Buffs Host Fresno State, Oregon To Close Regular Season
BOULDER-The University of Colorado lacrosse team closes out its regular season this weekend, hosting Fresno State on Friday, April 24 at 3 p.m. and the University of Oregon on Sunday, April 26 at 1 p.m. in the finale.
The Buffaloes are 8-6 overall and 3-4 against Mountain Pacific Sports Federation opponents this season. CU is 1-0 in its young history against Fresno State (4-9, 2-5 MPSF) and with a win against the Bulldogs on Friday, the Buffs would secure a spot in the MPSF postseason tournament for a second straight season.
Colorado welcomes the Oregon Ducks (10-5, 4-3 MPSF) to town on Sunday, which will mark their first-ever visit to Boulder. The Ducks play at Denver on Friday and are one game ahead of CU in the conference standings heading into the weekend.
A live stream and live stats for both games are available at CUBuffs.com.
QUICKLY: The University of Colorado lacrosse team (8-6, 3-4 MPSF) plays its final two games of the regular season this weekend, hosting Fresno State on Friday, April 24 and the Buffaloes welcome Oregon for the finale on Sunday, April 26. Colorado will look to secure a berth in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament with a win over Fresno State.
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: A livestream and live stats for both games are available at CUBuffs.com.
COLORADO VS. FRESNO STATE: The Buffs are 1-0 in their only meeting against the Bulldogs. Last season, CU defeated Fresno State, 12-6 on the road.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS: Fresno State travels to Boulder for the first time on Friday. The Bulldogs are 4-9 overall and 2-5 in conference. They have won two of their last three games, defeating St. Mary's and most recently, Cal their last time out. Fresno State is led by sophomore Caroline Dineen-Carlson on offense. The midfielder has tallied a team-high 27 goals and 25 groundballs. Marcy Levatino and Nicole Ortlieb are second and third in scoring with 20 and 21 goals, respectively. Levatino is also tied for first on the team with eight assists.
COLORADO VS. OREGON: CU is 1-0 in its young history against the Ducks. The Buffs edged Oregon, 10-9 last season in a game that went to three overtimes in Eugene.
SCOUTING THE DUCKS: Oregon's trip to Boulder is the Ducks' second of two games in the Centennial State. UO will play at Denver on Friday before facing the Buffs on Sunday. The Ducks are 10-5 overall and 4-3 in MPSF play heading into Friday. They hold a one game lead over CU for fifth place in the conference. Oregon's Olivia Pyne leads the squad with 33 goals and Cambi Cukar has a team-best 34 assists this season. Cukar is also first in the conference, averaging 2.27 assists per game. Janelle Parker spends the majority of time in goal for the Ducks. She has recorded a .374 save percentage while posting an 8-5 record between the posts.
LAST TIME OUT: Colorado played its final two road games of the regular season. They defeated St. Mary's by scoring a school record 21 goals (final score, 21-5) on Friday, April 17 and then fell in tight game at Cal, 12-10 on Sunday, April 19.
HATRICKS ALL AROUND: Eight Buffaloes have recorded hat tricks this season. Johnna Fusco leads the pack with eight and freshman Darby Kiernan has seven. Sophomore Marie Moore and freshman Blair Sisk follow with three. Sophomores Cali Castagnola and Katie Macleay have two each, and Amanda Salvadore 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.
FRESHMEN TRI-FECTA: In their first collegiate season playing for the black and gold, Carly Cox, Darby Kiernan and Blair Sisk have made an immediate impact, each contributing in a variety of ways for the Buffs. Kiernan has started 13 games and is first on the team in scoring with 37 goals and has a team-best 26 ground balls. She has seven hat tricks this season and two games where she has scored five goals (at Michigan and Cal). Sisk also continues to develop in her role on the attack. The midfielder from Greenwood Village, Colo. has started 13 of 14 games and is one of six Buffs in double-digit scoring. She has 22 goals, which ranks third on team. She also boasts an impressive .812 SOG percentage, as 39 of her 48 shots have been put on frame. Carly Cox on the attack has also started 13 of 14 games and leads the team with 16 assists while tallying seven goals and recording 13 groundballs. She also has recorded at least one point, a goal or an assist in all but one game this season and on April 17 at St. Mary's, Cox tallied a career-high four assists.
FIERCE FUSCO: Sophomore Johnna Fusco continues to be a main contributor on the attack each week. She is second on the team with 36 goals and 44 points. Fusco leads the Buffs in shots (78), shots on goal (62) and is 16-27 on free position shots. She is also third in the league in scoring, averaging 2.57 goals per game.
STELLAR SOENKSEN: Goalkeeper Paige Soenksen has been solid between the posts for CU all season. She has made 120 saves. She leads the conference with an impressive .494 save percentage and averages 8.57 saves per game, which is tops in the MPSF as well. Her consistent play has also earned her three MPSF Defensive Player of the Week honors.
MULTI-GOAL PERFORMANCES: Ten different Buffs have recorded at least one multi-goal game in 2015. Johnna Fusco and Darby Kiernan have 11, Blair Sisk has eight, Marie Moore with six, Katie Macleay has five, Cali Castagnola with three, Amanda Salvadore has two and Carly Cox, Taylor Oliver, Tori Link have one multi-goal performance apiece.
SCORING STREAKS: Four Buffs have active scoring streaks on the line heading into Friday's game. Fusco has scored in 18 straight games dating back to last season. Kiernan has scored in 13consecutive contests. Marie Moore is on a nine-game scoring streak and Blair Sisk has tallied at least one goal in two straight games.
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.
NEXT UP: With a win over Fresno State on Friday, the Buffs will earn a spot in the MPSF postseason tournament for a second straight year. The tournament will be held at the University of Denver campus, April 30 - May 3.
COLORADO'S RECORD WHEN:
Home.....................................................................................4-2
Away......................................................................................4-4
Leading at halftime...........................................................7-3
Tied at halftime...................................................................1-1
Trailing at halftime............................................................0-2
Against conference opponents.....................................3-4
Against non-conference opponents...........................5-2
Against ranked opponents.............................................0-4
Scoring five or more goals................................................8-6
Scoring 10 or more goals..................................................7-2
Scoring 15 or more goals..................................................3-0
Scoring first.........................................................................6-2
Opponent scores first.......................................................2-4
Winning draw control battle..........................................4-3
Losing draw control battle..............................................4-2
Recording more shots......................................................6-1
Recording fewer shots.....................................................2-5