Lacrosse Buffs Prep for Road Scuffle With Sun Devils

BOULDER – The Colorado lacrosse team (5-5, 1-0 Big 12) continues conference competition on the road with Arizona State (8-4, 1-0 Big 12) on Sunday, April 6. The Buffs' game against the Sun Devils will be at Sun Devil Soccer/Lacrosse Stadium in Tempe, Ariz., at 1 p.m. MT.

The Buffs meet a familiar face in the ASU Sun Devils, who were their conference foes in the Pac-12, and this is the teams' 12th meeting. This is just the fourth unranked opponent for CU, now 22nd in the NCAA RPI. Colorado last faced Arizona State last season and defeated the Sun Devils, 20-12, at home (April 12, 2024). CU is 8-3 all-time against ASU and looks to extend the win streak to four.

Colorado began conference play in the inaugural season of Big 12 Lacrosse last week with a road win over San Diego State, 16-12. The Buffs were up by seven at the half, with both graduate attacker Madeline Pisani and junior midfielder Lily Assini notching hat tricks in the second quarter. Assini went on to finish with five points (four goals, one assist), setting a career-high in points and goals. Pisani matched her own career-high in both points and goals as well with nine and seven, respectively. CU held the Aztecs to two goals in the third quarter and finished out its first Big 12 win, 16-12. Colorado is now 11-0 all-time against SDSU, remaining undefeated thus far in the programs' matchup history.

THIS WEEK
GAME #11 • Sunday, April 6 • 1 p.m. MT
Colorado (5-5, 1-0 Big 12) vs. Arizona State (8-4, 1-0 Big 12)
Sun Devil Soccer/Lacrosse Stadium • Tempe, Ariz.
SERIES RECORD: 8-3, CU Leads
LAST MEETING: W, 20-12 (April 12, 2024 • Boulder, Colo.)
STREAK: Won 3 • LAST 10 MEETINGS: 7-3
TV: ESPN+
OPPONENT WEBSITE: TheSunDevils.com

OPENING DRAW (TL;DR)

CU is led by 12th-year head coach Ann Elliott Whidden, who has led the Buffs to a 127-72 (.638) 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 65-26 (.714) all-time in conference play. Against current Big 12 schools, CU is 27-7 (.794) against all five all-time, having not yet played Cincinnati in previous years.
Jr. D Jess Peluso received her fourth career recognition -- second in the Big 12 -- for conference Defensive Player of the Week (April 1). She reached a career-high 12 draw controls and picked up a ground ball against San Diego State (Mar. 29). Peluso is currently second in the Big 12 in draw controls per game (6.40) and is seventh for ground balls per game (1.80). Her 6.40 draw controls per game puts her at 31st in the NCAA. Her 12 draw controls matched for sixth all-time for draw controls in a single game. With five regular season games remaining in the 2025 season, Peluso's 64 draw controls put her in eighth for draw controls in a single Colorado Lacrosse season.
Gr. A Madeline Pisani earned her second conference weekly award and her first-ever in the Big 12 – Attacker Player of the Week (April 1). This is the Buffs' first offensive player of the week honor this season. Against the Aztecs last week, Pisani matched her career-highs in both points and goals with nine and seven, respectively (Mar. 29), and she had two assists. She is currently 10th in the Big 12 for points per game (3.60) and goals per game (2.60), and she is ninth for assists per game (1.00). She is also second in the Conference for shots per game (7.00), which is good for 30th in the NCAA. Her seven goals ties her for third in CU history for goals in a single game, and her nine points ties her for fourth for points in one game. Pisani is now seventh all-time for career goals with 101. She is also sixth for career hat tricks with 18.
Fr. GK Elena Oh is still reliable as ever in-goal for the Buffs, as she recorded seven saves against SDSU (Mar. 29). Oh leads the Big 12 in goals against average as the only player in single digits (9.42), coming in at 17th in the NCAA. She is also second in conference for save percentage (.450), putting her at 47th in the NCAA, and she is fourth in the Big 12 for saves per game (7.38).
Jr. M Lily Assini achieved a career-high five points (four goals, one assist) against the Aztecs last weekend (Mar. 29). She also picked up four ground balls and caused two turnovers. Assini sits at seventh in the Big 12 for assists per game (1.20).
Jr. M Maddie Shoup had one goal, one assist and a ground ball against the Aztecs. She is eighth in the Big 12 for shots per game (5.30).
Jr. M Molly Reed had one ground ball, one caused turnover and a draw control versus SDSU. She holds the 10th spot in conference for caused turnovers per game (1.00). Jr. D Mack Hanlon is sixth in the Big 12 for caused turnovers per game (1.20).

ROAM WITH THE BUFFS: The Buffs' game against the Sun Devils will be broadcast on ESPN+. Fans can also follow the Colorado game through live stats with links available at CUBuffs.com.

EYES ON THE PRIZE: Jr. M Lily Assini currently sits at 91 career draw controls, nine 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 199 points, one away from achieving this milestone.

WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER: As a team, the Buffs won in the draw circle against San Diego State last week, 20-12. CU registered 29 shots on goal to the opponents' 19. CU is 22nd in the NCAA for draw control percentage (.564) and 44th for scoring defense (goals allowed per game; 10.70).

IN THE CIRCLE: Overall, the Buffs lead their opponents in the draw circle. Colorado has collected 136 draw controls thus far this season while their opponents have 105. Juniors Jess Peluso and Lily Assini, and sophomore Averi Gardner total for 106 of those draws with 64, 22 and 20, respectively.

#8 IT'S JESS!: Jr. D Jess Peluso's cousin, Billy, played college lacrosse at Chestnut Hill (2018-2022). Fun fact: she has two golden doodles named Jax and Milo, and she worked at Wendy's for two years in high school.

#29 FAMILY PISANI: Gr. A Madeline Pisani has six relatives that play or played college sports. Her uncle, Dean, attended CU and played football for the Buffs. Her uncle, Jim, played football at Princeton. Her father, Guy, played football at Miami University of Ohio. Her cousin, Bella, ran track and field at University of South Carolina. Her grandfather played football at Wisconsin. Her brother, Jimmy, is the only other lacrosse athlete in the family and played at Michigan.

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.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Lily Assini

Averi Gardner

Mack Hanlon

Kendall Havill

Elena Oh

Jess Peluso

Madeline Pisani

Molly Reed

Maddie Shoup