At last year’s MCLA National Tournament, Oregon lost to Lindenwood 15-13 in the first-round of consolation play.
Senior Ryan Warren said the Ducks, who were left heartbroken after losing to Arizona in their first-round battle, played “a great team” in Lindenwood that spring. Warren noted, however, that that year Oregon implemented a reverse start, meaning all of the Ducks’ backups played until the third and fourth quarters.
“Our starting goalie never saw the field,” Warren said. “Once our starters got into the game we overcame a five-goal plus deficit to come within one.”
Troy Hood, Lindenwood’s fourth-year head coach, has kept his eye on Oregon ever since.
“I was impressed with Oregon’s ability to push the ball upfield in transition and score goals quickly,” Hood said. “I’ve been watching the team in the national tournament each time they’ve been invited. From a fan’s perspective, they’re fun to watch. Last year’s game was in the consolation round, so, we expect a different game this year.”
Warren and the No. 3 Ducks (17-2, 8-0 Pacific Northwest Collegiate Lacrosse League) will get their second shot at Lindenwood – ranked 14th this season – today at 1 p.m. in the postseason tournament, hosted this year at venue site Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas.
Warren, a 2007 conference second-team honoree, said Oregon will win this time around. The squad has run through end-of-game scenarios, practiced on both grass and turf fields and worked on endurance. Now, he said, the Ducks just have to play their game.
“(We can’t) fall into their style of play,” Warren said. “If we keep to what we are good at, no team can beat us … As long as we stick with this mentality, we will get the win.”
Lindenwood (10-5 overall), a school located in St. Charles, Mo., has won eight of its last 10 matches. The Lions are only allowing 6.3 goals per game and have recorded two shutouts this season. Meanwhile, Oregon’s fast-paced offense has averaged 16.4 goals per contest. Hood said his squad has tried to prepare for the Ducks’ up-tempo style of play.
“Our conference does not have a team that plays a comparable style to Oregon,” Hood said of the Great Rivers Lacrosse Conference, where his squad has won the championship the last three years. “Outside of the conference, we’ve seen Michigan and Colorado State.”
This year, the Lions defeated Illinois 10-9 in overtime in the GRLC Championship game late last month. Oregon comes off its fourth-straight PNCLL title, which the Ducks earned over the weekend in Tacoma, Wash. Coach Joe Kerwin was named PNCLL Coach of the Year afterward and seven Ducks were given first-team All-Conference honors, including Julian Coffman, Clay Knope, Trevor Tesar, Todd Jolly, Andrew Vincent, Scott Miller and Paul Swanson. The squad also has three years of experience at Nationals; in 2004, Oregon beat Boston College but lost to UC-Santa Barbara. In 2005, the Ducks defeated Arizona in the first round and went on to lose to Michigan in the second.
The winner of the Lindenwood-Oregon match will battle the victor of the Minnesota-Duluth versus Sonoma State game.