The Oregon Ducks women’s lacrosse team is set to face Kent State for the first time in program history. The match will take place at Papé Field in Eugene, Oregon, on Monday, March 8, with a noon start time. This game marks the final non-conference contest of the season for Oregon before they begin Big Ten play against Maryland.
Kent State enters the matchup with a 4-2 record and is in its eighth season as a program. Oregon holds a 5-2 record after a series of strong performances at home.
In their most recent outing, the Ducks secured their largest margin of victory this season by defeating Delaware State 20-3. Thirteen different players contributed to the scoring effort, with twelve goals coming from bench players. Seniors Riley Taylor and Kylee Manser each added late goals, while Lilly Fortin, Emma Ing, Jaeda Jensen, Rachel Pallo, and Avery Young scored twice each.
“20 goals is the most by Oregon this season, just three shy of the program record 23, which was last reached against Presbyterian in 2014.”
Eighteen Ducks have scored this season. Anna Simmons leads with 15 goals through seven games; Gabby Santucci and Emma Ing have also reached double digits. Ing’s six-goal performance against San Diego State stands as the highest single-game total for an Oregon player this year.
Transfer goalkeeper Francesca Viteritti has earned back-to-back wins after her first start since the opener. Against UC Davis she played all 60 minutes and recorded six saves on 23 shots faced. Viteritti also helped limit Delaware State to three goals alongside Kate Shields and Kaley Gunning.
Senior Anna Simmons was named Big Ten Midfielder of the Week in consecutive weeks for her role in key victories. She led a comeback win over Arizona State by scoring three late goals to force overtime and then securing victory with a fourth goal off a free-position shot.
“Simmons was named the Big Ten Midfielder of the Week each of the first three weeks of the 2025 season.”
Simmons has scored at least twice in each of Oregon’s first six games and leads with 39 draw controls.
Lilly Fortin played a crucial role in Oregon’s recent win over UC Davis by scoring the go-ahead goal late in regulation to secure a one-goal victory. Francesca Viteritti anchored the defense during that game as well.
The Ducks announced four captains for this season: seniors Anna Simmons and Rachel Pallo; junior Lexi Jenkins; and Avery Young. Simmons tied a program record with seven goals last year; Pallo finished second all-time for single-season draw controls; Jenkins has started every game since joining; Young returned from injury after being named a Big Ten Player to Watch last year.
“After last season Pallo was first in program history, averaging 3.79 draw controls per game. Her 178 total are third-most at UO.”
Goalkeeper Kate Shields played an important part in an overtime win against Arizona State earlier this year by making ten saves—one short of her career best—and earning starts over four subsequent games while maintaining one of the top save percentages in conference play.
