The University women’s club lacrosse team finished up its season at the 2006 U.S. Lacrosse Intercollegiate Associates National Championships last weekend in Plano, Texas. It was Oregon’s second trip to the national event in the past three years.
One of only two club teams in the competition, the Ducks went 1-2 in the tournament, defeating the University of Minnesota-Duluth in their final match. The team will lose three seniors from this year’s squad, but a strong group of young players remain for next season.
As the No. 15 seed in the tournament, Oregon’s first contest was last Thursday against the second seed, five-time defending champion Cal-Poly. The champs jumped out to a 12-0 halftime lead and never looked back. The Ducks were outscored 7-3 in the second half for a 19-3 final score. Cal-Poly captured its sixth straight national title later in the week.
In their first match in the consolation bracket, the Ducks squared off against the No. 10 seed, Texas A&M. Oregon was defeated 12-7.
“We dominated the entire game, but unfortunately the score didn’t reflect that,” club coordinator Sara Frazier said. “We had good ball control and possession, we just couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net.”
The Ducks’ final match in Texas was against No. 16 seed University of Minnesota-Duluth. Oregon took advantage by scoring the first two goals and never relinquishing that lead on the way to an 8-5 victory.
“It was an intense, fast-paced game; we need the game to be fast-paced,” Frazier said. “We dominated the second half.”
According to the coordinator, one bright spot in that game and in the week was the goalkeeper’s play.
“Lauren Kondak led the team and kept us together,” Frazier said.
Although the result is not exactly what the Ducks were hoping for, this predominately young team will try to take some of the lessons learned into next season.
“I’m not disappointed with the way we played,” junior attacker Allison Hosek said. “It was a learning experience; the girls got fired up. We’re a rough-and-tumble team.”
In addition to the experience gained on the field, Oregon has some experience on the bench in coach Louisa Dorsch, a veteran of both the club and intercollegiate lacrosse teams at the University.
“She got us here. She knows what we go through,” Frazier said.
The club will lose three seniors from a roster of more than 20 players, a fact that bodes well for continued success in the future.
“(The seniors) are big holes to fill, but they’re not many of them,” Hosek said.
The club will start filling those holes in the first couple weeks of fall term when practice resumes before the season begins in earnest.
“In lacrosse, there are so many ways to contribute,” Hosek said. “There are so many ways to improve and be flexible. It’s the best game.”