University of Oregon
Arizona State
Chatfield, Ducks Blank ASU 1-0
10/20/07 | Women's Soccer
EUGENE, Ore. ? Jessie Chatfield made three diving saves in the second half to help Tiffany Smith's goal stand up as the Ducks made a victorious return to Pape' Field by defeating Arizona State 1-0 Friday night.
Smith scored the game's only goal in the 37th minute, sliding through traffic on a rain-slicked Pape' Field to redirect Jen Stoltenberg's cross just past ASU goalkeeper Briana Silvestri.
"I knew I got a touch on it, but I didn't even see it go into the net," said Smith, who scored her fourth goal of the season, all of which have been game-winners.
Stoltenberg, a substitute in the 35th minute, made an impact just two minutes into the game as she juked her way past a couple of Arizona State defenders into the left corner before connecting with Smith.
Then Chatfield and the Oregon back line took over from there.
The junior goalkeeper from Eugene made five saves on the game, including three spectacular diving or point-blank saves in the second half. The Ducks and Chatfield registered their first shutout since blanking Nevada and Boise State to open the season.
"That was the Jessie (Chatfield) we know, and our defense battled and fought just as hard," said Erickson. "I was really impressed with how we kept swarming to the ball to get after their second and third and fourth touch."
Chatfield was challenged six minutes into the second half when Carly Kallas drove a liner to the open side of the net and Chatfield had to dive right and lay-out with all of her 5-10 frame to turn the shot away. Later, with ASU pressing for the tying goal as time ran down, she stoned Karin Volpe from close range in the 82nd minute and then fought off the Sun Devils' last charge in the 86th minute, rushing out to her left to meet Lauren Niblett and stopping a tip from inside the goal box with the side of her face.
"Tonight was a nail-biter," said Chatfield. "Arizona State really fought hard and challenged us in the box, but luckily we were able to get it out. Our team worked so hard to hold them off. They were a hard-working and challenging team."
The Ducks got a much needed win to raise their record to 8-6 overall and 1-2 in the Pac-10. Arizona State suffered its first conference loss in falling to 8-6 and 2-1.
The Sun Devils ended up outshooting Oregon 14-9, but five of those attempts came in the frenetic final 20 minutes.
"It was a great win for our confidence," said Erickson. "Arizona State put up incredible pressure. They battled hard, put a lot of players forward and applied a lot of pressure."
A small but vocal crowd of 423 saw the Ducks' first home win over ASU since the 1998 season, which also came by a 1-0 tally.
Oregon wraps up the weekend by hosting Arizona, a 1-0 double-overtime winner at Oregon State Friday night, on Sunday at 1 p.m.
GAME NOTES:
Smith's goal was her eighth career, which ties her for 10th on the UO career list with Mele French (2002-04)...it was also Smith's seventh career game-winner, which tied her for second with Chalise Baysa (1998-01) on that UO list...Nicole Garbin (2001-06) is a ways ahead of Smith in first with 22 GWG...Chatfield extended her own school career records with her 25th win and 15th shutout...Stoltenberg's assist was her second on the season; she leads all Oregon freshmen in that category...Oregon's 25 goals have now surpassed last season's total...the Ducks have a two-game winning streak against Arizona State for the first time in school history.
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