Saturday, March 29
San Diego, Calif.
2:00 PM
Colorado
at
San Diego State
Photo by: Tony Harman
Lacrosse Buffs Ready for Big 12 Opener Against Aztecs
March 26, 2025 | Lacrosse
Colorado is 6-5 in conference openers and 26-7 against current Big 12 teams
BOULDER – The Colorado lacrosse team (4-5, 0-0 Big 12) begins Big 12 play on the road this week against San Diego State (5-5, 0-1 Big 12) on Saturday, Mar. 29. The Buffs' game against the Aztecs will be at Aztec Field at 2 p.m. MT.
The Buffs were conference foes in the Pac-12 with the Aztecs and now face them for the 11th time in program history. Both teams are looking for their first win in the inaugural season of Big 12 Lacrosse. This is just the third unranked opponent for CU, now 27th in the NCAA RPI. Colorado last faced San Diego State last season, a year ago minus one day, beating the Aztecs 17-8 at home (Mar. 30, 2024). The Buffs are 10-0 all-time against the Aztecs and look to extend the win streak to 11.
Colorado split its games at home and on the road last week, and split outcomes as well, coming out 1-1. The Buffs saw a huge win over then-No. 18 Stony Brook in a low-scoring game, 7-6. CU led by two at the half (5-3) and freshman goalie Elena Oh shut the Seawolves out in the third quarter. A hat trick from graduate attacker Madeline Pisani led Colorado on the offensive end, and junior defender Jess Peluso had seven draw controls (Mar. 20). The Buffs struggled against Dartmouth in the third quarter, but still managed more shots (29-16), ground balls (16-7) and caused turnovers (10-0) than the Big Green. CU fell to Dartmouth, 11-9 (Mar. 23). Colorado is now 1-2 against Stony Brook all-time and 1-1 versus Dartmouth.
THIS WEEK
GAME #10 • Saturday, March 29 • 2 p.m. MT
Colorado (4-5, 0-0 Big 12) vs. San Diego State (5-5, 0-1 Big 12)
Aztec Field • San Diego, Calif.
SERIES RECORD: 10-0, CU Leads
LAST MEETING: W, 17-8 (March 30, 2024 • Boulder, Colo.)
STREAK: Won 10 • LAST 10 MEETINGS: 10-0
TV: SDSU Live Stream/ESPN+
OPPONENT WEBSITE: GoAztecs.com
OPENING DRAW (TL;DR)
ROAM WITH THE BUFFS: The Buffs' game against the Aztecs will be broadcast on the SDSU live stream/ESPN+. Fans can also follow the Colorado game through live stats with links available at CUBuffs.com.
BIG 12 HORIZONS: After stints in the Pac-12 and MPSF, Colorado is now competing in the Big 12 Conference in its inaugural season of lacrosse. The conference consists of three Big 12 teams (CU, Cincinnati, Arizona State) and three affiliates (UC Davis, San Diego State, Florida). The Buffs are 64-26 (.711) in conference play going into the 2025 lacrosse season. Colorado will also play host to the first-ever Big 12 Lacrosse Championship. In preparation for the tournament, the Buffs moved to Prentup Field for all home contests after 11 seasons of competition at Kittredge Field.
EYES ON THE PRIZE: Jr. M Lily Assini currently sits at 90 career draw controls, 10 away from 100. Gr. A Kendall Havill, who came to the Buffs from Colorado College with 190 points (152g, 38a), is approaching her 200th career point. She currently sits at 197 points, three away from achieving this milestone.
WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER: As a team, the Buffs won in the draw circle against then-No. 18 Stony Brook last week (Mar. 20), and they managed to cause 10 turnovers to Dartmouth's zero (Mar. 23). CU registered 36 shots on goal to the opponents' 28 and caused 15 turnovers to the opponents' seven. CU is 31st in the NCAA for draw control percentage (.555) and 44th for scoring defense (goals allowed per game; 10.56).
OH WUNDERKIND: Freshman goalkeeper Elena Oh has accomplished a first for the CU Lacrosse program. For the fourth-straight week, Oh was awarded Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Week. She becomes the first player in CU Lacrosse history to earn conference honors four weeks in a row after her combined performances against then-No. 18 Stony Brook and Dartmouth. Oh had 11 saves and a .393 save percentage across the two games. She leads the Big 12 in goals against average with 9.03, and she is second in the Conference for save percentage .464 (52 total saves). She is also fourth in conference for saves per game (7.43). Her numbers for goals against average put her at 11th in the NCAA, and she is 36th for save percentage. The only other Colorado player to reach three weekly honors in a row was Darby Kiernan, who was Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week three weeks in a row in 2018 (April 9, April 16, April 23) and five times that season. The only other players to receive weekly awards three or more times in a season are Johnna Fusco for MPSF Rookie of the Week (2014; Feb. 17, March 24, April 28), Paige Soenksen for MPSF Defensive Player of the Week (2015; March 23, April 7, April 23, April 27), and Miranda Stinson for Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week (2019; Feb. 18, March 11, March 18).
WEST COAST, BEST COAST: Of the 32 CU lacrosse athletes on the squad, only four are from the West Coast, three from the Golden State and one from the Evergreen State. Kendall Havill is from Bainbridge Island, Wash.; while Briley Volpp is from Encinitas, Calif., and the Brower sisters are from Danville, Calif.
For more information on the Colorado women's lacrosse team, a complete schedule and results, please visit CUBuffs.com. Fans of the Buffs can follow the team on Instagram and on Twitter @CUBuffsWLax.
The Buffs were conference foes in the Pac-12 with the Aztecs and now face them for the 11th time in program history. Both teams are looking for their first win in the inaugural season of Big 12 Lacrosse. This is just the third unranked opponent for CU, now 27th in the NCAA RPI. Colorado last faced San Diego State last season, a year ago minus one day, beating the Aztecs 17-8 at home (Mar. 30, 2024). The Buffs are 10-0 all-time against the Aztecs and look to extend the win streak to 11.
Colorado split its games at home and on the road last week, and split outcomes as well, coming out 1-1. The Buffs saw a huge win over then-No. 18 Stony Brook in a low-scoring game, 7-6. CU led by two at the half (5-3) and freshman goalie Elena Oh shut the Seawolves out in the third quarter. A hat trick from graduate attacker Madeline Pisani led Colorado on the offensive end, and junior defender Jess Peluso had seven draw controls (Mar. 20). The Buffs struggled against Dartmouth in the third quarter, but still managed more shots (29-16), ground balls (16-7) and caused turnovers (10-0) than the Big Green. CU fell to Dartmouth, 11-9 (Mar. 23). Colorado is now 1-2 against Stony Brook all-time and 1-1 versus Dartmouth.
THIS WEEK
GAME #10 • Saturday, March 29 • 2 p.m. MT
Colorado (4-5, 0-0 Big 12) vs. San Diego State (5-5, 0-1 Big 12)
Aztec Field • San Diego, Calif.
SERIES RECORD: 10-0, CU Leads
LAST MEETING: W, 17-8 (March 30, 2024 • Boulder, Colo.)
STREAK: Won 10 • LAST 10 MEETINGS: 10-0
TV: SDSU Live Stream/ESPN+
OPPONENT WEBSITE: GoAztecs.com
OPENING DRAW (TL;DR)
- CU is led by 12th-year head coach Ann Elliott Whidden, who has led the Buffs to a 126-72 (.636) record as CU's first and only head lacrosse coach. Coach Whidden has led the Buffs to three NCAA tournament appearances.
- After stints in the MPSF and Pac-12, Colorado is playing the 2025 season in the Big 12 Conference for its inaugural lacrosse season. CU lacrosse is 64-26 (.711) all-time in conference play. Against current Big 12 schools, CU is 26-7 (.788) against all five all-time, having not yet played Cincinnati in previous years. The Buffs are 6-5 (.546) in conference openers.
- For the fourth-straight week, Fr. G Elena Oh was awarded Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Week. She becomes the first player in CU Lacrosse history to earn conference honors four weeks in a row after her combined performances against then-No. 18 Stony Brook and Dartmouth. Oh had 11 saves and a .393 save percentage across the two games. She leads the Big 12 in goals against average with 9.03, and she is second in the Conference for save percentage .464 (52 total saves). She is also fourth in conference for saves per game (7.43). Her numbers for goals against average put her at 11th in the NCAA, and she is 36th for save percentage.
- Jr. D Jess Peluso leads the Colorado defense as the Buffs enter conference play. She caused two turnovers and had two ground balls against Dartmouth, and she caused a turnover and had seven draw controls against Stony Brook. Peluso comes in at third in the Big 12 for draw controls per game (5.78), fourth for ground balls per game (1.89) and 10th for caused turnovers per game (1.00).
- Jr. D Mack Hanlon continues to be a menace on defense for the Buffs. She caused a turnover against Stony Brook, and she caused two versus Dartmouth and picked up two ground balls. She is currently fifth in the Big 12 for caused turnovers per game (1.22).
- With her five goals last week, Gr. A Madeline Pisani became the ninth in CU history for career goals with 94. She recorded her 17th hat trick against then-No. 18 Stony Brook and had five points (2g, 3a) against Dartmouth. She is fifth all-time for Colorado career hat tricks, and she is fourth in the Big 12 for shots per game (6.67).
- Jr. M Maddie Shoup had four goals and two ground balls for the Buffs last week. She is ninth in the Big 12 for shots per game (5.22).
- Jr. M Molly Reed had one goal, two ground balls, one caused turnover and a draw control against the Seawolves in the Buffs' upset. She also had one goal, two ground balls, two caused turnovers, and two draw controls against the Big Green.
- Jr. M Lily Assini had three assists, three ground balls, caused one turnover and had two draw controls last week.
ROAM WITH THE BUFFS: The Buffs' game against the Aztecs will be broadcast on the SDSU live stream/ESPN+. Fans can also follow the Colorado game through live stats with links available at CUBuffs.com.
BIG 12 HORIZONS: After stints in the Pac-12 and MPSF, Colorado is now competing in the Big 12 Conference in its inaugural season of lacrosse. The conference consists of three Big 12 teams (CU, Cincinnati, Arizona State) and three affiliates (UC Davis, San Diego State, Florida). The Buffs are 64-26 (.711) in conference play going into the 2025 lacrosse season. Colorado will also play host to the first-ever Big 12 Lacrosse Championship. In preparation for the tournament, the Buffs moved to Prentup Field for all home contests after 11 seasons of competition at Kittredge Field.
EYES ON THE PRIZE: Jr. M Lily Assini currently sits at 90 career draw controls, 10 away from 100. Gr. A Kendall Havill, who came to the Buffs from Colorado College with 190 points (152g, 38a), is approaching her 200th career point. She currently sits at 197 points, three away from achieving this milestone.
WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER: As a team, the Buffs won in the draw circle against then-No. 18 Stony Brook last week (Mar. 20), and they managed to cause 10 turnovers to Dartmouth's zero (Mar. 23). CU registered 36 shots on goal to the opponents' 28 and caused 15 turnovers to the opponents' seven. CU is 31st in the NCAA for draw control percentage (.555) and 44th for scoring defense (goals allowed per game; 10.56).
OH WUNDERKIND: Freshman goalkeeper Elena Oh has accomplished a first for the CU Lacrosse program. For the fourth-straight week, Oh was awarded Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Week. She becomes the first player in CU Lacrosse history to earn conference honors four weeks in a row after her combined performances against then-No. 18 Stony Brook and Dartmouth. Oh had 11 saves and a .393 save percentage across the two games. She leads the Big 12 in goals against average with 9.03, and she is second in the Conference for save percentage .464 (52 total saves). She is also fourth in conference for saves per game (7.43). Her numbers for goals against average put her at 11th in the NCAA, and she is 36th for save percentage. The only other Colorado player to reach three weekly honors in a row was Darby Kiernan, who was Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week three weeks in a row in 2018 (April 9, April 16, April 23) and five times that season. The only other players to receive weekly awards three or more times in a season are Johnna Fusco for MPSF Rookie of the Week (2014; Feb. 17, March 24, April 28), Paige Soenksen for MPSF Defensive Player of the Week (2015; March 23, April 7, April 23, April 27), and Miranda Stinson for Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week (2019; Feb. 18, March 11, March 18).
WEST COAST, BEST COAST: Of the 32 CU lacrosse athletes on the squad, only four are from the West Coast, three from the Golden State and one from the Evergreen State. Kendall Havill is from Bainbridge Island, Wash.; while Briley Volpp is from Encinitas, Calif., and the Brower sisters are from Danville, Calif.
For more information on the Colorado women's lacrosse team, a complete schedule and results, please visit CUBuffs.com. Fans of the Buffs can follow the team on Instagram and on Twitter @CUBuffsWLax.
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