The last few games before Pacific Northwest Collegiate Lacrosse League playoffs are upon the Ducks, so it is fitting that their toughest opponents are lined up one after another down the stretch.
No. 9 Oregon (7-3) men’s club lacrosse faced back-to-back matchups against teams ranked in single digits nationally. Both games were held in the state of Oregon, but the Ducks migrated to Lakeridge High School in Lake Oswego for a tilt with Arizona State. Away from Eugene, the Ducks failed to follow up a win over No. 2 Chapman, succumbing to the Sun Devils.
In the final home matchup of the year, Oregon topped Chapman 14-11. Coming into play Thursday, the Panthers were a perfect 11-0 on the season and had no games in which they scored less than a dozen goals.
“We were extremely motivated and everything just clicked,” junior Robbie McLellarn said. “Our flow was good, and we ran out the clock well at the end.”
The faster and stronger Ducks had three players record hat tricks in the matchup. Oregon also effectively shut down Connor Martin, who averages exactly three goals per contest and ranks as one of the most effective scorers in the country. Even with a few key injuries and the status of underdogs, Ducks’ captain Justin Blackmore saw his team’s resolve increase.
“It became a really emotional game for us,” Blackmore said. “They were No. 2 in the country, and we played them with discipline and played smart, something we haven’t really done so well.”
Blackmore was one of four players with a multi-goal game, including Eugene native Justin Eckenroad, who recorded a hat trick, and sophomore Spencer Robertson, who added a pair in the win. The game was tight until the very end, but the Ducks pulled away, withstanding an injury to key attacker Max Schlesinger on the way to victory.
The Ducks left Eugene but would stay in the state for play against No. 4 ASU. Lakeridge High School in Eugene hosted the Ducks and Sun Devils, as well as the school’s top-tier team just before the collegiate crews met. Four Oregon players were veterans of the high school lacrosse powerhouse, including team captain Blackmore.
“I never lost a game in high school on that field,” Blackmore recalled. “It’s nice to see all the people I played with.”
Blackmore’s younger brother held court in the high school contest before the Ducks took on ASU, but Oregon struggled to follow Lakeridge’s act. Arizona State picked up an 11-8 win in a close game. It was tied at six, seven, and eight before the Sun Devils pulled away.
“We didn’t execute down the stretch,” Blackmore said. “A lot of us were tired, it seemed like.”
The Ducks dropped just their third game of the year. Despite the loss, the team recognized the occasion as an opportunity to promote.
“We can sell apparel and merchandise,” McLellarn said. “These community events have a festive atmosphere, and we want to bring something to that, plus solidify that we’re the best team in Oregon.”
Oregon’s average margin of victory is nine goals, while its average margin of defeat is by just two. Nevertheless, Oregon’s abrupt shift into the world of top-flight opponents has netted three losses in their last four outings. After putting No. 1 Michigan on the ropes in a 5-4 loss, the Ducks made it close against three top-10 teams.
“Just the last four games have been at a heightened level of competition,” Ducks head coach Joe Kerwin said. “We’ve been learning from each game and we’re headed in the
right direction.”
The Ducks will play Simon Fraser in Burnaby, BC, on Sunday. The Clansmen have upended Oregon with regularity in recent years, and they have a history of winning the PNCLL. However, a 3-6 start from Simon Fraser could leave the door open for the Ducks as league play heats up.
[email protected]