Oregon Wins Opener; MPSF Kicks Off This Week
Feb. 6, 2017 MPSF Lacrosse Release 1
OREGON (0-0 MPSF/1-0 Overall) Julia Taylor recorded her first career hat trick to help give Katrina Dowd her first career victory as head coach in an 11-8 home win over Michigan (Feb. 4). Bella Pyne dished two assists and scored once for three points. Becca Katzen collected nine saves in goal. Cambi Cukar picked up four ground balls and added a goal and assist. The Ducks stay home this week to face San Diego State in the MPSF opener, followed by Canisius Monday (Feb. 13).
SAN DIEGO STATE (0-0 MPSF/0-1 Overall) fell short in its 2017 season opener, 15-10 at home against Denver (Feb. 4). Kristen Hickey tallied four goals, while Vickie Porter and Kayla Deitz added two apiece. Katrina Reeves collected 11 saves, caused three turnovers, and picked up three ground balls in front of the net. The Aztecs' MPSF opener is at Oregon Saturday (Feb. 11).
No. 4 USC (0-0 MPSF/0-0 Overall) hosts St. Mary's Saturday (Feb. 11) in the conference and regular season opener. USC has an IWLCA preseason ranking of No. 4, the highest ranking an MPSF team has ever had in lacrosse. The Trojans are the defending MPSF Champions, setting the conference record for wins (20) and winning streak (20) last year, and became the first MPSF Lacrosse program to reach the NCAA Quarterfinals.
No. 12 STANFORD (0-0 MPSF/0-0 Overall) visits UC Davis in the regular season and conference opener Friday (Feb. 10), before hosting former conference rival Denver Sunday (Feb. 12). The No. 12 Cardinal comes off an MPSF runner-up season, advancing to a conference title game for the 19th-straight year, and the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in the last seven years.
COLORADO (0-0 MPSF/0-0 Overall) enters the fourth year of its program, coming off a 13-5 season (7-2 MPSF). The Buffs host No. 9 Northwestern Sunday (Feb. 12) on Pac-12 Networks to get the year started. Colorado returns 11 starters from last year's third-place team.
FRESNO STATE (0-0 MPSF/0-0 Overall) hosts LIU-Brooklyn Friday (Feb. 10) to open its season. The Bulldogs return 19 players from their most successful season in program history.
CALIFORNIA (0-0 MPSF/0-0 Overall) opens its season at home against Denver on Friday (Feb. 10).
UC DAVIS (0-0 MPSF/0-0 Overall) hosts Stanford in the conference and regular season opener Friday, along with LIU-Brooklyn Sunday. The Aggies reached the MPSF Tournament last year for the first time since 2010.
ST. MARY'S (0-0 MPSF/0-0 Overall) gets the 2017 season underway with an MPSF game at USC Saturday (Feb. 11).