Colorado
13-6, 5-2Pac-12
Stanford
13-4, 7-0Pac-12
Buffs Fall to Stanford in Pac-12 Championship Game
May 04, 2024 | Lacrosse
LOS ANGELES —The No. 24 Colorado Buffaloes (13-6) fell to the No. 16 Stanford Cardinal (13-4) 11-8 Saturday afternoon in the Pac-12 Tournament Championship game. The Buffs move to 13-6 overall on the season, and finish with a 2-1 record in the tournament.
Stanford had set the tone early on, scoring three consecutive goals in the first ten minutes of the game. The Buffs answered with three scores in a row of their own to tie the game, but the Cardinal would outscore them 8-5 in the final three quarters to claim the Pac-12 title.
"It was a great effort by our team, it's not easy to come out and try to play and win three games in four days," head coach Ann Elliott Whidden said. "I thought they did a good job sticking to the game plan, and when we had opportunities to win this game we just didn't capitalize enough today and Stanford did a good job. I think there's a lot to be proud of for this group. We'll see tomorrow night, but hopefully we'll get another opportunity to play. I think the effort today hopefully shows the type of team we are and that we can compete."
Colorado awaits for their postseason fate on Selection Sunday, which will be tomorrow night at 7 p.m. MDT. The Buffs will look to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2019 season.
Rachel Kennedy and Eve Hritzuk each racked up a multi-score performance in the title game on Saturday, the only Buffs with multiple scores in the contest. Hritzuk led all CU scorers with three goals, and had 10 points (5 G, 5 A) across the three games in the conference tournament. Kennedy scored two or more goals for just the third time all season on Saturday afternoon.
Madeline Pisani notched one goal in the loss, making her the only Buff to score in every game so far this year. She's up to 67 goals on the year, the second-most ever in a season by a Buff. Darby Kiernan scored 70 goals for the Buffaloes back during the 2018 season.
Southern California native — Ashley Stokes — had three points on the day, courtesy of one score and two assists. Stokes reaches the 30 assists plateau for the season, becoming just the second Buff to ever do so. Kiernan also holds the school record of 31 assists for a single season.
The Buffaloes primary draw specialist, Aidan Carr, posted double-digit draw controls (12) for the sixth consecutive game and is now at 120 draw controls for the year. That ties Kiernan and her 2017 season for the second-most draw controls by a Buff.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The No. 1 seed Stanford Cardinal captured the first score of the game at the 11:20 mark in the first. Ailish Kelly scored shortly after, putting Stanford up 2-0 early on in the first quarter. After three Cardinal goals, Eve Hritzuk found the back of the net, giving the Buffaloes their first score of the game.
Rachel Kennedy would net the next two scores for the Buffs, to tie things up at three in the second quarter. Sarah Jaques reclaimed for the lead for Stanford with 13:01 remaining in the second quarter. Ashley Stokes brought CU back within one score thanks to a free position attempt.
Leading by two at the break, Stanford extended their lead to four opening the third quarter, courtesy of Maddi Miller and Aliya Polisky scoring goals. Hritzuk posted the first score of the second half for the Buffaloes, to keep them within striking distance.
Jaques scored her second of the game for Stanford, to put them up 9-5 early on in the final period of regulation. Madeline Pisani found the net with 7:18 remaining in the game, to give CU their sixth goal of the game. Hritzuk scored on a free position attempt just under a minute later, brining CU within two scores. Polisky captured her second score to put Stanford by up by three, they'd score once more with an open Colorado net. Sydney Zimmerman claimed a last second goal for CU, but not enough to pull out the win.
GOAL SCORERS
Eve Hritzuk - 3
Rachel Kennedy - 2
Ashley Stokes - 1
Madeline Pisani - 1
Sydney Zimmerman - 1
PAC-12 ALL-TOURNAMENT
Three Buffs were named to the Pac-12 All-Tournament team on Saturday after the game.
FINAL QUOTE
"I think we've had a great season from beginning to the end," Whidden said. "We've been playing great lacrosse, this last little stretch and over this weekend. Again, to make it to this championship when you have to play in the first round, to come out and keep this game close and compete for the whole 60 minutes. There's a lot to be proud of. I think we get a chance. We'll take care of business and be ready for it."
UP NEXT
The Buffs postseason fate will be determined tomorrow night, at 7 p.m. MDT for selection Sunday when the field of 29 teams are announced for the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
SOCIAL MEDIA COVERAGE
Slow and steady wins the race, Eve's got us on the board!#GoBuffs pic.twitter.com/63Sb322EDR
— Colorado Buffaloes Lacrosse (@CUBuffsWLax) May 4, 2024
And just like that...TIE GAME!
— Colorado Buffaloes Lacrosse (@CUBuffsWLax) May 4, 2024
Rachel Kennedy with B2B goals.#GoBuffs pic.twitter.com/pUpmDamijG
Spectacular, Stokes.
— Colorado Buffaloes Lacrosse (@CUBuffsWLax) May 4, 2024
She brings us back within one!#GoBuffs pic.twitter.com/V9OwYowV6V
