Ohio State First Stop on Midwest Trip

Thursday, March 26

Columbus, OH

3:00 PM

University of Oregon

Ohio State

Photo by: Rob Moseley/GoDucks.com

03/24/26 | Women's Lacrosse

Game Notes

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ducks hit the road for the first time since February for a pair of conference matchups at Ohio State and Michigan this week.

Oregon (6-4, 0-2) will make its first stop in Columbus to take on the No. 25 ranked Buckeyes (6-4, 1-2) on Thursday. The Ducks have met the Ohio State program just three times, all resulting in wins for the opponent. The most recent matchup was a 20-6 loss in Eugene in 2026. Prior to Oregon's entrance to the Big Ten Conference, the teams met once in Columbus, a 13-9 Ohio State victory in 2014.

GAME INFO
When: Thursday, March 26
Where: Ohio State Lacrosse Stadium | Columbus, Ohio
Time: 3 p.m. PT
Watch: Big Ten Network
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 earlier this season. 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. The No. 11 ranked Northwestern Wildcats brought another challenge to Papé Field, resulting in the second straight loss for the Ducks last weekend.

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 18 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 Liv Kozitza 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 113 goals through 10 games and is averaging 28.2 shots per game.
» Simmons, Ing and Fortin have each totaled 20-plus points this season.

Victory for Viteritti
Transfer goalkeeper Francesca Viteritti earned three consecutive 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.

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 ten games this year, leading the team with 18 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.

Shields Up
Goalkeeper Kate Shields played a crucial role in Oregon's overtime win against Arizona State to open the
season. The sophomore took over the cage at the start of the second quarter and recorded 10 saves for the Ducks, including three in the overtime period. 10 saves is just one shy of her career-best 11, set last season against San Diego State. Shields earned the starting nod for the next four games, putting up a combined 28 with a 8.60 goals against average. The sophomore saw action in the fourth quarter against Kent State, helping the Ducks allow just one goal for the fourth time in program history.