Ducks Head To MPSF Tourney
THIS WEEK
Oregon heads to the MPSF Tournament this week as the conference’s No. 4 seed. The Ducks (11-6, 2-3) are scheduled to play the first game of the tournament against No. 5 seeded UC Davis (6-10, 1-4) at 1 p.m. on Wednesday.
With a win, the Ducks would advance to the semifinals to play the tournament’s No. 1 seed and regular season conference champion, Denver at 1 p.m. on Thursday. With a loss to the Aggies, the Ducks would play at 11 a.m. on Thursday in the fifth place game.
MEDIA
Oregon fans can follow all of the action at the 2008 MPSF Tournament with live stats provided at www.calbears.cstv.com. The stats will also be linked at www.GoDucks.com.
TOURNEY HISTORY
Competing in the MPSF Tournament for the fourth season, Oregon has advanced to the semifinals twice. In 2006, the second year of competition, Oregon defeated Saint Mary’s 19-8 in the quarterfinals, but lost to Denver, 14-6, in the semis. Oregon then edged California, 9-8, in the third place match. Last year, the Ducks’ second place conference finish earned them a bye to the semifinals, but the team was upset by Stanford, suffering an 8-2 loss. Again the Ducks settled for third place with a nailbiting 8-7 victory over California.
THE RANKINGS
The MPSF has three of its six teams either ranked or receiving votes in this week’s Inside Lacrosse Women’s Media Poll. After spending six week’s in the nation’s top-20 Oregon (11-5, 2-3) dropped out of the poll on April 21. The Ducks are currently receiving votes, while regualr season champion Denver (12-5, 5-0) holds onto the 17th ranking, and third-place Stanford (9-8, 3-2) rounds out the poll at No. 20.
UC DAVIS SERIES HISTORY
In five matches between UC Davis and Oregon, the Ducks have a 3-2 advantage, winning the last three meetings. In those last three games dating back to the 2006 season, Oregon has outscored the Aggies, 40-17.
UC Davis and Oregon met earlier this season in Davis on Feb. 10, and the Ducks prevailed, 15-5, led by a variety of goal scorers. Lindsay Killian, Theresa Waldron, Anna Swicklik, Cara Mead and Jana Bradley each had two goals apiece in the victory.
In the MPSF tournament, UC Davis and Oregon have only met once, during the 2005 quarterfinals. The Aggies edged Oregon, 7-6.
UC DAVIS TIDBITS
UC Davis finished its regular season with a record of 6-10 overall. The Aggies were also 1-4 in the MPSF, with their lone league victory coming by way of a 14-13 win over Saint Mary’s on April 20.
UC Davis averages10.81 goals per game this season, but allows 14.31 gpg. As one of the most dangerous scoring threats in the MPSF, Katie McMahon led the UC Davis attack with 72 points (56 goals, 16 assists). In addition, McMahon, totaled 36 ground balls, won 29 draw controls and caused 30 turnovers.
Katie McGovern is next in line on the scoring sheet for UC Davis with 35 goals and six assists.
MIDFIELD LEADER
Senior Jen May will leave the Oregon lacrosse program as the career leader in five of six statistical category. The 5-foot-6 midfielder leads the team in goals (122), points (176), ground balls (159), draw controls (206) and caused turnovers (140).
A native of Davidsonville, Md., May currently leads the conference with 2.82 draw controls per game. Her 1.71 caused turnovers per game rank fourth.
RECORDS WERE MADE TO BE BROKEN
Several key Oregon players already have or are on the verge of breaking some records for the Ducks in 2008.
During the Ducks 13-12 OT loss at New Hampshire on April 20, Ilsa van den Berg scored four goals and added four assists for an eight-point performance. The mark tied van den Berg with teammate Theresa Waldron for most points in a single game. Waldron registered eight points in a game vs. Vermont on March 12, 2007.
Van den berg currently leads the team with 55 points, a mark that is just three shy of tying the single- season record of 58 set by Alison Leiner in 2006. With 39 goals, van den Berg is also just two shy of tying Jen May’s record of 41 goals scored in 2005.
In addition, van den Berg has already set the record with 87 shots taken in 2008, eclipsing the old single-season mark of 83, set by May in 2005. Goalkeeper Anna Poponyak also beat her own record for most minutes played in goal, spending 911:46 between the pipes this season.
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.”
Oregon heads to the MPSF Tournament this week as the conference’s No. 4 seed. The Ducks (11-6, 2-3) are scheduled to play the first game of the tournament against No. 5 seeded UC Davis (6-10, 1-4) at 1 p.m. on Wednesday.
With a win, the Ducks would advance to the semifinals to play the tournament’s No. 1 seed and regular season conference champion, Denver at 1 p.m. on Thursday. With a loss to the Aggies, the Ducks would play at 11 a.m. on Thursday in the fifth place game.
MEDIA
Oregon fans can follow all of the action at the 2008 MPSF Tournament with live stats provided at www.calbears.cstv.com. The stats will also be linked at www.GoDucks.com.
TOURNEY HISTORY
Competing in the MPSF Tournament for the fourth season, Oregon has advanced to the semifinals twice. In 2006, the second year of competition, Oregon defeated Saint Mary’s 19-8 in the quarterfinals, but lost to Denver, 14-6, in the semis. Oregon then edged California, 9-8, in the third place match. Last year, the Ducks’ second place conference finish earned them a bye to the semifinals, but the team was upset by Stanford, suffering an 8-2 loss. Again the Ducks settled for third place with a nailbiting 8-7 victory over California.
THE RANKINGS
The MPSF has three of its six teams either ranked or receiving votes in this week’s Inside Lacrosse Women’s Media Poll. After spending six week’s in the nation’s top-20 Oregon (11-5, 2-3) dropped out of the poll on April 21. The Ducks are currently receiving votes, while regualr season champion Denver (12-5, 5-0) holds onto the 17th ranking, and third-place Stanford (9-8, 3-2) rounds out the poll at No. 20.
UC DAVIS SERIES HISTORY
In five matches between UC Davis and Oregon, the Ducks have a 3-2 advantage, winning the last three meetings. In those last three games dating back to the 2006 season, Oregon has outscored the Aggies, 40-17.
UC Davis and Oregon met earlier this season in Davis on Feb. 10, and the Ducks prevailed, 15-5, led by a variety of goal scorers. Lindsay Killian, Theresa Waldron, Anna Swicklik, Cara Mead and Jana Bradley each had two goals apiece in the victory.
In the MPSF tournament, UC Davis and Oregon have only met once, during the 2005 quarterfinals. The Aggies edged Oregon, 7-6.
UC DAVIS TIDBITS
UC Davis finished its regular season with a record of 6-10 overall. The Aggies were also 1-4 in the MPSF, with their lone league victory coming by way of a 14-13 win over Saint Mary’s on April 20.
UC Davis averages10.81 goals per game this season, but allows 14.31 gpg. As one of the most dangerous scoring threats in the MPSF, Katie McMahon led the UC Davis attack with 72 points (56 goals, 16 assists). In addition, McMahon, totaled 36 ground balls, won 29 draw controls and caused 30 turnovers.
Katie McGovern is next in line on the scoring sheet for UC Davis with 35 goals and six assists.
MIDFIELD LEADER
Senior Jen May will leave the Oregon lacrosse program as the career leader in five of six statistical category. The 5-foot-6 midfielder leads the team in goals (122), points (176), ground balls (159), draw controls (206) and caused turnovers (140).
A native of Davidsonville, Md., May currently leads the conference with 2.82 draw controls per game. Her 1.71 caused turnovers per game rank fourth.
RECORDS WERE MADE TO BE BROKEN
Several key Oregon players already have or are on the verge of breaking some records for the Ducks in 2008.
During the Ducks 13-12 OT loss at New Hampshire on April 20, Ilsa van den Berg scored four goals and added four assists for an eight-point performance. The mark tied van den Berg with teammate Theresa Waldron for most points in a single game. Waldron registered eight points in a game vs. Vermont on March 12, 2007.
Van den berg currently leads the team with 55 points, a mark that is just three shy of tying the single- season record of 58 set by Alison Leiner in 2006. With 39 goals, van den Berg is also just two shy of tying Jen May’s record of 41 goals scored in 2005.
In addition, van den Berg has already set the record with 87 shots taken in 2008, eclipsing the old single-season mark of 83, set by May in 2005. Goalkeeper Anna Poponyak also beat her own record for most minutes played in goal, spending 911:46 between the pipes this season.
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.”
