by Lucas Ailport | MCLA.us

The University of Oregon defeated the University of Washington, 9-5 for its third straight Pacific Northwest Collegiate Lacrosse League (PNCLL) Division I championship on Sunday afternoon at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

Oregon finished the season with a 7-5 overall record and the Huskies finished the year with a 7-4 record. The Ducks and Huskies both have an opportunity at an at-large bid to the 2019 MCLA National Championships powered by Under Armour, which will take place in Salt Lake City from May 6-11.

Most Valuable Player for the championship game was awarded to PNCLL Defensive Player of the Year and Oregon goalkeeper Sam Snider. He finished the day with 19 saves.

Both teams spent the most of the first quarter trying to figure out one another and work out whatever jitters each side had.

Nick Gilbert scored the first goal of the game for Oregon. In the later half of the quarter, Gilbert found the back of the net again. With 30 seconds left in the first quarter Austin Olsen scored on the doorstep to lift the Ducks 3-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Washington had plenty of good looks on offense throughout the second quarter, but Snider knocked away every shot that came his way.

The next goal didn’t come until 2:40 left in the second quarter when Ducks' freshman Carter Boone found the back of the net. John Finegan scored for Oregon about a minute later to bring the score to 5-0 at halftime.

The Ducks picked up right where they left off with a quick goal 30 seconds into the first half by midfielder Austin Olsen. Shortly after, Gilbert dished a pass off to freshman Justin Lehman to lift the Ducks 7-0. The Ducks didn’t let off the gas as a couple minutes later Finegan scored another goal.

Washington couldn’t catch a break as the Huskies had a six on three fast break, but couldn’t manage to even control the ball in the offensive zone.

Washington finally got on the board late in the third quarter, bringing the score to 8-1 at the end of the third quarter.

The fourth quarter went scoreless for the first six minutes until senior Drew Boyd got another point on the board for the Huskies. Sophomore Cameron Lewis answered with another Washington goal about 90 seconds after the goal by Boyd to cut the score, 8-3.

That would be as far as Washington could get to climbing back into the game. Senior Poe Barrett added the insurance goal late in the game, as the Huskies scored two goals with under 1:30 left in the game.

2019 PNCLL Division I Tournament
(Missoula, Mont. – University of Montana)

Semifinals – April 27
#1 Washington d. #4 Simon Fraser, 17-13
#2 Oregon d. #3 Boise State, 11-10

Finals – April 28
#2 Oregon d. #1 Washington, 9-5