Games thread- LACROSSE visiting #18 USC (Friday, 3/24/23, 4:00 PM MT, Pac 12 Network) & ASU (Sunday, 1:00 PM MT, Pac 12 Network)

[AztecBuff]

The 2023 season continues for Buff LACROSSE (3-4 overall; 2-0 in the Pac 12) on the road as they try to extend their 3 game winning streak, starting with a challenging matchup Friday afternoon against the #18 ranked USC Trojans (6-2, 1-0), and followed up with a trip to Tempe to face off with the ASU Sun Devils (1-5, 0-1) early Sunday afternoon.

Both games are slotted to be available on one or another Pac 12 Network channel. (Further info and links for media options available near the bottom of this thread.)

Go Buffs!!!

Preview -




Direct link - https://cubuffs.com/news/2023/3/22/lacrosse-buffs-head-west-for-conference-road-trip.aspx

"
BOULDER - The Colorado women's lacrosse team heads west this weekend to face No. 18 USC and Arizona State in their first conference road trip.

The Buffs (3-4, 2-0) are coming off a three-game win streak, including a 17-15 upset over then-21 Stanford in CU's first conference game this season. The victory also marked the program's 100th win and head coach Ann Elliott Whidden's 100th career win

The Buffs then defeated California 20-3 to close out the weekend on a high note. That win was also historic because it was the program's 50th win on Kittredge Field.

The two wins placed CU at the top of the conference standings.
...

USC

The Trojans (6-2, 1-0) started their conference play off strong by defeating Arizona State in their first conference game while at home last weekend.

USC had claimed the Defensive Player of the Week honor four times in a row prior to Colorado earning it most recently. The Trojans' are currently tied for third in the NCAA with 11.8 caused turnovers per game and they're fourth in the NCAA with 20.12 ground balls per game.

On the flip side of USC's tough defense is their strong offense which already has six players with double-digit goals this year. CU currently has three players with double-digit goals this season.

The Buffs will be looking to break a two-game losing streak when they face USC. CU will also be looking to improve their 1-2 road record when they meet the Trojans in Los Angeles.

ASU

The Sun Devils (1-5, 0-1) have faced cloudy skies so far this season, most recently losing 17-6 in Los Angeles to USC. Although ASU won their season opener 16-13 against St. Bonaventure, they're currently on a five-game losing streak.

Leading the Sun Devils in scoring is graduate student Kaylon Buckner who's put away 13 goals so far this season. Trailing slightly behind Buckner are Teagan Ng and Mina Scott who each have 10 goals this year.

Colorado will be on the hunt to end a two game losing streak against ASU and improve their overall 5-3 record against the Sun Devils.

Where To Watch

Friday's 4 p.m. MT game against USC will be shown on Pac-12 Networks.

Sunday's 1 p.m. MT game versus Arizona State will be featured on Pac-12 Mountain.
"
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Links with more info on the upcoming opponents:

USC:
Roster - https://usctrojans.com/sports/wlax/roster
Stats - https://usctrojans.com/sports/womens-lacrosse/stats
Schedule - https://usctrojans.com/sports/womens-lacrosse/schedule/2023
Their preview article - https://usctrojans.com/news/2023/3/...nd-oregon-in-pac-12-doubleheader-weekend.aspx

ASU:
Roster - https://thesundevils.com/sports/womens-lacrosse/roster
Stats - https://thesundevils.com/sports/womens-lacrosse/stats
Schedule - https://thesundevils.com/sports/womens-lacrosse/schedule/2023
Their preview article - Not available as I type this.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Media links:

Game Notes - https://cubuffs.com/documents/2023/3/22/2023_CU_Lacrosse_Games_Notes_-_3.20_-_USC___ASU.pdf

Vs. USC:
Live video - Game is scheduled to be shown on the Pac 12 Mountain and Los Angeles channels. For anyone with a subscription to any Pac 12 Network channel, I'm guessing the game will also be viewable on the Pac 12 App, or through a link at https://pac-12.com/womens-lacrosse/event/2023/03/24/colorado-usc.

Live Stats -

SIDEARMLiveStats

Real time live stats for your favorite team powered by SIDEARM Sports. One location for your team's Stat summaries, Individual stats, Team stats, Team leaders, Play by plays, Split Box scores and more.

usctrojans.com

Vs. ASU:
Live video - Game is scheduled to be shown on the Pac 12 Mountain channel. For anyone with a subscription to any Pac 12 Network channel, I'm guessing the game will also be viewable on the Pac 12 App, or through a link at https://pac-12.com/womens-lacrosse/event/2023/03/26/colorado-arizona-state

Live stats - http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=456528

 

[AztecBuff]

Congrats to the 2 Buffs who received conference honors after this past week's games -



Direct link - https://cubuffs.com/news/2023/3/21/lacrosse-rudy-and-donnelly-sweep-weekly-pac-12-awards.aspx

"
BOULDER - It looks like sunnier days have arrived for the Colorado lacrosse team. After defeating then-No. 21 Stanford and Cal at home in the squad's conference openers this past weekend, Charlie Rudy earned Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week while goalkeeper Grace Donnelly was awarded with Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week.

It's the ninth time in program history that a pair of CU players have swept up the weekly awards. For Rudy, a fifth-year grad student from Novato, Calif., it's the fourth time she's earned Pac-12 weekly awards. For Donnelly, a senior from Newtown Square, Pa., it's the second.

Both players were major contributors in the weekend sweep over the California schools. Against Stanford, Rudy helped lead the offense by posting three goals and two assists. On the defensive end, Donnelly faced 37 shots and had a season-high 11 saves for a .423 save percentage. The victory over Stanford locked in the 10-year program's 100th victory.

In the team's 20-3 domination over Cal, Rudy was once again at the forefront of Colorado's offense. The attacker recorded another three goals, two assists, and picked up two ground balls. The hat trick was her sixth this season out of only seven games. Donnelly split time in the net after CU had a substantial lead at halftime, but she still managed to have four saves in the first half.

Currently, Rudy is second in the Pac-12 in overall goals with 24 and she's 22nd in the NCAA in goals per game with 3.43. Donnelly leads the Pac-12 in save percentage with .478 and she's ranked 30th in the NCAA in save percentage.

The CU lacrosse team hits the road this week to play No. 18 USC this Friday in Los Angeles. The team will then travel to face ASU in Tempe, Ariz. this Sunday.
"
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

[Creebuzz]

Awesome that one of our players is named Sam McGhee, hopefully named after the Robert Service poem.

 

[Heywood]

What’s up with the program these days. I remember being ranked most of the time in the beginning but it seems like that’s not the case anymore.

 

[AztecBuff]

Game Day!

 

[AztecBuff]

Looks like the Trojans got the win yesterday.

 

[Buffnik]

Looks like the Trojans got the win yesterday.

Need to beat ASU and pretty much run the table the rest of the way. That non-conference performance was brutal.

 

[AztecBuff]

Less than 2 hours until the opening draw.

Go get'um BUFFS!!!

 

[AztecBuff]

Live stats not working for me right now, but per Twitter the game has started and the Buffs have at least one goal (scored by Rudy).

Starters -



Goal -

 

[AztecBuff]

With the crazy momentum swings possible in lacrosse, often seems no lead is safe, but looks liike the Buffs have put themselves in good position at the half today.

Rudy has 3-4 goals, and Donnelly is listed as already having 6 saves

 

[AztecBuff]

ASU has eaten into the lead, and the Buff lead is down to 4 (13-9) heading into the final period.

 

[AztecBuff]

Getting VERY nervous on this one, as ASU has scored 2 more early in the 4th and the lead is down to 2.

Buffs getting dominated on draw control so far today (6-16).

 

[AztecBuff]

CU comes back from losing both games last season to ASU (by a combined 14-36 score) to get the BIG win today in Tempe 17-13.

Way to go Buffs!!!

 

[AztecBuff]

 

[Buffnik]

Boom!

Every game is pretty much a must-win.

 

[AztecBuff]

Media after today's win -



Direct link - https://cubuffs.com/news/2023/3/26/mcgee-sets-new-season-record.aspx

"
Tempe, Ariz. - Colorado lacrosse defeated Arizona State University 17-13 in a scoring bonanza which saw four Buffs earn hat tricks. Sixth year graduate student Sam McGee put away six goals, the most of any CU player in a single game this season.

The Buffs' (4-5, 3-1) victory marked the first time they've defeated ASU (2-5, 1-2) since 2021.

"Today was a hard fought game for us. I didn't expect anything today to be easy. This is a well-coached Arizona State team that is well tested with their schedule," head coach Ann Elliott Whidden said following the win. "I am proud of this team for finding a way to win. It was not pretty or easy, but we found a way and made plays when we needed to."

Although the Sun Devils gathered 21 draw controls compared to the Buffs' 7, Colorado's solid defense prevented ASU from ever gaining a lead. Goalkeeper Grace Donnelly had 14 saves while CU forced 11 ASU turnovers.

"Moving forward, we have to find a way to play better in these tough stretches of back-to-back Friday and Sunday weekends," Coach Whidden commented. "We made some simple things hard, and it put us in a tough spot down the stretch. We responded, which is awesome, but I know this team can do better in these other moments and we will. All these conference games are created equal and this was a huge one for our team."

On the offensive front, McGee, Charlie Rudy, Ashley Stokes, and Zoe McElhaney all earned hat tricks during the fixture. McElhaney's three goals were a new personal career high for a single game.
...
"
__________________________________________________________________________________________

Box score -

Lacrosse vs Arizona State on 3/26/2023 - Box Score - University of Colorado Athletics

The official box score of Lacrosse vs Arizona State on 3/26/2023

cubuffs.com