No. 8 Oregon club men’s lacrosse has expressed its dominance of the Pacific Northwest after the Ducks (10-4) went 2-0 at Summit High School in Bend last weekend.
With the victories, Oregon won the Pacific Northwest Collegiate Lacrosse League tournament, boosting momentum as they head to nationals in one week.
Coming off a tumultuous stretch, the Ducks had suffered losses in four of their last six contests heading into the weekend. Nevertheless, Oregon received a bye in the first round of the PNCLL playoffs, allowing for a week to regroup. Lights-out performances in both games indicated the Ducks had spent the week wisely.
A 14-4 victory over the Washington Huskies on Saturday opened the Ducks’ weekend with a bang. Oregon had upended No. 3 seed Washington earlier in the season 15-3, a game which featured similar styles and tempo, and a similar result. Junior goalkeeper Nick Johnston explained how the Ducks’ offense enabled them to defeat the Huskies for a second time.
“The defense held its own, but it was the offense that pulled us through,” Johnston said.
The Ducks dominated possession and picked their spots in the win, finding success that transferred to Sunday’s PNCLL final. Simon Fraser entered play having won two consecutive league crowns, and having collected a 13-11 win against Oregon in Burnaby, Canada, in early April. Johnston explained how Oregon’s aggression enabled them to avenge its earlier loss to the Clansmen.
“We ran them into the ground and really held the ball in the offensive zone,” Johnston said. “They’re a quick team and move the ball well on the inside, but we were aggressive and we’re more athletic, so we went one-on-one a lot.”
The game plan worked to perfection against No. 1 seed Simon Fraser in the 14-8 win. Coming into play on Sunday, Simon Fraser had won its last six games, including a drubbing of national No. 3 Arizona State. The average margin of victory for the Clansmen in this stretch was more than 10 goals, with the closest decision being at home against Oregon.
In the tightly matched game between Ducks and the Clansmen, the nation’s No. 8 and No. 9 teams respectively, the Ducks dictated tempo. Speed, athleticism and endurance contributed to the team effort. Senior team captain Justin Blackmore broke down Oregon’s game of the year to date.
“A lot of people stepped up and had the best game of their year,” Blackmore said. “We all played a full 60 minutes, and I think Nick (Johnston) played the best game I’ve ever seen a goalie play.”
Bend’s thin air helped Oregon win the battle of intangibles. With the game tied 5-5 at half, the Ducks exploded in the second and outscored the Clansmen 9-3 in the second frame. The cadence was much different from the first game the two teams played in Burnaby, in which the Canadians edged Oregon. Junior club coordinator Robbie McLellarn elaborated on how his team flipped the switch.
“We pushed the tempo in Bend because we knew we were more athletic,” McLellarn said. “We also made better decisions and generally played more disciplined as a team.”
The win sets the table for Oregon. The Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association tournament begins next Tuesday, and it serves as nationals for all men’s club teams. But only 16 teams get a nod to play in Commerce City, Colorado. The venue is Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, and Oregon will face the Buffaloes of Colorado.
The Buffaloes are just 1-2 in the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Conference, but boast a 17-7 win over Simon Fraser on their resume. While Oregon knows Colorado is capable of catching lightning in a bottle, the Ducks have confidence after a successful weekend at the PNCLL tournament.
“We’re definitely excited for next Tuesday, it’s a good chance to prove to ourselves that we’ve gotten better,” McLellarn said. “Everything is clicking and it’s a festival at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.”
The MCLA Tournament begins Tuesday, May 11 and runs through Saturday. The Ducks are seeded No. 6 while the Buffaloes claim the No. 11 seed. Oregon hopes to survive and advance against a team they are unfamiliar with in the 2010 season.
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