2021 Pac 12 Tournament thread- #3 seed LACROSSE (All matches @ Stanford, 2nd (Championship) game vs. #1 seed Stanford, Saturday, 5/8, 1:00 PM MT)

[AztecBuff]

Best wishes to the #3 seed Buff lacrosse team (7-6, 4-3, #29 RPI), as they are scheduled to begin Pac 12 Tournament play against #2 seed USC (9-6, 6-3, #39 RPI) this Thursday, with the opening draw scheduled for 8:30 PM MT (7:30 PM local/ Stanford time). The winner will play in the championship game, which is scheduled to begin Saturday at 1:00 PM MT.

All games in the tourney are scheduled to be shown on the Pac 12 Networks.

(Originally, the #3 seed Buffs would have had to play a quarterfinal game, but Oregon has had to bow out of the tournament due to Covid-19 protocol issues, so only #4 seed ASU and #5 seed Cal are playing a 1st round game, on Wednesday.)

Go Buffs!!!

Preview-



Direct link - https://cubuffs.com/news/2021/5/4/l...alifornia-in-pac-12-tournament-semifinal.aspx

"
BOULDER — Colorado will take on No. 2 seed Southern California in the semifinals of the Pac-12 Conference Lacrosse Tournament on Thursday, May 6, at 8:30 p.m. MT at Stanford Stadium. The winner will move on to the title game with a trip to the NCAA Championship on the line.

The Buffs, who finished as the No. 3 seed, are heading straight to the semifinals since the No. 5 seed, Oregon, had to withdraw from the tournament because of COVID-19 protocols within the program.

"Obviously we wanted everybody to be at the Pac-12 Tournament and able to compete," Colorado coach Ann Elliott Whidden said last week. "Having an extra day for us is big because we are in the middle of finals and for us to be able to complete finals before we play will help us out a ton and we will focus then."

Original first round match-ups had the Ducks facing No. 4 Arizona State, while CU was set to take on No. 6 California on Wednesday, May 5. With UO pulling out of the tournament, Cal will now face ASU in the only first round match-up on May 5. The winner of that contest will advance to the semifinals to play top-seeded Stanford on Thursday at 5 p.m. before the Buffs and Trojans play. The championship game will be played on Saturday, May 8, at 1 p.m. MT.

All tournament games will be televised on Pac-12 Network. Troy Clardy will have the call, while Kara Lentz will provide the color.
...

ABOUT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: The Trojans finished 9-6 overall and earned the No. 2 seed with a 6-3 record in conference play. The only game that was canceled was against Stanford.

Kelsey Huff has scored a team-best 35 goals this season, while a pair of teammates, Issy McMahon and Ella Hearney have each recorded 30 goals. McMahon has also added 21 assists for a team-best 51 points. Maddie McDaniels ranks second in the Pac-12 and fourth in the nation in draw controls with 144 (9.60 per game).

In goal, Riley Hertford leads the team with 33 ground balls. She is averaging a 42.9 saves percentage and has allowed 12.21 goals against.

THE SERIES: USC leads the all-time series 8-4, but this season each team has won on its home field. The Trojans took the first meeting in L.A, an 18-12 decision, on March 26. Then seven days later in Boulder, the Buffs recorded a five-goal come-from-behind win to take down the Trojans 13-11. CU held USC scoreless while making the comeback, scoring the final seven goals of the game.
"
_______________________________________________________________________________________

More on USC:
Roster - https://usctrojans.com/sports/womens-lacrosse/roster?path=wlax
Stats - https://usctrojans.com/sports/womens-lacrosse/stats?path=wlax
Schedule/ results for this season - https://usctrojans.com/sports/womens-lacrosse/schedule/2021
Their preview article for the match with the Buffs - https://usctrojans.com/news/2021/5/...pens-pac-12-tournament-against-buffaloes.aspx

More on Stanford:
Roster - https://gostanford.com/sports/womens-lacrosse/roster
Stats - https://gostanford.com/sports/womens-lacrosse/stats
Schedule/ results for this season - https://gostanford.com/sports/womens-lacrosse/schedule/2021
Their preview article for the match with the Buffs - Not available as I type this.
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Pac 12 Networks preview Article with schedule for all tournament games - https://pac-12.com/article/2021/05/...ns-lacrosse-tournament-begins-wednesday-may-5

1st round match links:

Live stats -

StatMonitr Stat Feed

Live Video - Match is scheduled to be shown live on the Pac 12 National and all regional channels other than the Washington one. For those whose Cable/ Satellite/ Cord Cutting subscription includes access to any of those Pac 12 channels, assume it can also be streamed through a link at https://pac-12.com/womens-lacrosse/event/2021/05/06/colorado-vs-usc .

Game notes -

2021 Lacrosse Notes 5 4 21 (PDF) - University of Colorado Athletics

2021 Lacrosse Notes 5 4 21 (PDF)

cubuffs.com

Championship match links:

Live stats -

StatMonitr Stat Feed

Live Video - Match is scheduled to be shown live on the Pac 12 National and all 6 regional channels. For those whose Cable/ Satellite/ Cord Cutting subscription includes access to any of those Pac 12 channels, assume it can also be streamed through a link at https://pac-12.com/womens-lacrosse/event/2021/05/08/stanford-vs-colorado .

Game notes - Not available as I type this.

 

[AztecBuff]

Congrats to the four Buffs who earned All-Conference honors!


Direct link to article - https://cubuffs.com/news/2021/5/5/l...ear-buffs-place-four-on-all-pac-12-teams.aspx

"
SAN FRANCISCO — University of Colorado senior Julia Lisella has been named the 2021 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, the conference announced Wednesday afternoon.

Lisella, along with three other teammates, were named to the All-Pac-12 Conference Lacrosse teams. Senior Sadie Grozier (attacker) and graduate student Kate White (defender), along with Lisella, earned spots on the first team, while junior Charlie Rudy (attacker) was selected to the second team.

Lisella is the first goalkeeper in conference history to earn the defensive player of the year honor. Her teammate, Sarah Brown, was the first athlete to receive the award in 2018 as a defender and in 2019, USC's Jackie Gilbert, another defender, picked up the honor. No postseason awards were handed out in 2020 due to the shortened season.

The Littleton, Colo. native has started and played in every minute of CU's 13 games this season. She is averaging 10.31 saves per game which ranks 13th in the NCAA and her 49.1 saves percentage is 14th in the nation. She leads the team with 3.00 ground balls per game (28th in the NCAA) and her 10.64 goals-against average is 28th in the NCAA. Lisella leads the Pac-12 in goals-against average, saves percentage, saves per game and total saves (134).

During six games this season she recorded 10 or more saves; which included tying her career-high (17) against Arizona State on March 28. Lisella was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week after helping the Buffs pick up wins against USC and ASU, April 2 and 4, respectively, at Kittredge Field. Lisella, along with the rest of the CU defense, held the Trojans scoreless for over the final 25 minutes of play when the Buffs rallied from a five-goal deficit (11-6) and defeated USC 13-11.

This is her third all-conference team honor. She has been a member of the first team twice (2019 and '21) and a second team selection once (2019).

Grozier is making her second all-conference appearance, her first selection on the first team as she was named to the second team in 2019. She is CU's second-leading scorer with 30 goals, which is seventh in the Pac-12, and is also second for the Buffs in assists (12). Grozier leads the Pac-12 in free-position goals per game (1.08), which ranks 18th in the NCAA. She ranks third in the conference in shots per game (7.00) and is fifth in shots on goal per game (5.25). She has played in 12 of 13 games this season and has scored at least one point in every game she has played.

Grozier tied her career-high for goals twice this season, scoring five against San Diego State (March 14) and USC (April 2). In both games she also tied her career-best for points with six, adding one assist. In the win against SDSU, Grozier recorded a CU single-game record with 15 shots. She also put her name in the single-game record book twice when she scored three free-position goals against Denver (Feb. 28) and Arizona State (April 4), which is tied for fourth.

White has been a strong addition to the team at defense this year. A transfer from Dartmouth, she earned a spot in the line-up immediately, starting all in all 13 games. She ranks third on the team with 24 ground balls and leads CU with 15 caused turnovers. Her 1.15 caused turnovers per game ranks sixth in the Pac-12.

CU has cleared at a 92.3% this season, which starts with a strong defense. She often marks up the opponents' top scorer and has limited their shot attempts. White has also been part of CU's defense that has shut down opponents to force shot clock violations. This is her first All-Pac-12 First Team honor.

Rudy is making her first appearance on the all-conference team as a member of the second team. Colorado's leading scorer with 45 goals this season, she ranks second in the conference in goals and is third in goals per game (3.46). Nationally she is 25th in goals and 26th in goals per game. Rudy's free-position percentage (55.6) leads the Pac-12, as does her shots per game (8.38) and her shots on goal per game (6.23), which are ninth and 11th in the NCAA, respectively.

Rudy has scored in every game this season, but her streak goes back to 2020 as she recorded at least one point in each of the five games in that season. She recorded a season-best seven goals against California (March 22) and Arizona State (March 28) and has recorded four or more goals in six games this year.

The Buffs (7-6) will face Southern California (9-6) Thursday, May 6, at 8:30 p.m. MT in the semifinals of the Pac-12 Tournament. It will be televised live on Pac-12 Network.
...
"

 

[AztecBuff]

 

[AztecBuff]

 

[AztecBuff]

Game has just begun.

In off the field news, congrats to Ms. Cahill!


"
SAN FRANCISCO — University of Colorado senior Eliza Cahill has been named the 2021 Pac-12 Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Cahill will graduate this week from CU with a degree in business administration with an emphasis in finance, as well as a minor in political science. In her four years with the Buffaloes, she has maintained a 3.921 grade point average, which includes a pair of 4.0's.

The native of The Woodlands, Texas, was a member of the Pac-12 Academic Teams and Honor Roll the last couple of years. She was named to the AD's Honor Roll seven times and was a member of the Dean's List six times. She also received the Bryon R. White Leadership and Initiative Award this past year, which is awarded annually to those student-athletes who have exhibited outstanding initiative and demonstrate a strong commitment to service to the CU and Boulder communities.

Cahill is the first CU lacrosse player to earn this award. Prior recipients include Shannon Williams (Oregon, 2019) and Kelsey Murray (Stanford, 2018).
"

 

[AztecBuff]

Buffs get the 1st goal!

Note- the announcer just mentioned that Buff leading scorer Charlie Rudy is not available tonight due to injury.

 

[AztecBuff]

After going up 3-2 with around 20 minutes left in the 1st half, the Buffs go scoreless the rest of the half and will need to play catch-up, as it's 3-6 usc at halftime.

The Buffs had 10 turnovers (vs. 5 for the Trojans) which looks to be the main factor in a BIG deficit in shots (5-16) and shots on goal (4-11)
.

 

[AztecBuff]

The Buffs get the BIG W with a 9-8 comeback win over the Trojans!

 

[Not Sure]

Suck it, Trojan losers!

 

[Bmixer]

did they say what the injury is to Rudy

 

[AztecBuff]

did they say what the injury is to Rudy

Not that I heard. (I didn't catch the 2nd half, so don't know if they said anything more then.)

Note - Looks like #1 seed Stanford cruised past #4 seed ASU 18-11 in the other semi-final earlier today, so the Buffs are scheduled to play the host Cardinal this Saturday at 1:00 PM MT for the Pac 12 Tournament Championship and auto-bid to the NCAA tournament.

 

[AztecBuff]

article after yesterday evening's win.


Direct link -

"
STANFORD, Calif. – Colorado senior Sadie Grozier recorded a hat-trick, which included her 100th career goal, and helped the Buffaloes record a second-half comeback to defeat Southern California, 9-8, on Thursday night in the semifinals of the Pac-12 Lacrosse Tournament at Stanford Stadium.

CU (8-6) will face Stanford (10-0), which is the top seed and is currently ranked 13th in the IWLCA Coaches Poll. The Cardinal defeated Arizona State, 18-11, in the first semifinal of the day.

The Buffs were playing without Charlie Rudy, but multiple players stepped up, especially in the second half where CU had six different players score. Grozier led the Buffs with three goals; two came in the first half and one was in the second half. Chloe Willard recorded a pair for CU and had one in each half.

Julia Lisella recorded 10 saves, five in each half, for a 55.6 saves percentage.

USC is now 9-7 overall after finishing the conference season 6-3.

"It was an exciting game," head coach Ann Elliott Whidden said. "We knew going into it that this would be a battle. USC has been playing very well and both teams knew this could be our last game if we didn't win. I am really proud of this group. All year it has been a battle for us and each time they have risen to the occasion and fought their way back.

"Tonight I think we played for each other and made plays for each other. When something didn't go our way, the next person stepped up to get it back. We are excited to compete for a championship Saturday. Stanford is a great team, well coached and is playing well. We know it will be another battle and we look forward to the opportunity to compete in the Pac-12 Championship again."
...

NOTABLE STATS: Sadie Grozier recorded the 100th career goal of her career. She is now the fifth Buff to record 100 or more career goals at CU. The other four Buffs are Darby Kiernan (210), Johnna Fusco (172), Miranda Stinson (171) and Cali Castagnola (108).
...

TEAM LEADERS:

Colorado	Southern California
Points: 12	Points: 11
Goals: 9	Goals: 8
Assists: 3	Assists: 3
Draw Controls: 9	Draw Controls: 10
Ground Balls: 18	Ground Balls: 18
Saves: 10	Saves: 6

UP NEXT: The Buffs will play Stanford in the Pac-12 Tournament Championship game on Saturday at 1 p.m. MT.
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Box score - https://cubuffs.com/sports/womens-lacrosse/stats/2021/usc/boxscore/14272

I can't find any overall highlights at this point, but here's the celebration after the W-

"

 

[AztecBuff]

I have added some links and a little information on tomorrow's championship game and opponent in the original post.

 

[AztecBuff]

 

[AztecBuff]

Preview for tomorrow's game-



Direct link - https://cubuffs.com/news/2021/5/7/l...ord-set-for-rematch-in-pac-12-title-game.aspx

"
BOULDER — Since the Buffaloes lost 10-9 in overtime to Stanford on March 20 in Boulder in the Pac-12 Conference lacrosse opener, CU has been waiting for a rematch.

The conference schedule is set up so that each team plays twice, once at home and once on the road. But this year with COVID-19 protocols and cancelations, that was not always the case. When it was time for the rematch in Stanford, Calif., the Cardinal had to cancel due to those protocols, leaving the only way for a possible match-up between the two in the Pac-12 Tournament.

That is exactly what has happened and the conference championship is on the line as the two programs will meet in the title game for the second time in three years (there was no conference tournament in 2020) on Saturday, May 8, at 1 p.m. at Stanford, Stadium.

"Obviously no one wants to miss a conference game in regular season," head coach Ann Elliott Whidden said. "Our message at the time was, we control what we can control and if we do that we will get a rematch in the tournament. We have done that and we are excited about this opportunity to play Stanford again."

The Cardinal is the only ranked team in the Pac-12 and is currently 13th in the IWLCA Poll. Stanford has recorded a 10-0 record and finished conference play 7-0 to earn the top seed in the tournament. In the first semi, the Cardinal downed Arizona State 18-11 to advance to the finals.

Colorado entered the tournament as the No. 3 seed and played No. 2 USC. After trailing 6-3 at halftime, the Buffs rallied back to defeat the Trojans for the second time this season. CU used a 5-0 run to take a 9-7 lead with just over eight minutes to play in the game. USC recorded a goal with less than two minutes to play, but CU's defense held strong and the Buffs hung on for the win.

This is the second time the two teams will meet in the conference championship game as they faced off in 2018, the inaugural year of the event. That season Stanford came away with the tournament title after CU won the regular season title. The Buffs are the only team that has played in all three Pac-12 championship games.

The winner of this game is guaranteed a spot in the NCAA Tournament as the conference's automatic berth. Without the win, either team will have to wait and see if the NCAA selection committee would extend an at-large berth during the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday, May 9, at 7 p.m. ET, on EPSNU.

"[Stanford] They are a great team, talent and play makers in every position and they find a way to win," Whidden said. "All season they have been tested and found a way to get it done. A testament to their coaching. Right now, we know our back is against the wall. Nothing is guaranteed past Saturday unless we win. We have been here before and we understand that. This team has continued to overcome challenges all season long to get to this point and the key for us is simply playing for each other and coming out confident and aggressive. It's going to be a battle but we are looking forward to the challenge."
"

 

[AztecBuff]

Championship day!

 

[AztecBuff]

Almost time for the opening draw.

 

[Bmixer]

draw controls are killing CU. 10-0 Stanford. CU has not had good draw control since Kiermann was here.

 

[AztecBuff]

4-10 at the half, with the trees up 2-13 in draw controls.

 

[AztecBuff]

10-17 is the final score.

 

[AztecBuff]