University of Colorado Athletics
Buffs Could Face Stanford Again In MPSF Lacrosse Semifinals
April 26, 2017 | Lacrosse, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — In their three years of existence, the Colorado Buffaloes have seen their lacrosse season end each season in the MPSF tournament semifinals — each time at the hands of Stanford.
Friday, the Buffs have a chance to put an end to that streak, and there is a distinct possibility that it will once again be the Cardinal in their way.
This year, however, the story line is already different than past seasons.
In CU's three previous MPSF tourney appearances, the Buffs were not a No. 1 or 2 seed, meaning they had to play in the first round. This year, thanks to a 7-1 finish in conference play (15-2 overall), the Buffs earned the No. 2 seed and now have a first-round bye.
Thus, Ann Elliott's team will watch Thursday as No. 3 Stanford and No. 6 Cal square off in the tourney opener at USC's McAlister Field. Colorado will then meet the winner of that game in Friday's 5 p.m. semifinal.
"It's new territory for us and hopefully the extra day of rest coming off two long weekends of travel will help us in the long run," said Elliott, whose team enters the tournament ranked eighth in the nation in the Cascade/Inside Lacrosse media poll. "But our mentality will be the same. We'll focus on ourselves this week and once we learn who we're playing on Thursday we'll get prepared for them and be ready for Friday."
A second win over the Cardinal — the Buffs ended an 0-6 all-time skid against Stanford with a 13-8 win earlier this season — would give the Buffs their first-ever berth in Sunday's MPSF tourney championship game as well as virtually assure CU of its first NCAA Tournament appearance. A tourney title would likely result in the Buffs hosting the first round of the NCAA tourney.
But Elliott and her players insist that they aren't looking past Friday. A staunch proponent of the "one game at a time" philosophy, Elliott said the Buffs aren't thinking about championship game possibilities.
"You can't make it to the next game if you don't win the first," Elliott said. "One game at a time, one thing at a time. We're just trying to make sure we take care of ourselves and prepare mentally as best we can."
In their regular season meeting, Stanford dealt rival Cal a 15-12 defeat. The Buffs also beat Cal this season, but had a much easier time, dealing the Bears an 18-6 loss.
But this week will also mark the third straight weekend the Buffs have ventured to California for a road trip. The tournament also comes with final exams on the immediate horizon.
"I think it helps to have strong senior leadership at this time of year," Elliott said. "Making the road trip to California three weekends in a row, missing class and having to make up work, is tiring. Their leadership has to carry us through this time and motivate the whole team. This is the last opportunity they have."
Indeed, this is the last chance for CU's 16 seniors — all members of the original CU recruiting class — to advance to the MPSF championship game. (It's also the last chance for the Buffs as a program, as the Pac-12 will sponsor women's lacrosse next season with six teams in the league.)
"It doesn't matter if we're tired, it doesn't matter if we have to study, we can't let those things be a factor," Elliott said. "That's where I believe the leadership that we have will continue to help this program be successful. We need their positivity and energy and I think our girls are ready to respond."
After hitting a "rough patch" in late March and early April — CU saw an 11-game win streak come to an end at No. 5 Stony Brook, then lost two weeks later at No. 9 USC — Colorado has rebounded to win its last three games by a combined 59-16 score.
Now, Elliott believes the Buffs are hitting their peak at exactly the right time of the season.
"I think we're rebounding back into that mentality that we had early on when we were playing together and focusing on each other and playing for each other and doing the little things," Elliott said. "That's really the mentality we've been focusing on recently. They are beginning to take control of what's going on on the field."
That mentality, Elliott said, could be the spark Colorado needs as it aims for previously uncharted territory.
"Individually, the girls have done what they're supposed to do," Elliott said. "They've stepped up and been the players they can be. But it's more about what they've done collectively, which I think has always been our struggle down the stretch against top teams. That's the exciting part for us and the exciting part about the postseason."
The other first-round game pits No. 4 Stanford vs. No. 5 San Diego State, with the winner facing host and defending champion USC on Friday.
MPSF TOURNAMENT
McAlister Field, Los Angeles
Thursday First Round
Game 1, 1 p.m. — No. 3 Stanford (11-5, 6-2) vs. No. 6 California (5-12, 3-5)
Game 2, 5 p.m. — No. 4 Oregon (9-7, 5-3) vs. No. 5 San Diego State (9-7, 3-5)
Friday Semifinals
Game 3, 1 p.m. — No. 1 USC (14-3, 8-0) vs. Game 2 Winner
Game 4, 5 p.m. — No. 2 Colorado (15-2, 7-1) vs. Game 1 Winner
Sunday Championship
Game 5, 2 p.m. — Game 3 and 4 Winners
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
