Saturday, February 22
Eugene, OR
2:00 p.m.
University of Oregon
4-0
14
vs
3
Central Michigan
0-4
1
2
3
4
F
Central Michigan
0
2
1
0
3
OREGON
3
6
3
2
14
Photo by: Rob Moseley/GoDucks.com
Three Freshmen Score First Goals As Ducks Win
02/22/25 | Women's Lacrosse
Oregon completed a perfect 4-0 homestand to open the season with a 14-3 win Saturday over Central Michigan.
EUGENE, Ore. — They didn't just protect Papé, they dominated.
Oregon lacrosse completed a perfect four-game homestand to open the season Saturday, beating Central Michigan at Papé Field, 14-3. The Ducks will take a 4-0 record on the road next week having outscored their first four foes by a combined score of 64-23.
Saturday's win saw the UO women outshoot the Chippewas 36-17, force 13 turnovers and get seven saves in goal from senior Paige Crowther. The Ducks now look ahead to their first road trip, for games next week at California and UC Davis.
"We continue to find out who we are — just being that team that's gritty, that hustles, that gets those extra ground balls, that's a little bit physical," UO coach Jessica Drummond said. "You come up with those clean checks and gain those ground balls, to then have those caused turnovers. So I love seeing that. ...
"We defended Papé for the first home games, and so now we get to go be some road warriors. So we're very excited."
Jenae Sperling had four goals to lead the offensive attack for Oregon, which saw eight different players score Saturday. That included three freshmen — Hazel Baker, Audrey Thompson and Reilly Cormier — who scored their first collegiate goal.
"I know what it's like to be in their shoes, so just seeing them all go out today and get their first goals was really, really fun to watch," Sperling said.
How It Happened: Oregon scored early and often in its season-opening homestand, including a goal Saturday just 13 seconds in by Rachel Pallo. Leading scorer Anna Simmons scored twice as the Ducks took a 3-0 lead after one quarter, and she later completed a hat trick for her 20th goal already this season.
Sperling's first goal made it 4-0 early in the second, and Central Michigan didn't score until more than two minutes had elapsed in that period. Crowther allowed just two more goals the rest of the way, and made seven saves.
"That number is a testament to my defense," Crowther said. "We talk a lot about putting up, we call them high-save-percentage shots, so that's at a low angle and in their hands, and that's all I could ever ask for from my defense. They keep doing that for me, so I can give back to them and have their back too."
Bri Carrasquillo's first of two goals on the afternoon made it 5-1, and Sperling completed her hat trick with two more goals for a 7-1 lead. Carrasquillo scored again late in the period and Baker's first career goal gave the Ducks a 9-2 lead entering halftime.
Simmons, Sperling and Liv Kozitza scored in the third, helping Oregon to a 12-3 lead entering the final quarter. Thompson and Cormier scored in the fourth, joining Baker on the score sheet for the first time in their careers.
"I get goosebumps just thinking about it right now, and in the moment it's just so exciting," Drummond said postgame of seeing the freshmen score for the first time. "That can really rally the team and bring a lot of fight from everyone, just that united, connection piece."
Up Next: The Ducks play at California on Thursday at 3 p.m.
Oregon lacrosse completed a perfect four-game homestand to open the season Saturday, beating Central Michigan at Papé Field, 14-3. The Ducks will take a 4-0 record on the road next week having outscored their first four foes by a combined score of 64-23.
Saturday's win saw the UO women outshoot the Chippewas 36-17, force 13 turnovers and get seven saves in goal from senior Paige Crowther. The Ducks now look ahead to their first road trip, for games next week at California and UC Davis.
"We continue to find out who we are — just being that team that's gritty, that hustles, that gets those extra ground balls, that's a little bit physical," UO coach Jessica Drummond said. "You come up with those clean checks and gain those ground balls, to then have those caused turnovers. So I love seeing that. ...
"We defended Papé for the first home games, and so now we get to go be some road warriors. So we're very excited."
Jenae Sperling had four goals to lead the offensive attack for Oregon, which saw eight different players score Saturday. That included three freshmen — Hazel Baker, Audrey Thompson and Reilly Cormier — who scored their first collegiate goal.
"I know what it's like to be in their shoes, so just seeing them all go out today and get their first goals was really, really fun to watch," Sperling said.
How It Happened: Oregon scored early and often in its season-opening homestand, including a goal Saturday just 13 seconds in by Rachel Pallo. Leading scorer Anna Simmons scored twice as the Ducks took a 3-0 lead after one quarter, and she later completed a hat trick for her 20th goal already this season.
Sperling's first goal made it 4-0 early in the second, and Central Michigan didn't score until more than two minutes had elapsed in that period. Crowther allowed just two more goals the rest of the way, and made seven saves.
"That number is a testament to my defense," Crowther said. "We talk a lot about putting up, we call them high-save-percentage shots, so that's at a low angle and in their hands, and that's all I could ever ask for from my defense. They keep doing that for me, so I can give back to them and have their back too."
Bri Carrasquillo's first of two goals on the afternoon made it 5-1, and Sperling completed her hat trick with two more goals for a 7-1 lead. Carrasquillo scored again late in the period and Baker's first career goal gave the Ducks a 9-2 lead entering halftime.
Simmons, Sperling and Liv Kozitza scored in the third, helping Oregon to a 12-3 lead entering the final quarter. Thompson and Cormier scored in the fourth, joining Baker on the score sheet for the first time in their careers.
"I get goosebumps just thinking about it right now, and in the moment it's just so exciting," Drummond said postgame of seeing the freshmen score for the first time. "That can really rally the team and bring a lot of fight from everyone, just that united, connection piece."
Up Next: The Ducks play at California on Thursday at 3 p.m.
Team Stats
CMU
ORE
Shots
17
37
Turnovers
25
17
Caused Turnovers
7
13
Draw Controls
8
12
Free-Position Shots
5
7
Ground Balls
17
24
Game Leaders
Players
G
4
A
1
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
1
G
3
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
7
CT
5
G
2
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
0
G
1
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
3
CT
1
Players Mentioned
M
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's Lacrosse
GK
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's LacrosseM
/ Women's LacrosseM
/ Women's LacrosseM
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's LacrosseJessica Drummond | Postgame vs. Central Michigan
Sunday, February 23
Jenae Sperling | Postgame vs. Central Michigan
Sunday, February 23
Paige Crowther | Postgame vs. Central Michigan
Sunday, February 23
Jessica Drummond | Postgame vs. Stetson
Wednesday, February 12
