First Road Test Comes Against California Thursday

EUGENE, Ore. – Oregon lacrosse will play away from Eugene for the first time this season when the Ducks face California in Berkeley at 3 p.m. on Thursday.

GAME INFO
When: Thursday, Feb. 27
Where: California Memorial Stadium | Berkeley, Calif.
Time: 3 p.m. PT
Watch: https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/3ca0ea3f-62b3-4fcd-99bf-c03b1bcc5851
Live Stats: http://statb.us/b/579227

ANNA SIMMONS: SUPERSTAR
Few players in the country have had a more explosive start to the season than midfielder Anna Simmons. Simmons scored six goals in the season opener, which matched her career high, before raising the bar her next time out by finding the back of the net seven times against Stetson to match the Oregon single-game record. She enters the week ranked third in the Big Ten and fourth nationally in goals scored (20), while her 5.0 goals per games are tied for the second most in both the conference and the NCAA.

» Named the Big Ten Midfielder of the Week each of the first three weeks of the season.
» Her 20 goals are the most by a Duck in any four-game stretch in program history.
» Set career highs against Central Michigan with seven ground balls and five caused turnovers; tied for third in the Big Ten in ground balls (11) and ranks fourth in caused turnovers (11).
» One of 17 players nationally to score seven-plus goals in a game and one of six with multiple six-plus goal games.
» Scored a hat trick in all four games, three of which came in the first half.
» Set career highs in goals (33), assists (8), points (42), caused turnovers (21) and draw controls (38) in 2024.

SCORE BIG OR GO HOME
Oregon has started the 2025 season red-hot, outscoring its first four opponents by a combined 64-23 margin en route to the second 4-0 start in program history. The Ducks' +41 goal differential ranks second in the Big Ten behind only No. 3 Northwestern and is the sixth-best nationally, while also being the largest in Oregon program history. The Ducks have been especially dangerous in the first half of games, as they have outscored opponents by a combined 42-8 margin in the opening 30 minutes.

» The quick-strike offense off the opening draw has proved to be effective for UO, as the Ducks have scored the first goal in each game and done so in under a minute, with three of those coming in the first 15 seconds of play.
» Anna Simmons holds the program record for fastest goal, needing just five seconds to find paydirt against Marist last season.
» The Game 1 win over Butler was UO's largest margin of victory in a season opener since topping Presbyterian 18-1 to start the 2015 campaign.

DEFENDING PAPÉ FIELD
The Oregon defense has been stifling to start the season. UO's backline is allowing just 5.75 goals per game, the lowest mark in the Big Ten, and has held opponents to just 48 shots on goal while forcing 72 turnovers through the first four games at home. In the season opener against Butler, the Duck defense allowed only two total shots in the first 30 minutes of play as Oregon jumped out to a 14-0 lead. Last time out, the Ducks caused 13 turnovers and picked up 24 ground balls, setting season highs in both categories.

» The 2024 Ducks held opponents under eight goals 10 times after doing so just three times in the three seasons prior. This year's squad has done so in each of the first four games.
» Oregon had only allowed three goals or less two times since 2018 before doing so against Central Michigan.
» Paige Crowther boasts the highest save percentage (.630) and lowest goals against average (.354) in the Big Ten, ranking second nationally in both categories.
» Crowther's .421 career save percentage ranks sixth in program history, while her seven saves against CMU moved her up to ninth on the UO career saves list (120).

COMMANDING THE CENTER CIRCLE
The Ducks have dominated the draw control battle so far this season, holding a 66-32 edge through four games thanks in large part to the stellar play of Rachel Pallo. The junior has totaled 33 DCs to start the season, which ties for the third most in the Big Ten and 15th-most nationally. She tied her own program record with 12 draw controls in the win over Columbia as the Ducks held a 21-4 advantage for the game.

» Pallo has tallied at least six DCs in every game so far this season while the Ducks have won 15-plus three times.
» Pallo moved up to 9th in program history after the win over CMU and now sits at 124 career draw controls.
» Though she lacks the games played necessary to qualify yet, her 3.44 draw controls per game through her first 36 games would be the most in program history. Carly O'Connell currently holds the UO record at 2.90.

DUCKS ON THE B1G STAGE
A new dawn begins for Oregon Lacrosse this spring as the program enters its first season as a member of the Big Ten Conference. Competition will be steep as five of the Ducks' eight new conference opponents ended the 2024 season in the top-25, but Oregon heads into Year 2 under head coach Jessica Drummond with momentum after setting a new single-season program record for home wins (7) and securing its first winning season since 2017 a year ago. Conference play officially gets underway when the Ducks host Ohio State on March 13.

Game Recognized
Three Ducks garnered recognition from the Big Ten Conference before the season started. Anna Simmons, defender Lexi Jenkins and midfielder Avery Young were among the 27 players across the conference named to the Big Ten Preseason Players to Watch list.

» Jenkins started all 15 games for the Ducks during her freshman season and was an integral part of Oregon's increased intensity on defense. The 2024 Ducks held opponents under eight goals 10 times after doing so just three times in the three seasons prior.
» Young impressed early in her debut campaign, scoring three goals and adding two assists in three games before being sidelined by injury.

THE BEAT ON THE BEARS
Saturday marks the 31st meeting between the Ducks and Golden Bears and the first as non-conference opponents. Oregon holds a 17-13 edge in the all-time series but has dropped the last four meetings dating back to April 2022, though UO had one the previous four meetings. Last season, Anna Simmons, Emma Ing and Rachel Pallo all found the net early as the Ducks held the lead midway through the fourth quarter before Cal found three of their own later, including the game-winner with six seconds left of the clock, beating Oregon in Eugene, 8-7.

Cal is 1-2 so far this season, beating UC Davis - the Ducks' next opponent - in the season opener before falling to USC and Louisville in their ACC debut. Kennedy Mason (6 goals, 1 assist) and Emily Moes (4 goals, 1 assist) pace the offensive attack while Amanda Pio (9 ground balls, 6 caused turnovers) and Callan Fritsch (8 saves) anchor the defense.