Lacrosse Opens Pac-12 Play In Northern California

BOULDER — The No. 23 University of Colorado lacrosse team opens up Pac-12 Conference play this week in Northern California against No. 15 Stanford and California.

The Buffs will kick off their road trip against the Cardinal at 6 p.m. PT/7 p.m. MT on Friday, March 8, in Stanford, Calif. The game is also the 100^th game in CU program history. Then on Sunday, March 10, CU will face off against the Bears in Berkeley, Calif. at 12 p.m. PT/1 p.m. MT.

HOW TO WATCH: Both games will be streamed online for free and live stats will be available at https://buffs.me/2V9U0pu.

ABOUT THE BUFFS: The Buffs have had a tough start to the season and are currently 1-3. All three losses have been against top-20 teams, but all three have also been in Boulder. CU's only win came on the road against then-No. 14 Virginia Tech.

The Buffs have a pair of players in double-digit points in Miranda Stinson and Samantha Nemirov. Stinson leads the team in points with 14 (nine goals and five assists), while Nemirov is second with 11 points (nine goals and two assists). Two other Buffs, Charlie Rudy and Sadie Grozier, each have five goals this season. Eliza Cahill is the team leader in draw controls with 15.

Stinson has been performing well all-around for the Buffs. In addition to the 14 points, she also had eight caused turnovers and nine draw controls. Julia Lisella has played all 240:00 minutes in net and has allowed 11.25 goals per game. She has made 45 saves for a .500 save percentage, which is second in the Pac-12.

ABOUT THE CARDINAL: Stanford is 4-1 to start the season, which has given them a No. 15 ranking in the latest IWLCA Coaches Poll. The Cardinal is also ranked 16th in the Cascade/Inside Lacrosse Media Poll, while it is 14^th in the NIKE/US Lacrosse Poll. SU is coming off a weekend where it went 2-0 on the road, defeating Albany 16-13, and then No. 10 Stony Brook, 15-12.

Leading the team is Ali Baiocco, who has recorded 17 goals and seven assists for 24 points. She also has eight ground balls and four caused turnovers. Second on the team in points is Daniella McMahon, who has 17 points (11 goals and six assists). In the draw circle, Genesis Lucero leads the way with 18, while Areta Buness is second with 14.

Trudie Grattan has played all five games for the Cardinal and is allowing 10.00 goals per game while recording a .487 save percentage. Julia Copper has seen action in two games for 60:00 minutes, and in that time is also averaging 10.00 goals per game and a .375 save percentage.

THE SERIES: Stanford had the lead in the all-time series against the Buffs, owning a 7-4 advantage. The Cardinal won the first six meetings before the Buffs won four straight (2017-18). In the last meeting between the two, SU defeated CU 15-6 in the Pac-12 Tournament Championship.

ABOUT THE BEARS: California enters the week with a 3-4 record. The Bears dropped their first four games, but came back to win its next three, including a pair of games on the road against George Washington (15-8) and Mount St. Mary's (12-9).

Kirsten Swanson has been the team's leader in points, recording 15 goals and five assists. Second is Susie Ropp, who has 17 points (13 goals and four assists). Eliza Christman has a team-high 30 draw controls this season.

In goal, Jenny Wilkens has played in all but 16:55 minutes. She is averaging 12.35 goals against and a .439 save percentage. Kendal Swenson is the team leader in caused turnovers with 10, while Ella Annest has six.

THE SERIES: Colorado owns a 4-2 lead in the all-time series against the Bears. Cal took the first two meetings in 2014 and 2015, but since then, it has been all Buffs. CU is 2-1 in Berkeley.

UP NEXT: The Buffs return to Boulder to host Southern California and Arizona State, March 15 and 17, respectively.

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Players Mentioned

Eliza Cahill

Sadie Grozier

Julia Lisella

Samantha Nemirov

Charlie Rudy

Miranda Stinson