the first three weeks of the 2025 season.
» Simmons had at least two scores in seven of eight games this year, leading the team with 17 goals.

Defense on lock
The UO women closed out nonconference play with a 15-1 victory over Kent State. Oregon held the Golden Flashes to just one goal, marking the fourth time the Ducks have held opponents to a single score or less and the first time since an 18-1 win over Presbyterian in 2015. Emma Ing and Liv Kozitza each recorded hat tricks, helping the Ducks outscore opponents 35-4 over the last two games.

Dominant Dub
The Ducks jumped to a 6-1 lead in the first quarter against Delaware State and kept the game in their favor for all 60 minutes of play. Oregon's 20 goal total solidified its largest margin of victory this season, topping the 16-5 win against FDU earlier this year. The trip of UO goalkeepers held the Hornets to just three goals throughout the game. With the well-rounded effort, the Ducks earned their second consecutive win at Papé Field after taking down UC Davis in a one-score game last Saturday and improve to 3-2 at home this season. 13 Ducks contributed to the offense and 12 of Oregon's 20 goals came off the bench while seniors Riley Taylor and Kylee Manser each scored once more in the final minutes of the matchup, joining Lilly Fortin, Emma Ing, Jaeda Jensen, Rachel Pallo and Avery Young with two scores apiece.

» 20 goals is the most by Oregon this season, just three shy of the program record 23, which was last reached against Presbyterian in 2014.

Fortin for the Win
Making just her third appearance for Oregon this season, Lilly Fortin was instrumental in Oregon's latest win against UC Davis. The sophomore scored the go-ahead goal in the final minutes of Saturday's matchup to secure a 10-9 comeback victory in front of a home crowd. The Ducks trailed by three early in the third quarter before putting together a 4-0 run to take the lead. Davis responded and the game was tied at 9-9 for more than seven minutes when Fortin found the net with 1:13 remaining for what would be the final goal. It was a breakout game for Francesca Viteritti, who helped the Ducks' defense hold the Aggies to just four scores in the second half. Anna Simmons led the Ducks with three goals for the second hat trick of the season and 12th of her career.

» Oregon has now won three straight against UC Davis at Papé Field and holds a 17-9 lead in the all-time series.
» With two scores on Saturday, Fortin has five goals and five assists on the season.
» The sophomore matched her career-high with two goals, set earlier this year against FDU.
» Simmons led the team with three scores, while Fortin, Young and Hurley each added a pair.

Leading by Example
The Ducks named four captains prior to the 2026 season, including seniors Anna Simmons who tied the program record with seven goals against Stetson last season and Rachel Pallo who totaled 86 draw controls in 2025, the second most in a single season in program history, and tied her own program record with 12 draw controls in a win over Columbia. They are joined by junior Lexi Jenkins, who transitioned from defense to midfield prior to the 2026 season and Avery Young, who was named a Big Ten Player to Watch last year before missing the remainder of the season with an injury.

» After last season Pallo was first in program history, averaging 3.79 draw controls per game. Her 178 total are third-most at UO.
» Simmons was one of only seven players in the nation last season with 30-plus goals, 21-plus ground balls and 15-plus caused turnovers.
» Jenkins has started 35 consecutive games as a Duck, and scored her first career goal against Arizona State.
» Young scored two goals in the first five minutes at San Diego State, setting up the Ducks' for their 12-10 win.