EUGENE, Ore. - The Columbia lacrosse team traveled to the west coast to open up the 2025 season on Saturday afternoon to take on Oregon. The Ducks controlled the game from start to finish, never trailing and building a commanding lead by halftime. The Lions continued to fight in the second half, ultimately falling by a score of 15-7.
 
With the win, Oregon improves to 3-0 on the year. Meanwhile, Columbia drops to 0-1.
 
Oregon came out firing, taking the lead just 42 seconds into the contest. The Ducks added another goal before Cecelia Messner scored Columbia's first goal of the season to make it 2-1. First-year Maddie Brogan scored her first career goal midway through the first quarter to trim Oregon's lead to 3-2. The Ducks went on to score the last two goals of the period, taking a 5-3 lead after the first 15 minutes.
 
The Ducks then turned up the heat in the second period, outscoring Columbia 7-0 to open up a 12-3 halftime lead. Oregon's offense continued to roll in the third quarter, as they stretched the lead to 14-4. Ellie Taylor scored with under a minute to go in the third quarter to stop an 8-0 Oregon run.
 
Columbia responded in the fourth quarter with a 3-1 advantage, but it wasn't enough to close the gap.
 
Seven different Lions scored on the day, with Dani Falcone leading the Lions' offense with one goal and three assists, totaling four points in the loss. The other goal scorers for the Lions were Katelyn Lee, Cecelia Messner, Cordelia Flemming, Maddie Brogan, Ellie Taylor, and Sophie Kruse. For Lee and Brogan, it was the first of their careers.
 
Falcone also set the tone for the Lions on defense, leading the team with four caused turnovers, adding two ground balls and a draw control. Julie Griswold led the team with four ground balls. Ava Kimche was strong in goal, recording 10 saves.
 
On Brogan's first career goal in the first quarter, Falcone had the assist which marked the 100th point of her career.
 
While Oregon dominated in the circle, winning the draw control battle 21-4, the Lions led 22-18 in ground balls, with both teams committing 19 turnovers.
 
Columbia will look to bounce back next weekend, as the Lions travel to West Long Branch, New Jersey to take on the Monmouth Hawks in the second game of a three-game road trip to open up the 2025 season. Opening draw is set for Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
 
For the latest on Columbia lacrosse, follow @CULionsLax on Twitter and Instagram, and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.