Blocker Leads Oregon?s Three-Goal Rally

Sunday, September 10

Corvallis, Ore.

11 a.m.

University of Oregon

Iona

Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

09/10/06 | Women's Soccer

By: GoDucks.com

CORVALLIS, Ore. ? Freshman Barbara Blocker had a goal and two assists as Oregon overcame a two-goal deficit, scoring three goals in the final 21 minutes, to earn a 3-2 victory against Iona Sunday at the OSU Soccer Classic.

Trailing 2-1, defender Barbara Blocker, who entered the game as a second-half substitute, sailed a high cross from 35 yards out over the Gaels' goalkeeper and into the upper left corner of the net to tie the game at 2-2 at the 77:30 mark.

Just 1:04 later, Blocker passed the ball up the middle of the field to freshman Leigh Quinlan, who turned and fired a laser into the Iona net from 17 yards out for the game-winner. The 64 seconds between scores represented the quickest two-goal span in Oregon history.

“It was the greatest feeling in the world,” said Quinlan, who notched her first career goal. “I had some chances earlier and missed so I really wanted to redeem myself.”

“I saw her open and I made sure that I got her the ball,” said Blocker, the native of Sacramento, Calif, who scored her first career goal. “We just kept going today and didn't believe we were ever going to lose. It took a whole team effort.”

Iona (0-5-1) scored two goals during a seven minute span in the first half to take a 2-0 lead.

Stephanie Sommers put the Gaels on the board at the 18:59 mark with a header from 10 yards out. Mariel Pepe then put Iona ahead 2-0 with a rebound goal in the 26th minute. Liz Allen and Laura McCoy recorded assists for the Gaels.

“It was two extremes of college soccer today,” said Oregon coach Tara Erickson. “We pretty much didn't do anything right in the first half, but at halftime, I told the team this was a true test of our character. We had a lot of players step up and refuse to let us lose this game.”

Allison Newton pulled the Ducks (2-3-0) within a goal in the 70th minute by one-timing a cross from Teresa Bowns.

“Blocker hits a great high service and can get it over the defense and we were able to take advantage of that today,” said Erickson. “She did a very good job today of looking to create.”

True freshman goalkeeper Emily Zaler started in place of Oregon's regular goalie Jessie Chatfield and made three saves to earn the victory in her first appearance as a Duck. Chatfield, a sophomore from Eugene, Ore., suffered a broken hand late in Friday's 1-0 victory over New Hampshire, and will be out at least two more weeks.

“We made it tough on our freshman goalkeeper and didn't help her out much in that first half,” said Erickson. “She had a really nice save in the first half, and we didn't do a very good job of clearing the ball.

“Today was challenging for the coaches because we kept working the whole game to solve our own problems,” Erickson said. “We tried a lot of different combinations to try and get back in the game and fortunately some of the buttons we pushed worked.”

The Ducks out-shot Iona 19-7, including a 15-3 edge in the second half. Newton attempted a career-high five shots, while Nicole Garbin had three.

Garbin joined Blocker, midfielder Jen Cameron and defender Dylann Tharp on the OSU Soccer Classic all-tournament team.

The Ducks are next in action Friday at Gonzaga.

OSU SOCCER CLASSIC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM (Oregon only): D Barbara Blocker, M Jen Cameron, F Nicole Garbin, D Dylann Tharp.

GAME NOTES: Not only did Oregon record the shortest two-goal span in school history, but the time between the three second-half goals, 8:56, was the third-shortest span in school history...the previous two-goal span was 1:11 set against Wisconsin-Green Bay during the 2002 season...the three-goal record, 3:46, also came in that game versus UW-Green Bay...the Ducks scored three goals in a game for the first time since a 3-2 overtime victory over Weber State on Sept. 3, 2004...Cameron had an assist in both games this weekend, earning her second and third career assists...with Chatfield's injury, Zaler was the only goalkeeper available for Oregon Sunday...senior Emily Marrer is still recovering from a spring shoulder injury...Sunday's emergency goalkeeper would have been sophomore Darcie Gardner...freshman midfielder Rianna Mansfied was not available this weekend due to a hip flexor.

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