Monday, March 9
Eugene, OR
12:00 PM
University of Oregon
6-2
15
vs
1
Kent State
4-3
1
2
3
4
F
Kent State
1
0
0
0
1
Oregon
3
4
5
3
15
Photo by: Rob Moseley/GoDucks.com
Stout Defensive Effort Caps Nonconference Play
03/09/26 | Women's Lacrosse
Oregon allowed a single goal or less for just the fourth time ever Monday, beating Kent State at Papé Field, 15-1.
EUGENE, Ore. — The level of competition is about to take a big jump. And with the way Oregon lacrosse has been playing of late, the Ducks look up to the challenge.
The UO women won their third straight game Monday, closing out nonconference play with a 15-1 victory over Kent State at Papé Field. The Ducks (6-2) open Big Ten play by hosting Maryland on Saturday, and head coach Jessica Drummond's team enters the conference season having outscored their last two opponents a combined 35-4.
"Drummond going into today was like, this is our last chance before conference games to show the world who Oregon lacrosse is," said UO sophomore midfielder Liv Kozitza, who had a hat trick as part of a five-point afternoon Monday, and also collected a team-high five groundballs. "And I think to have this momentum going into our bigger games this season is super exciting."
Monday saw Oregon hold an opponent to a single goal or less for just the fourth time ever, and the first since an 18-1 win over Presbyterian on Feb. 13, 2015.
"Defensively, one goal for them is awesome," said midfielder Jadyn Laing, a senior leader on the back end. "We've been working all season to get our defense together, working with different man and zone defenses. And I think today, everything really came together."
Emma Ing joined Kozitza in recording a hat trick Monday, with three other Ducks scoring multiple goals among eight different UO players who found the back of the net at least once. Francesca Viteritti helped limit the Golden Flashes to a single goal by making five saves in net.
Now the Ducks will try to sustain their performances over the past week, including a 20-3 win over Delaware State on March 4 followed by Monday's complete effort. And they'll look to do so against Big Ten competition.
"It's definitely a challenge," Kozitza said. "We're gonna have to work for it. But that's where we want to be. As a program, for us to grow, we need these big games, and we really wouldn't want it any other way."
How It Happened: The Golden Flashes scored their only goal late in the opening period, and they were a player up at the time due to a UO penalty. But by that time, Oregon was already up three, with goals from Lexi Jenkins, Ing and Anna Simmons.
Ing and Simmons scored again in the second, as did Kozitza and Avery Young, giving Oregon an 8-1 lead at halftime on goals by six different Ducks.
"It's nice to have an attack where you can't just pinpoint one person who's gonna get the job done," Drummond said. "We've got a bunch of threats, and whoever steps onto this field for us in the middie and attacking positions, they can all get that job done."
The Ducks then outscored Kent State in the second half, 7-0, putting up a shutout over the final three periods. Oregon forced 10 turnovers in the game, including three by Jenae Sperling and two each by Simmons and Shea Stone.
"The consistent stops on defense was so awesome," Drummond said. "I feel like we found our confidence in being able to create those caused turnovers, and to shut out a team for a second half was really exciting."
The third period was highlighted by a goal on a sick backhand by Lyla Hurley. Kozitza completed her hat trick in the fourth, and the final goal of the day was from the stick of Kylee Manser, her second in three appearances this season.
Now it's on to conference play for the Ducks. It's a particularly special milepost in the season for Young, a junior who played just seven games the past two seasons due to injuries and is about to make her Big Ten debut.
"This is my dream; I can't even say that enough," Young said. "Like, this is the dream. Playing against these Big Ten teams has literally been what every one of us works for our entire lives. Especially being injured for the past two seasons, this is the time, and I'm just so excited to play against these really good girls that I've been watching my entire life."
Up Next: The Ducks host Maryland on Saturday (noon, B1G+).
The UO women won their third straight game Monday, closing out nonconference play with a 15-1 victory over Kent State at Papé Field. The Ducks (6-2) open Big Ten play by hosting Maryland on Saturday, and head coach Jessica Drummond's team enters the conference season having outscored their last two opponents a combined 35-4.
"Drummond going into today was like, this is our last chance before conference games to show the world who Oregon lacrosse is," said UO sophomore midfielder Liv Kozitza, who had a hat trick as part of a five-point afternoon Monday, and also collected a team-high five groundballs. "And I think to have this momentum going into our bigger games this season is super exciting."
Monday saw Oregon hold an opponent to a single goal or less for just the fourth time ever, and the first since an 18-1 win over Presbyterian on Feb. 13, 2015.
"Defensively, one goal for them is awesome," said midfielder Jadyn Laing, a senior leader on the back end. "We've been working all season to get our defense together, working with different man and zone defenses. And I think today, everything really came together."
Emma Ing joined Kozitza in recording a hat trick Monday, with three other Ducks scoring multiple goals among eight different UO players who found the back of the net at least once. Francesca Viteritti helped limit the Golden Flashes to a single goal by making five saves in net.
Now the Ducks will try to sustain their performances over the past week, including a 20-3 win over Delaware State on March 4 followed by Monday's complete effort. And they'll look to do so against Big Ten competition.
"It's definitely a challenge," Kozitza said. "We're gonna have to work for it. But that's where we want to be. As a program, for us to grow, we need these big games, and we really wouldn't want it any other way."
How It Happened: The Golden Flashes scored their only goal late in the opening period, and they were a player up at the time due to a UO penalty. But by that time, Oregon was already up three, with goals from Lexi Jenkins, Ing and Anna Simmons.
Ing and Simmons scored again in the second, as did Kozitza and Avery Young, giving Oregon an 8-1 lead at halftime on goals by six different Ducks.
"It's nice to have an attack where you can't just pinpoint one person who's gonna get the job done," Drummond said. "We've got a bunch of threats, and whoever steps onto this field for us in the middie and attacking positions, they can all get that job done."
The Ducks then outscored Kent State in the second half, 7-0, putting up a shutout over the final three periods. Oregon forced 10 turnovers in the game, including three by Jenae Sperling and two each by Simmons and Shea Stone.
"The consistent stops on defense was so awesome," Drummond said. "I feel like we found our confidence in being able to create those caused turnovers, and to shut out a team for a second half was really exciting."
The third period was highlighted by a goal on a sick backhand by Lyla Hurley. Kozitza completed her hat trick in the fourth, and the final goal of the day was from the stick of Kylee Manser, her second in three appearances this season.
Now it's on to conference play for the Ducks. It's a particularly special milepost in the season for Young, a junior who played just seven games the past two seasons due to injuries and is about to make her Big Ten debut.
"This is my dream; I can't even say that enough," Young said. "Like, this is the dream. Playing against these Big Ten teams has literally been what every one of us works for our entire lives. Especially being injured for the past two seasons, this is the time, and I'm just so excited to play against these really good girls that I've been watching my entire life."
Up Next: The Ducks host Maryland on Saturday (noon, B1G+).
Team Stats
KENT ST
OREGON
Shots
13
33
Turnovers
18
16
Caused Turnovers
11
10
Draw Controls
4
12
Free-Position Shots
0
5
Ground Balls
16
18
Game Leaders
G
3
A
2
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
5
CT
0
G
2
A
2
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
G
2
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
3
CT
1
Players Mentioned
A
/ Women's LacrosseM
/ Women's LacrosseM
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
D
/ Women's Lacrosse
GK
/ Women's LacrosseA
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