Ducks Return to MPSF Action with Denver in Town
THIS WEEK
Oregon returns home this week to host Denver at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Pape’ Field. The Ducks are currently 1-1 in conference action, and will play their final three league games in Eugene.
MEDIA
Oregon fans not able to be in attendance can catch the game on the O-Zone at www.GoDucks.com. Allison O’Brien with KWVA 88.1 FM will provide the play-by-play on the action.
FREE COACHES' AND PLAYERS' CLINIC
The Oregon lacrosse team is hosting a free clinic for
players of all ages and skill levels following its game with Denver on
Saturday. Game time is set for 1 p.m. and the lacrosse clinic will follow at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Pape’ Field. Players and coaches of all ages and skill levels are welcome.
Those interested in participating are required to fill out the Medical/Insurance Information form linked to this release.
Fans who have any questions about the clinic can call assistant coach Brooke Dieringer at 541.346.5492
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
For the second time this season, senior midfielder Jen May received Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Player of the Week honors, it was announced on Monday evening by the conference.
May shares this week’s honor with UC Davis senior Katie McMahon.
Oregon finished last week with a 2-0 record, playing two games in the state of New York. May was second on the team with six points during the week, scoring five goals and adding one assist.
The Davidsonville, MD, native pulled off the hat trick netting three goals during last Wednesday’s triple overtime thriller against St. Bonaventure. May scored the game-tying goal in the second overtime to send the game to its final OT period where the Ducks scored the game winner en route to an 11-10 victory.
During last Sunday’s 11-9 win at Colgate, May added two goals and one assist.
Also during the week, May totaled six ground balls, while leading the team with eight draw controls and three caused turnovers.
UC Davis finished last week 1-2, but McMahon turned in 14 goals and two assists.
SCALING THE RANKINGS
Oregon currently has a 9-3 record, with two of those losses registering by just one goal. The Ducks, who climbed into the Inside Lacrosse Women’s Media Poll on Feb. 25, have been ranked the last five weeks, currently settling at No. 16 in the nation. Denver (6-5, 0-0) is receiving votes in the poll.
SERIES HISTORY
Oregon and Denver have squared off four times prior to this week’s match up, and each of the four occasions the Pioneers have emerged the winners. The Ducks are 0-4 against Denver in the series, including two losses at Pape’ Field.
DENVER TIDBITS
Denver enters this week 6-5, having yet to play an MPSF contest. The Pioneers also begin this week on a two-game losing streak, including a 10-9 overtime loss to Rutgers and a 13-7 loss to currently 15th-ranked Johns Hopkins.
In addition to the Blue Jays, Denver has played two other shared opponents with Oregon. The Pioneers lost 15-9 at North Carolina, and defeated Colgate 20-14.
Steph Coyne and Ali Flury lead the attack for Denver. Flury is second in the MPSF averaging 2.90 goals per game, while Coyne leads the conference averaging 5.10 points per game (2.0 gpg, 3.1 apg).
CLOSE ONES
Oregon’s one-goal win at St. Bonaventure last Wednesday marked the sixth game of the season that has been decided by one goal for the Ducks. Only one of those games, the triple overtime thriller with the Bonnies, needed extra time to be decided. Oregon has a 4-2 record in those contests.
The Ducks’ first game of the year was an 8-7 loss at Stanford, but Oregon posted three one-goal victories after that heartbreaker, defeating Virginia Tech (14-13), No. 11 Notre Dame (14-13) and Temple (10-9).
AWARD SEASON
Oregon senior midfielder Jen May was named a nominee for the 2008 LaxPower Fan Award. May was one of 12 nominated for the Senior Midfielder Fan Award given by www.laxpower.com. Voting takes place the week before the NCAA Lacrosse Championships, and Fan Award winners will be announced on the eve of the Division I finals and honored at a banquet held championship weekend. More information on the voting process will be available soon.
May currently is second on the team in points with 29 (20 goals, nine assists). She also leads the team in ground balls per game (2.83) and leads the conference in draw controls per game (2.67).
May’s career numbers include 111 goals, 52 assists for a total of 163 points.
NUMBERS DON’T LIE
The key to victory for Oregon this season seems to be based on how many the goals the team can put in the back of the net.
The Ducks are an undefeated 9-0 when scoring 10 goals or more, and are a winless 0-3 when unable to reach double digits.
LOOKING AHEAD
While 2008 isn’t even completed yet, the Ducks inked 16 signees for the 2009 class in November. The new class will usher in the second era of Oregon lacrosse, as this year’s senior class departs after playing four years since the inaugural 2005 season. The new class has representatives from seven different states, led by Maryland (4) and California (4).
“We are thrilled to welcome this dynamic group of student athletes into our program and anxious to continue building on our solid foundation for the Oregon lacrosse program” head coach Jen Larsen said. “This class brings in a wealth of experience from all across the country and will continue our quest to national excellence on the field and in the classroom.”
