Oregon women’s lacrosse concluded its regular season with a 14-9 loss to the Colorado Buffalos on senior day in Eugene Sunday.
The Ducks needed this victory to cement a spot in the MPSF tournament that begins on Thursday. The Ducks, however, can still clinch the sixth and final playoff spot if San Diego State loses to Stanford later on Sunday.
The Ducks came out strong with a goal less than 30 seconds into the game. Rachel Steinberg scored the goal, assisted by Cambi Cukar. That assist gave Cukar the Oregon all-time single season assists record, 45.
The Buffaloes rallied and went on a 5-0 run before Oregon’s Shannon Williams scored on a free position shot with 12:33 left in the first period.
It wasn’t long before the Buffaloes got on the board again with a goal by Sarah Lautman that  Colorado up 6-2 with 11:25 to play in the first period.
The Buffaloes went on a 3-0 run before Oregon’s Carly O’Connell scored her 25th goal of the season to put the Ducks down by six. O’Connell then assisted a goal by Bella Pyne three minutes later to cut Oregon’s deficit to five. Oregon scored once more before half to put the score at 9-5.
The Ducks were first to score coming out of half with Williams’ second goal of the game. Cukar also assisted the goal for her second assist of the day.
Colorado extended the lead to four with an unassisted goal from Johnna Fusco with 26:09 remaining on the clock.
Steinberg scored her second of the day a minute and a half later to bring the score to 10-7 Colorado. Williams scored her third less than two minutes later to cut Oregon’s deficit to two with 22:52 left on the clock.
Colorado scored next, with 16:09 on the clock, to lead 11-8. Oregon’s Evan Murphy scored four minutes later to lessen the deficit to two.
The score was extended to 12-9 when Colorado’s Darby Kiernan scored with 10:44 to play. The Buffaloes would go on to score two more. Oregon was unable to battle back.
Assuming that San Diego State loses to Stanford, Oregon looks to potentially play Colorado in the first round of the MPSF playoffs on Thursday.
Follow Kylee O’Connor on Twitter @KyleeTheMightee