In the months before, the longevity of the lacrosse season seems more abstract, with each game representing an equal 7.14% of the season. When teams are in the lengthy grind of it, the “tomorrows” and “next weeks” leave players lacking any real finality.

Until there are three games left, and the Ducks are left with only “what ifs” and “if onlys”. 

What if they had played better at the beginning of conference play? What if they had been more disciplined throughout?

If only a bounce had gone their way, if only they had been a little luckier, a little better. 

If only they hadn’t lost 13-12 to a San Diego State team that entered with just one win on its season.

With the end of the season barreling toward the Ducks, Aztec attacker, Morgan Delwiche added a tie-breaking score with under four minutes remaining. Oregon (7-5, 1-4 Pac-12) was unable to set up offensively and the Aztecs (2-12, 1-4 Pac-12) did just enough down the stretch.

The game ended in the SDSU offensive zone after a critical foul to Abbey Gicewicz left the Ducks out of time and answers. Oregon’s players walked slowly to the bench, headed for the only available reprieve when they left the field faced with a loss they couldn’t afford to take. 

In most contests thus far, the disparity in talent is obvious. Oregon has either been in complete control or outclassed altogether. Saturday’s game and an early-season matchup with UC Davis have been the only rebukes from the norm in a matchup that was down to the wire. 

A less aggressive, more disciplined Ducks’ defense did its part in stymying the Aztecs early to the tune of a 6-2 lead at the end of the first quarter. SDSU, which entered play dead last in the conference, looked disjointed early, and — for a moment — it looked like Oregon would run away with the game. 

Making just her third start of the year, Cassidy Eckert (eight saves, 13 goals allowed) got the nod in net for the Ducks. One of the lower moments of her average day came in a lackluster second quarter in which SDSU outscored Oregon 4-2. 

A pair of those goals came via a woman-up advantage, an issue that has continued to persist late into the season. A score from Sara Toner with 24 seconds remaining in the half, cut Oregon’s lead to 8-6 and put the Ducks on upset watch.

In another continuation of an all-too-troubling trend for the Ducks, Oregon allowed the second half’s first three goals and went down 9-8 for its first deficit of the game. 

Both teams would go on to trade goals before an over-six-minute scoreless drought ran the course of the third quarter. Despite holding the Aztecs scoreless, the Ducks squandered numerous potential chances and struggled to set up offensively. Oregon went into the fourth quarter of action down a score as stormy skies circled a team facing the possibility of a brutal loss.

With five minutes remaining and both teams knotted at 12, Morgan McCarthy looked to have netted the lead for Oregon. Her shot hit the post, her teammates — who had begun to celebrate — were forced to get back on defense. 

SDSU retained possession and called timeout. Delwiche’s shot found net and gave the Aztecs a 13-12 lead with under four minutes to play.

Oregon’s next possession was their last one, the Ducks set up in the offensive zone but a string of errant passes ran the clock out on their worst loss of the season.

Oregon will likely need wins against Colorado and Arizona State to make the Pac-12 Tournament. Performances like Saturdays in San Diego make neither of these wins seem likely. The Ducks outshot and committed fewer turnovers than the Aztecs, but fell lifelessly down the stretch.
Face-off against the Buffaloes (9-4, 4-1, Pac-12) is set for next Saturday at noon.