The Oregon Ducks women’s lacrosse team will return to Papé Field on April 4 for their second-to-last home game of the season, hosting No. 9 ranked Johns Hopkins after a two-game road trip in the Midwest.
This matchup is significant as it marks another challenge for Oregon, which is still seeking its first Big Ten Conference win. Seven Big Ten teams are currently ranked in the IWLCA Top-25, highlighting the level of competition faced by the Ducks this season.
Oregon (6-6, 0-4) has met Johns Hopkins (10-3, 3-2) six times previously, with their only victory coming at home in Eugene in 2009. Last year’s meeting resulted in a decisive win for Johns Hopkins with a score of 22-8. The Ducks have struggled against top-ranked conference opponents this season but have shown resilience and individual standout performances, including Gabby Santucci’s hat trick and Francesca Viteritti’s defensive efforts against Maryland earlier this year.
Eighteen different players have scored goals for Oregon so far this season, led by Anna Simmons and Emma Ing with 18 goals each. Goalkeeper Kate Shields has also made notable contributions with strong performances both as a starter and off the bench.
Senior Anna Simmons was named Big Ten Midfielder of the Week three times early in the season and continues to lead her team offensively. Other captains include Rachel Pallo, Lexi Jenkins, and Avery Young—all contributing significantly on both offense and defense throughout the campaign.
As Oregon prepares to face another highly ranked opponent at home, they aim to build on recent wins against UC Davis and Delaware State while looking for improvement within conference play.
