Photo by: Molly McPherson
Three Ducks Named Preseason Players to Watch
02/04/26 | Women's Lacrosse
EUGENE, Ore. – Three members of the Oregon lacrosse team have been named to the Big Ten Preseason Players to Watch list, the conference announced Wednesday. Attacker Gabby Santucci, midfielder Anna Simmons and defender Lexi Jenkins were among the 27 players across the conference recognized.
This is the second preseason recognition for Simmons and Jenkins, who were named to the Players to Watch list in 2025.
Simmons was one of Oregon's most outstanding players last season as one of just seven players nationally to tally 30-plus goals, 21-plus ground balls and 15-plus caused turnovers. 20 of her goals came in the first four games of the year, the most in any four-game stretch in program history, including a season-high seven against Stetson, the most by a Duck in a single game.
The only junior among the Ducks' 2026 captains, Jenkins was a consistent force across her first two seasons as a Duck, starting 31 consecutive games as a defender and finished the season with 36 draw controls, 20 ground balls and 14 caused turnovers.
Santucci finished with 15 goals across five games as a sophomore, including three hat-tricks, before her season was cut short due to an injury. Santucci led all Oregon freshmen with six goals in 2024 while playing in all 12 games.
The Ducks officially kick off the 2025 season on Saturday when they host Arizona State at Papé Field at 1 p.m., beginning a series of nonconference games before Big Ten play kicks off against Maryland on March 14.
This is the second preseason recognition for Simmons and Jenkins, who were named to the Players to Watch list in 2025.
Simmons was one of Oregon's most outstanding players last season as one of just seven players nationally to tally 30-plus goals, 21-plus ground balls and 15-plus caused turnovers. 20 of her goals came in the first four games of the year, the most in any four-game stretch in program history, including a season-high seven against Stetson, the most by a Duck in a single game.
The only junior among the Ducks' 2026 captains, Jenkins was a consistent force across her first two seasons as a Duck, starting 31 consecutive games as a defender and finished the season with 36 draw controls, 20 ground balls and 14 caused turnovers.
Santucci finished with 15 goals across five games as a sophomore, including three hat-tricks, before her season was cut short due to an injury. Santucci led all Oregon freshmen with six goals in 2024 while playing in all 12 games.
The Ducks officially kick off the 2025 season on Saturday when they host Arizona State at Papé Field at 1 p.m., beginning a series of nonconference games before Big Ten play kicks off against Maryland on March 14.
Players Mentioned
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