The game started out close, but in the end, the Ducks just didn’t quite have enough to clinch the victory.
Sunday afternoon in Berkeley, Calif., the Oregon women’s lacrosse team was overwhelmed by California, 19-8.
The Ducks (4-10 overall,
1-4 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) started out strong, virtually matching Cal goal-for-goal toward the end of the first half after both teams rode out a stagnant 15 minutes of opening play.
Oregon co-captain Jenny Browne had a strong first half. Twenty minutes into the game, she scored two goals within minutes of each other to give the Ducks a 3-2 lead over the Golden Bears.
Cal soon regained the lead, and the Bears never looked back. At the half, Cal led the Ducks 7-5.
“We played well in the first half. We had so much more in ourselves to give, but we just couldn’t get there in the second half,” Oregon head coach Jen Larsen said.
Cal came out strong in the second half and simply outlasted the Ducks. After an initial goal
exchange brought the score to 9-7 in Cal’s favor, Oregon fell behind.
The Bears went on two five-goal runs in the second half, in which senior Molly Brady, junior Leanne Zilioli and sophomore Laura Cavallo completed hat tricks.
At the same time, a stellar
performance between the pipes by Cal goalkeeper Hilary Lynch limited Oregon to just three scores out of the Ducks’ ten shots on goal in the second half.
“I have to give credit to their goalkeeper. Hilary was very good,” Larsen admitted after the game. “She just shut us out.”
Cal also appeared to have the more potent offense, taking a whopping 47 total shots on goal. Oregon goalkeeper Louisa Dorsch put in a valiant effort for the Ducks. Dorsch forced two turnovers, made 13 saves and faced an incredible 41 shots on goal before Allison O’Brien took over for her.
Oregon’s Jen May contributed three goals in the Ducks’ losing effort.
“We definitely could have played better,” Larsen said. “We weren’t at our best in the second half. Cal took advantage of that and picked up the level of their play.”
With their win against Oregon, the Bears improved their record to 10-6 overall, 3-1 MPSF.
After the game, Cal head coach Jill Malko expressed respect for Oregon’s fledgling program.
“I’ve been worried about Oregon all year. I just feel like they have a lot of talent. They’ve been getting better and better,” she said. “I think it’s human nature sometimes to overlook a young opponent like that, and I think it taught us all a lesson there that in any given game, it doesn’t matter what your reputation is.
“I think they’re building a reputation. I was very impressed with their play.”
The Ducks face Ohio University this Saturday in Athens, Ohio.