Buffs Begin Key Four-Game Road Trip This Weekend

BOULDER - The University of Colorado women's lacrosse team begins a pivotal four-game road trip this weekend, facing Mountain Pacific Sports Federation co-leaders, Southern California and San Diego State.

The Buffaloes (6-4, 1-2 MPSF) begin their west-coast swing against the USC Trojans on Friday, April 10 at 4 p.m. MT. CU is 1-0 in its only meeting against USC. The Trojans (8-3, 4-0 MPSF) are led by junior attack Caroline de Lyra, who has tallied 45 points with 23 goals and 22 assists in 11 games this season.

Colorado closes the weekend at San Diego State on Sunday, April 12 at 1 p.m. MT. SDSU (8-3, 4-0 MPSF) sits tied atop the league standings with USC. The Aztecs host Denver on Friday before welcoming the Buffs to town. CU will look to win its third straight game against the Aztecs after defeating them in both meetings last season, once in the regular season and another time in the MPSF quarterfinals.

Livestreams and live stats for both matches are available on CUBuffs.com.

QUICKLY: The University of Colorado lacrosse team (6-4, 1-2 MPSF) begins a four-game road trip, its longest of the season, traveling to USC on Friday, April 10 and then to San Diego State on Sunday, April 12.

INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES: For those members of the media wishing to interview the women's lacrosse team during the season, please contact Assistant Sports Information Director/Lacrosse Contact Ashley Braun at (303) 492-7525 or ashley.braun@colorado.edu.

DON'T MISS A MINUTE: Livestreams and live stats for both matches are available on CUBuffs.com.

COLORADO VS. USC: The Buffs are 1-0 in their only meeting against the Trojans. Last season, CU topped USC 12-11 in overtime.

SCOUTING THE TROJANS: USC heads into the contest tied for first with San Diego State in the MPSF standings with an 8-3 record and is one of only three teams undefeated in conference play (4-0). The Trojans boast a 5-1 mark at home this season and are 8-1 over their last nine games after beginning their 2015 campaign 0-2. They are led by junior attack Caroline de Lyra. She has tallied 45 points with 23 goals and 22 assists in 11 games. The Trojan's Michaela Michael is first in the conference, averaging 6.27 draw controls in each contest. Freshman Gussie Johns is the goalkeeper of record in every match and has scooped up a team-leading 28 ground balls, which is third in the league, averaging 2.55 per game.

COLORADO VS. SAN DIEGO STATE: The Buffs hold a 2-0 record against the Aztecs. CU defeated SDSU twice last  year, while each game went into double-overtime. CU claimed the regular season meeting, 7-6 and one more time in the MPSF quarterfinals, 9-8.

SCOUTING THE AZTECS: San Diego State sits atop the MPSF standings, entering its game on Friday against Denver with an 8-3 overall record and 4-0 in conference play. Eight different players have scored at least 10 goals for the Aztecs this season, anchored by senior midfielder Christina Ricciardulli who has found the back of the net 27 times. Senior Lauren attack leads the team with 19 assists. San Diego State's offense ranks second in the conference, averaging 13.73 goals per game.

LAST TIME OUT: The Buffs turned in their best performance in team history against a ranked opponent, falling just short, 16-14, to No. 13 Stanford. Johnna Fusco and Marie Moore each tallied three goals to lead CU, while goalkeeper Paige Soenksen made 17 saves.

HATRICKS ALL AROUND: Seven Buffaloes have recorded hat tricks this season. Johnna Fusco leads the pack with eight in 10 games. Kiernan has five. Freshman Blair Sisk follows with three, and sophomores Cali Castagnola, Katie Macleay and Marie Moore along with freshman Taylor Oliver each have one.

PROGRAM FIRSTS: In the Buffaloes' game against Presbyterian on March 2, CU turned in a record setting performance for the black and gold, posting the largest margin of victory (19), allowed the fewest number of goals (0), shots (5), assists (0) and points (0) by an opponent and tallied their first shutout in program history. The Buffs also recorded the second most points in a single-game (25) and tied a program record with 19 goals.

FEARLESS FRESHMEN: In their first collegiate season playing for the black and gold, Kiernan and Sisk have made an immediate impact, each contributing in a variety of ways for the Buffs. Kiernan has started all 10 games and is first on the team with 19 ground balls and second with 24 goals. She already has five hat tricks this season and has one five-goal game in her pocket (at Michigan on March 22). Sisk also continues to develop in her role on the attack. The midfielder from Greenwood Village, Colo. has started nine of 10 games and is one of six Buffs in double-digit scoring. Sisk ranks third on the team with 19 goals. She also boasts an impressive .865 SOG percentage, as 32 of her 37 shots have been put on frame.

FIERCE FUSCO: Sophomore Johnna Fusco continues to be a main contributor on the attack each week. She leads the Buffaloes in goals (31), points (35), shots (63), shots on goal (49) and is 14-23 on free position shots. She also is first in the league in scoring, averaging 3.10 goals per game.

MULTI-GOAL PERFORMANCES: Nine different Buffs have recorded at least one multi-goal game in 2015. Johnna Fusco  has nine, Darby Kiernan has eight, Blair Sisk has seven, Katie Macleay has four, Cali Castagnola and Marie Moore with two each, and Taylor Oliver, Tori Link and Amanda Salvadore have one multi-goal performance a piece.

SCORING STREAKS: Six Buffs have active scoring streaks on the line heading into Sunday's game. Fusco has scored at least one goal in every game this season (10 straight). Kiernan and Sisk have found the back of the net nine straight times, Katie Macleay has tallied one goal in six consecutive contests, Marie Moore holds a five-game scoring streak, and Cali Castagnola has scored in two straight.

NEW COMPETITION: Colorado faced six first-time opponents this year: Marquette, Presbyterian, Northwestern, Michigan, Boston College and UMass Lowell. The Buffs were 4-2 against them, with wins over Marquette. Michigan, Presbyterian and UMass Lowell.

MPSF HONORS: Goalkeeper Paige Soenksen earned her second Defensive Player of the Week award of the season for her stellar performances against UC Davis and Stanford.

NEXT UP: Colorado concludes its four-game road trip to the west coast with contests against St. Mary's on Friday, April 17 and California on Sunday, April 19.