With no difficulties and strong play, the Oregon club women’s lacrosse team disposed of both of its challengers who dared to step foot on its field Saturday.
The Ducks demolished Pacific Lutheran, 13-2, and delivered a beating on Willamette with a final score of 11-5.
“It was our best playing by far this season,” freshman Sarah Weller said. “We really came together as a team.”
Outstanding players included goalie Louisa Dorsch, mid-fielder Erika Platano and freshman Kate Regalduto, accompanied by an all-around great team effort.
The women have a young team this year with several freshman, but the baby Ducks have been able to catch on quickly and be a great asset to the performance of the team.
Both Pacific Lutheran and Willamette are very inexperienced and not on the same level as Oregon, which gave the Ducks a chance to practice their set offense. Oregon will need to perfect its skills as best it can in preparation for the Pacific Northwest Lacrosse Associations Tournament this weekend.
According to coordinator Terra Cloyes, these victories were a good way to get prepared for the tournament, where the women hope to play on this same intensity level.
Entering the tournament, Oregon definitely has one thing on its mind: crush Washington into the ground. Due to two run-ins between the two schools earlier this season, the Ducks want to take revenge upon the Huskies.
“Success for us would be beating University of Washington,” Cloyes said.
“We should do well, as long as everyone stays focused,” Dorsch said.
The women feel confident entering this next challenge and one thing is for sure: They are ready.

Cricket’s inaugural season opens with a loss
The Oregon club men’s cricket team proudly competed in its first game of the season Saturday against the Gresham Cricket Club in Gresham.
After hard fought play, though, the Ducks were defeated 170 runs to their 80.
“We learned a lot and it was a very enjoyable game,” batsman/wicketkeeper Iain Johnston said. “We represented the University well.”
Captain Faisal Mirza and opening batsman Hatim Zariwala both played strongly for the Ducks with the help of their experience. The men’s team is diverse with players that constitute several continents of the world with most having played competitively at the college level from schools abroad.
Through the diversity, though, the men all have a passion to play the game that brings them all together.
“One of our main aspects is our club spirit,” Johnston said.
But Oregon has realized there are aspects to its game that need some work in order to become stronger and more competitive. The Ducks feel they need to work on their fundamentals and simply practice more. They used this first game as a learning experience of how they can better themselves.
Oregon has a long road ahead, as it will compete until August, and feels it can only become stronger as the season progresses.
In Oregon’s first year as a club sport, these Ducks are setting the tone.