University of Oregon
9-6
Denver
8-8
Late Comeback Falls Short in Loss to Denver
04/23/16 | Women's Lacrosse
EUGENE – The Oregon lacrosse team dropped a tough, 11-9 game to MPSF foe Denver Friday night at Papé Field, after a Carly O'Connell-led comeback attempt fell short.
How It Happened: History was made on Friday night, as sophomore Cambi Cukar dished off three assists to reach 44 for the season and tie Shannon Propst's single-season school record.
Denver netted the first two goals of the game, drawing strikes from Elizabeth Behrins and Nicole Martindale in the opening five minutes of the game before Rachel Steinberg scored on Cukar's first assist of the night to get the Ducks (9-6, 4-4 MPSF) .
The Pioneers made it 3-1 with a Christa Reese unassisted goal with 17 minutes to play in the first half, but Oregon's Natalie Modly converted on a free position opportunity just under five minutes later to pull the Ducks back to within one. Bella Pyne then notched a Cukar-assisted tally with 5:46 on the clock to tie the game at three.
The Ducks couldn't get back on the board in the final five-plus minutes of the first half, and after two Denver goals to wrap up the period, trailed 5-3 going into the locker room. Denver added another goal out of the gates in the second half, as Reese netted her second of the night.
Holly Johnson cut the deficit to 6-4 on Cukar's record-tying assist, but Denver would answer, scoring three quick consecutive goals to inflate the lead back to five. Soon after, Pyne and Reese traded goals, making it 10-5 in favor of the Pioneers with 12:40 to play.
With their backs against the wall, the Ducks wouldn't quit. Led by senior standout Carly O'Connell, the Ducks played with fire in mounting a near comeback that would fall just short.
O'Connell ended the game on a personal 4-1 run to cut the Denver lead to 11-9 before the final buzzer sounded. The senior willed herself to an unassisted goal with 10:12 remaining before netting a shot off a nice pass from freshman Madeline Reece. Just 20 seconds later, O'Connell earned an 8-meter attempt and would rifle that past Denver goalie Maddie Stevenson as well.
Denver's Caitlin Derry halted the Oregon run momentarily off an assist from Sarah Kasun to stretch the Denver advantage back to 11-8, but O'Connell scored on another free position shot with 2:22 to play and pull the Ducks back to within two.
Oregon got opportunities in the final minutes of the game thanks to strong efforts by multiple players on the draw and defensive side of the ball, but couldn't convert, falling to the Pioneers, 11-9.
Who Stood Out: O'Connell's four goals led the Oregon offense Friday, while Cambi Cukar showed off her passing skills, as she so often does, with three assists. Natalie Modly was all over the field for the Ducks, contributing an impressive stat line of one goal, three ground balls, three draw controls and a caused turnover.
Jenna Morris was a rock for the Ducks in goal, picking up three ground balls and causing two Denver turnovers. Morris's five saves each seemed to carry huge weight, ultimately keeping the Ducks in the game down the stretch.
Up Next: The Ducks host Colorado to wrap up the regular season on Sunday at 11 a.m. The game will be broadcast on Pac-12 Network, and the team will honor its six seniors prior to opening draw.
