By BuffZone.com

It very nearly was a wasted opportunity for the Colorado women’s lacrosse team. At least until Ashley Stokes saved the day.

Despite a second half rally from Oregon, the Buffaloes escaped Eugene with a key Pac-12 Conference road win thanks to an overtime goal from Stokes, which lifted CU to a 15-14 victory on Saturday.

It was the fifth win in six games for the Buffs, who improved to 5-5 overall and 4-1 in the Pac-12. The Buffs also improved to 6-0 all-time in Eugene and now lead the series 14-1, although that one loss was in the teams’ previous meeting in the Pac-12 tournament last year.

Oregon (3-7, 0-5 Pac-12) lost its 12th consecutive regular season conference game.

Oregon scored the first goal of the game but the Buffs scored the next five, taking a 5-1 lead into the second quarter and a 9-5 lead at halftime. The Ducks, however, scored three goals in the first 7 minutes, 12 seconds of the third quarter and then scored five unanswered goals to start the fourth quarter, taking a 14-12 lead with 6:22 remaining.

CU was able to respond down the stretch, pulling even once again on a pair of goals from Morgan Pence, with the equalizer coming with 1:16 remaining in regulation. Stokes scored the winner just 1:38 into the extra session.

Charlie Rudy paced the Buffs’ attack with five goals, and she has scored at least four goals in three consecutive games. Rudy’s second goal was the 150th of her career. Sam McGee added four goals and an assist while Pence finished with three goals and two assists.

After three consecutive road games, CU will play at home for the first time in nearly three weeks when the Buffs host San Diego State on Friday at Kittredge Field (1 p.m.).