By Tayten Torgrimson

Oregon Lacrosse has completely turned around the program and the work has shown. This non-conference season, Oregon went 6-1, already eclipsing more wins than last season. Oregon has outscored its opponents 111 to 59. To close off non-conference play Oregon defeated Furman 18-7. On paper, Oregon should win the Pac-12 opener against Cal handily. Cal is coming into its final non-conference game against Butler with a 2-5 record. So far, Cal has scored 65 goals to its opponents’ 68.

Players to watch – Oregon:

Players to keep an eye on for Oregon are midfielder Anna Simmons, attacker Lauren Rismani and midfielder Morgan McCarthy. Rismani is the general of this team’s offense. Almost every play is run through either three of these players, all three have a “sense” of this game that Oregon hasn’t seen for a while. McCarthy was the star of last season’s team, scoring 37 goals. This season, McCarthy already has 22 goals, while Simmons has 23 and Rismani has nine goals, but 16 assists.

How Oregon can win this game:

The easy answer is speed. Oregon has a fast-paced offense, that scores as fast as possible and is always looking to draw a foul on the opponents. When Oregon is a woman-up, it has scored 16 goals. The other key to this game is its defense. Oregon has a defense that can be undisciplined, and to win in the Pac, this team must continue being disciplined. Overall, Oregon has 47 fouls, averaging about seven fouls a game. Yet, when the Ducks are a woman down, their defense steps up, allowing zero goals this season.

Players to watch – Cal:

If the Golden Bears are going to come into Eugene and leave with a win, Kennedy Mason and Kennedy Goss are the girls to do it. Mason is second on the team in goals and first in assists with 11 goals and five assists. About 72% of her shots are on goal and will be a challenge for goalies Cassidy Eckert and Thayer Hubbard to handle. The leading scorer for the Golden Bears is Goss, who has 12 goals on the season.

How Cal can win this game:

Containment. Cal must contain Oregon’s high-powered offense. Forcing the Ducks to take bad shots and then capitalizing on those shots will be key. Making someone else besides Simmons and McCarthy beat them will be the biggest part of containing the Ducks.

My Prediction:

I think Oregon will win this game easily. I think Cal will stay in the game through the first quarter, and then Oregon will flip the switch on and continue the dominance fans have come to expect this season. I believe Oregon will win 16-8.