Buffs Head To Northern California For Pivotal Matches

BOULDER — The No. 16 Colorado Buffaloes are heading to Northern California for a pair of contests this weekend. The first stop will be Stanford, Calif., where CU will take on No. 12 Stanford at 7 p.m. PT/8 p.m. MT, on Friday, April 13. Then on Sunday, April 15, the Buffs will face off against California in Berkeley, Calif. at 12 p.m. PT/1 p.m. MT.

HOW TO WATCH: Both games will be streamed live on the Pac-12 Digital platform. Links to the streams, as well as live stats, are available at CUBuffs.com.

ABOUT THE BUFFS: Colorado is ranked 16th in the IWLCA poll and is 17th in the media and USL polls. CU is 9-4 this season and is tied for first in the league standings with a 6-1 record.

Darby Kiernan leads the team with 60 points this season, which is second in the Pac-12, 15th in the NCAA. She has earned 42 goals and 18 assists; her 42 goals is first in the Pac-12. She is also fourth in the NCAA, first in the Pac-12, with 8.31 draw controls per game. Miranda Stinson is a close second for the Buffs with 51 points (fifth in the Pac-12). Stinson has 39 goals this season (fourth in the Pac-12) and has 12 assists.

Sarah Brown and Kelsie Garrison lead CU with 1.46 caused turnovers per game (19 total) and 2.62 ground balls per game (34 total). Brown also adds 3.77 draw controls per game, which is second on the team. Julia Lisella has recorded an 8-2 record in goal this season.
She has allowed 7.80 goals per game, which is first in the Pac-12 and third in the NCAA. Lisella also leads the conference with a .542 save percentage, which is fifth in the NCAA.

ABOUT STANFORD: Stanford is currently ranked 11th in the media poll and is 12th in the coaches and USL polls. After starting the season 0-2, SU has bounced back to win 11 of 12 games and is currently on a nine-game win streak. The only loss in that stretch was the 18-16 loss to Colorado in Boulder. As a team, the Cardinal ranks third in scoring margin (+6.93), fifth in draw controls (16.43) and sixth in points per game (23.07) and scoring offense (16.14).

Kelsey Murray leads the Cardinal and ranks eighth in the NCAA with 65 points. Her 4.64 points per games is 20th in the nation. Murray has recorded 38 goals and 27 assists. Second on the team is Ali Baiocco with 49 points. She has totaled 39 goals and 10 assists.

Julia Massaro and Genesis Lucero have combined for 115 of SU's 230 draw controls this season. Massaro has recorded 59, while Genesis has 56. In goal, Allie DaCar has a 9.27 goals against average and a .489 save percentage, which are both second in the Pac-12.

THE SERIES: The Cardinal holds a 6-3 advantage in the all-time series against the Buffs, but CU has taken the last three meetings between the two teams, including a come-from-behind 18-16 win on March 16, 2018 in Boulder.

ABOUT CALIFORNIA: California has a 5-9 record this season and is 1-6 in Pac-12 play. The Bears have won one game in their last eight.
That win was a 17-13 victory against Arizona State in Tempe, Ariz.

Kirsten Swanson is Cal's leading scoring with 30 goals and 10 assists for 40 points. Just behind her is Eliza Christman with 28 points. She has 23 goals and five assists this season.

There are a pair of Bears who have recorded more than 50 draw controls this season: Meredith Haggerty (50) and Elizabeth Koehler (60). They also lead the team in caused turnovers. Haggerty has recorded 17 this season, while Koehler has 15. Jenny Wilkens has played all 14 games in goal for Cal this season, clocking in 748:59 minutes. She has a .403 save percentage and an 11.62 goals against average.

THE SERIES: The Buffs lead the series 3-2. Cal took the first two contests, one at home and one in Boulder, before the Buffs responded with a win in Boulder (April 17, 2016) and in Berkeley, Calif. (April 23, 2017). CU also won the first meeting this season, a 15-5 decision.

UP NEXT: The Buffs will finish the regular season at home on Friday, April 20, against Oregon. CU will celebrate its seniors after the game.

THE KITT FIELD ADVANTAGE: The Buffs have done quite well at Kittredge Field since 2014, compiling a 30-5 record. CU is currently in the middle of a 16-0 run at Kitt. The Buffs won the last three home games in 2016 and did not drop a contest at Kitt in 2017 (7-0). They are 6-0 at home this season.

PAC-12 TOURNAMENT TICKET INFORMATION: Tickets for the Inaugural Pac-12 Women's Lacrosse Tournament, April 26-29, in Boulder, are now on sale. Colorado will serve as the host for the first ever tournament. The quarterfinal games will be played on Thursday, April 26, while the semifinals will be contested on Friday, April 27. The championship game is set for Sunday, April 29. All five games will be played at Prentup Field, the home of Colorado's soccer program.

Fans can purchase an all-sessions pass that includes all five games, or a single-session pass for one day. Tickets can be purchased online at CUBuffs.com or by calling 303-49-BUFFS. Pricing for both options is listed below:

ALL-SESSIONS
Adults: $20
Children 12 and Under: $12
CU Students: $12
Per Ticket Fee (Online Only): $2.50
Mail Fee: $1
Print at Home: no charge

SINGLE-SESSION
Adults: $8
Children 12 and Under: $5
CU Students: $5
Per Ticket Fee (Online Only): $1.50
Mail Fee: $1
Print at Home: no charge

PRENTUP FIELD GAME DAY POLICIES: For all games played at Prentup Field, there is a strict no pet policy, so please plan accordingly. There is also a strictly enforced clear bag policy. For more information, go the CUBuffs.com/BeClear or ready the bottom of the release.

CLEAR BAG POLICY
In an effort to provide a safer environment for fans, the University of Colorado will continue its clear bag policy at the Prentup Field for all lacrosse and soccer games, which includes the Pac-12 Women's Lacrosse Tournament.

Fans may bring one clear bag no larger than 12 inches x 6 inches x 12 inches, or a one-gallon reseal-able clear plastic storage bag, into the arena. Fans will also be allowed one small clutch purse, no larger than 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches.

Bags that are not allowed into the CEC include backpacks, large purses, oversized tote bags, camera bags and binocular cases, diaper bags, fanny packs and printed plastic bags.

For more information check out the following link: CUBuffs.com/BeClear.

Buffs Head To Northern California For Pivotal Matches

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Sarah Brown

Kelsie Garrison

Darby Kiernan

Julia Lisella

Miranda Stinson