Playing extra lacrosse is definitely an effective way to make sure a team is ready for the slog of a full regular season. 

No matter what, Oregon women’s lacrosse’s (1-0) 6-0 run from the last minute of the third period to the end of the game in overtime will be a shining example of what this team can do when it plays together confidently. 

But for thirty seconds in overtime, Oregon was transcendent. The Ducks didn’t see much of the ball during the extra period, but they converted big time when the ball found the stick of senior midfielder Anna Simmons. 

Simmons, who had done no wrong in that latter part of the game, gave herself a free possession shot after drawing a physical foul, which she expertly converted, her fourth of the game, to give the Ducks an improbable 12-11 victory to begin the season. 

“It was so Anna,” head coach Jessica Drummond said. “So confident. To be able to walk on that field as a senior knowing you can get the job done, that’s something I said to her going into overtime.”

As soon as the national anthem started, each player with a hand on the shoulder of the teammate in front of her, it became clear that whatever this team did on the field, or off, they were going to do it together. 

“We knew we were always in this game and I think we just decided in our heads that we are going to play for each other and play for the person next to us, and I think that totally elevated our play. Our systems weren’t working very well, so we had some adjustments and then got momentum,” Simmons said.  

That’s why the team looked unfazed once Lexi Jenkins lost the opening draw, leading to a swift possession and score from Jordyn Behar, who beat her defender all the way from the X spot to about a foot from goal where she converted. 

The Ducks took that in stride and responded quickly as Gabby Santucci, who much of 2025 out injured, ripped a laser into the top left corner, past the outstretched stick of ASU’s Regan Spichiger, for her, and the Ducks’ first goal of the season. Santucci also finished with four goals.

The Devils kept rolling and, after a costly fumbled pass led to a turnover for Anna Simmons, ASU’s Teagan Ng put on an incredible dodge on the other end that led to a fifth score for the visitors. 

Simmons eventually took matters into her own hands, ripped through the ASU defense with just two dodges and shoveled one home to give the Ducks momentum to cut into the Sun Devils’ lead. 

Jenae Sperling did the same and gave Oregon its third score about halfway through the second. The Ducks got their first free possession shot and freshman midfielder Nya McElroye stepped up, converted it and got her squad back on track as the half came to a close. 

Throughout the end of the half, Oregon found a way to close down the draw control margin to 8-6 by the break, but a few timely scores towards the end gave each team some energy heading into the locker room as the Sun Devils led 8-5 at halftime. 

Towards the end of a slower third period, Simmons’ shot on goal was brushed away by Spichiger, and the Sun Devils raced down the field and converted on the fastbreak for their 11th score of the contest. 

After that point, however, the Ducks found some offense. Oregon scored at the end of the third and then the first goal just 15 seconds into the fourth. An ASU yellow card gave way for Santucci to convert and cut the lead to 11-9. 

The Ducks forced a turnover at the other end, and Simmons brought the ball across half field. She passed, cut, received, and after a long possession, she was there to finish it off to make it a one-score game with just over 10 minutes to go. 

Even after a failed free possession attempt, Oregon shored up its defense and prevented an ASU clear. The Sun Devils went a player up for two of the final six minutes of the contest, but it was the Ducks who looked more threatening in that stretch. 

Simmons danced through the entire Sun Devil defense again, setting herself up with a free possession shot, which she converted to tie the game at 11. Shields made a crucial save on a scramble near the crease with just over three minutes to go, which sent Simmons up the field to set up the offense. 

One minute left, Simmons broke down the Arizona State defense, but had to spin out for another option. She tossed it to Santucci, who thought she was fouled, but surrendered a turnover with just 21 seconds to play. 

The defense held up and forced an extra period on a lackluster Sun Devil attack. 

In overtime it was all Sun Devils, but just like the rest of the game, Simmons stepped up to the moment and made it her own. 

“(Arizona State) was a really good team, and that means we’re a really good team. To be able to do that and finish the game in overtime disciplined was so awesome and exactly what the culture is in our program,” Drummond said. 

The Ducks travel down to San Diego this week to take on both Fairleigh Dickinson University and San Diego State University.