It only took 10 seconds for Oregon lacrosse’s Anna Simmons to storm down half the length of the field and score.
It was the first time that Simmons found the back of the cage in her program record-tying seven-goal performance against Stetson University on Feb. 11.
Causing opposing defenses to scramble and then shake their heads after inevitable defeat is something that the junior midfielder has done in just about every game this season. Her team-leading 24 goals through six games follows a career-best 34 goals she scored last season in 15 outings.
“From freshman year to sophomore year, I made a huge jump, and sometimes I wasn’t super confident in myself,” Simmons said. “In this off-season, I just learned how to trust myself and be able to push myself to new levels while also bringing people with me, so not only that I’m performing, but more people are as well.”
When Simmons is playing well, whether it’s on defense or offense, opportunities open up for the rest of her teammates. In the game against Stetson, sophomore attacker Avery Young also contributed four goals.
“(Simmons) came up to us maybe after a couple shots in the first quarter and was like, ‘They’re getting tough on me. You guys have to step in and take that role, and not just on offense,’” Young said. “That’s just being communicative and being like, okay, if she’s not going to get it in, we have to.”
Simmons’ offensive showing has garnered a lot of attention from fans and the Big Ten, but she’s dominated both sides of the field. In addition to her seven goals against Stetson, she recorded a career-high seven ground balls and a career-high of five caused turnovers against Central Michigan University.
“We’ve really focused on the small wins like those little ground balls or chasing the shot after someone misses,” Simmons said. “Those things really help us create momentum. I think that’s why we are finding success on offense and defense.”
Her dominant performances made her the only player in the Big Ten to win the Conference Midfielder of the Week award in the first three weeks of the season. The Ducks got off to a 4-0 record before losing two games on the road.
