University of Oregon
6-3
San Diego State
3-6
Ducks Fall at San Diego State, 10-9
03/26/16 | Women's Lacrosse
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Oregon lacrosse team came up short at San Diego State Friday night, falling 10-9 at Aztec Lacrosse Field.
How It Happened: The Ducks (6-3, 1-1 MPSF) opened the game strong, scoring two goals in the first three minutes to gain a quick 2-0 advantage. Senior Holly Johnson got Oregon on the board at the 28:06 mark off an assist from sophomore Cambi Cukar, and Shannon Williams followed with an unassisted score less than a minute later.
San Diego State's Kristen Hickey broke the mini Oregon run with a score over four minutes into the game, before Evan Murphy scored to re-inflate the Oregon lead to 3-1 with 22:36 to play. San Diego State would respond, however, with two quick goals in 40 seconds to tie the game
After the Ducks and Aztecs rapidly traded goals for the first 10 minutes, the Oregon defense locked down to hold San Diego State scoreless for the next 15 minutes of play. During that stretch, the Ducks tacked on scores from Natalie Modly, assisted by Carly O'Connell, and Bella Pyne to take a 5-3 edge.
The Aztecs broke the drought at the 6:16 mark when Felice Artuso scored the first of three straight goals for the home team that would give the San Diego State its first lead of the night. After Johnson scored with under three minutes to go to end the run, Artuso scored give the Aztecs the lead yet again with a minute-and-a-half remaining.
Pyne scored the equalizer with 32 seconds to go until the break, firing an unassisted goal to send the two teams into the locker room at an even seven goals apiece.
San Diego State scored 40 seconds into the half to re-take the lead. After a 10 minute scoreless stretch for both teams that included a Cambi Cukar goal called off for an illegal stick, the Aztecs scored again to expand their edge to 9-7.
Shannon Williams kept the Ducks in it with an unassisted tally that cut the deficit to one. After yet another San Diego State response, Pyne was able to find the goal for the third time off a helper from Cukar with just under nine minutes to go, but the Ducks were unable to find the equalizer to force overtime.
The Ducks had chances late, firing three shots in the final minute, but San Diego State goalie Katrina Reeves managed to quell the Duck attack, saving all three attempts. Oregon managed 12 shots on goal to San Diego State's six in the second half, but only found the back of the net on two as Reeves recorded 10 second-half saves.
Who Stood Out: Bella Pyne added three goals, four ground balls, a draw control and two caused turnovers. National assist leader Cambi Cukar dished off three assists to reach 30 for her sophomore season, along with a groundball and two caused turnovers. Freshman Shannon Williams contributed three points (2g, 1a), a ground ball and a draw control. Senior Jenna Morris played all 60 minutes in goal, recording six saves.
Notable: Sophomore Cambi Cukar reached the 30-assist mark tonight, only six short of her freshman total and 14 short of Shannon Propst's single-season school record (44, 2014) … Bella Pyne and Holly Johnson have each scored in all nine games this season … Oregon outshot the Aztecs 29-23, but was 0-of-4 on free-position shots on Friday.
Up Next: The Ducks head to Los Angeles for a matchup with No. 8 USC on Sunday at noon. That game will be televised by the Pac-12 Network.
