USC Wins Team Record Ninth-Straight
March 28, 2016 MPSF Lacrosse Release 7
No. 7 USC (3-0 MPSF/9-0 Overall) has a program record nine-game winning streak, following a pair of 17-4 results at home this past week over Dartmouth and Oregon. The Trojans also extended their home win streak to 12 games. Michaela Michael put away a 2016 MPSF single-game high and career-high seven goals and tied her own conference season-high 12 draw controls in the MPSF win. Caroline deLyra added five goals. Michael and deLyra each had four-goal games against the Big Green, with Michael adding three assists. Cynthia Del Core picked up a career-high four ground balls. Gussie Johns totaled 15 saves in the two wins, allowed just eight goals (only one total in the second half), and had a career-high five ground balls against Oregon. USC heads to Fresno State Thursday (Mar. 31) and hosts San Diego State Saturday (Apr. 2).
SAN DIEGO STATE (3-1 MPSF/4-6 Overall) won two closely contested MPSF home games last week, 10-9 over Oregon and 8-7 in overtime over Fresno State. Felice Artuso had four first half goals and two assists against Oregon. Shannon Gallagher had two caused turnovers and two ground balls against Fresno State. Katrina Reeves made 12 saves and allowed only five goals in 62:57 of action for the week. The Aztecs visit USC Saturday.
No. 12 STANFORD (1-0 MPSF/6-2 Overall) earned a dramatic 10-9 sudden-victory double overtime win at No. 19 Johns Hopkins (Mar. 23), before ending the trip with a 17-7 defeat to more rigorous competition at No. 14 Stony Brook. Lucy Dikeou put away the game-winner two minutes into the second OT. Kelsey Murray compiled three goals, three assists, and two ground balls for the week. Anna Salemo scored three goals and added an assist for the two games. Stanford hosts Denver and Colorado this week.
DENVER (1-1 MPSF/4-5 Overall) won its lone game last week, 11-5 at home over Marquette (Mar. 25). Elizabeth Behrins recorded her first career hat trick, in addition to dishing a pair of assists. Defensively, Maddy Stevenson tallied a season-high 10 saves and Sybil Pallace caused four turnovers. Layne Voorhees added four ground balls and three draw controls. The Pioneers travel to Stanford and UC Davis this weekend as MPSF resumes.
COLORADO (2-0 MPSF/7-2 Overall) wrapped up its non-conference schedule with an 11-4 win at Michigan this past Sunday (Mar. 27), bouncing back from 11-6 defeat at No. 7 Northwestern. Three Buffaloes posted hat tricks in the win, including Darby Kiernan, Cali Castagnola, and Sarah Lautman. Kiernan added an assist and Johnna Fusco had one goal and two assists. Paige Soenksen carried a 7.50 goals-against average with 13 saves through the two games. Colorado travels to UC Davis Friday (Apr. 1) and Stanford Sunday (Apr. 3).
OREGON (1-2 MPSF/6-4 Overall) dropped conference road games at San Diego State, 10-9, and USC, 17-4 this past weekend. Bella Pyne scored three goals at SDSU, caused two turnovers and picked up four ground balls. She has scored in 10-straight games. National assist leader Cambi Cukar dished three in that game and two more at USC. She owns 32 assists on the year, 12 away from the single-season Duck record (Shannon Propst-44; 2014). Shannon Williams accumulated four goals over the weekend. Oregon stays on the road to face Cal and St. Mary's this weekend.
FRESNO STATE (0-4 MPSF/3-7 Overall) took San Diego State to overtime on the road this past Sunday (Mar. 27), 8-7, following a 15-5 home loss to Drexel earlier in the week. The overtime was the Bulldogs' first since 2012. Caroline Dineen-Carlson tallied four goals on seven shots, had eight draw controls, five ground balls and two caused turnovers through the two outings. She is now Fresno State's all-time leader in draw controls. Ryleigh bone tallied two goals, five ground balls and five draw controls for the week. Meganne Weissenfels totaled 26 saves in 123 minutes in goal, recording a .531 save percentage.
CALIFORNIA (1-1 MPSF/3-6 Overall) fell 12-4 at Cornell (Mar. 23) and 18-3 at Temple (Mar. 26). Melissa Rubin caused three turnovers off the bench at Cornell. Jenny Wilkens had 10 saves at Temple. The Bears host Oregon Friday (Apr. 1) and Fresno State Sunday (Apr. 3).
UC DAVIS (1-0 MPSF/3-3 Overall) Taylor Cuenin had a goal and an assist while Lauren Ali tallied eight saves in an 8-3 home loss to Drexel (Mar. 26). Cuenin and Ellie Delich recorded three ground balls apiece in the defensive battle. The Aggies continue their six-game homestand against Colorado Friday (Apr. 1).
ST. MARY'S (0-4 MPSF/0-9 Overall) Emily Mack came off the bench at Kennesaw State (Mar. 23) and had four goals, one assist, and two draw controls. Kellie Barker picked up four ground balls and Hanna Dalrymple collected three ground balls and four draws. Dalrymple also had four draws at Mercer, while Meagan Bennett had five ground balls.