Buffs Pull Away Late To Down Ducks

Friday, April 20

Boulder, CO

2:00 PM

University of Oregon

8-8, 4-6Pac-12

Colorado

12-4, 9-1Pac-12

Oregon

Colorado

04/20/18 | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score Box Score: Oregon 9, Colorado 19

BOULDER, Colo. – The Oregon women's lacrosse team put No. 15 Colorado on its toes early in Friday's regular season finale, but the Buffs pulled away, outscoring UO 8-3 in the second half, to down the Ducks 19-9.

With the loss, Oregon finishes the regular season 8-8 overall and 4-6 in the Pac-12, while Colorado clinches the first-ever Pac-12 regular season title with a 9-1 conference record.

How it Happened: The Ducks came out firing with back-to-back goals from Shannon Williams and Jill Zubillaga to open the game.

After a goal from Mariah Gatti gave the Ducks a 3-1 lead less than five minutes into the game, the Buffaloes began to find their groove, scoring the next three goals to take their first lead, 4-3, at the 23:50 mark.

Both teams traded goals until Miranda Stinson sparked a 5-0 run for CU to give the Buffs a 10-5 lead with eight minutes left in the opening period. Gatti managed to net one more goal before the half came to a close, but CU's Darby Kiernan answered right back with her fourth goal of the half to make 11-6 at halftime.

Williams looked to spark a second half comeback for UO scoring less than a minute into the second half, followed shortly afterwards by a goal from Gatti to put the Ducks within range, 12-8, at the 26:22 mark.

The Buffs then proceeded to take over the game with Carly Cox's goal opening a 7-1 run for Colorado to close out the game.

Colorado was able to maintain possession throughout most of the second half thanks to a 17-7 advantage in ground balls.

Gatti scored the final goal of the game for UO, netting her fourth with 1:53 left in the game.

Notable: Gatti finished with a team-high four goals, marking the fifth time this season she has recorded four or more … Cambi Cukar tied her season-high for the fifth time with four assists against CU … With her two goals today, Zubillaga has tied the single-season record, set last season by Williams, with 51 goals on the year … Sophomore Lexy Biller finished with nine draw controls, one less than the single-game record … Senior Brittany Read finished with 14 saves, one shy of her season-high, marking her third straight game with 10 or more saves.

Far From a Free Position: Combined, both Colorado and UO went 1-of-14 in free-position shots … Gatti scored the only free-position shot of the game with less than two minutes to go in the second half.

Box Score: Colorado out-shot the Ducks 44-28 in the game … The Buffs also scooped up 24 ground balls, 17 in the second half, compared to 12 for the Ducks … Oregon finished with a slight 15-14 edge in draw controls following an 8-3 advantage in the second half.

Up Next: The Ducks stay in Boulder for the inaugural Pac-12 Tournament, entering tourney play as the No. 4 seed. UO will face No. 5 seed Cal in the opening round next Thursday, Apr. 26.