Friday, November 7
Eugene, Ore.
7:00 PM
University of Oregon
0
vs
1
USC
Photo by: GoDucks.com
Ducks Fall 1-0 in Physical Contest vs. Trojans
11/08/08 | Women's Soccer
EUGENE, Ore. -- The Oregon women's soccer team hung tough in a very physical game against No. 9 USC, but the Trojans and 2008 U.S. Olympian striker Amy Rodriguez found the back of the net in the first half to hand the Ducks a 1-0 loss on Friday night at Pape' Field.
Oregon fell to 9-8-2 (2-5-1 Pac-10) on the season while the Trojans improved to 14-4-1 (4-3-1) with the win.
Oregon and USC battled back and forth in the opening minutes with the Ducks holding a slight advantage in possession. But the Trojans' high-powered offense needs just one ball to bounce its way to take the lead and that happened in the 43rd minute when Kelley Finch sent a through ball from the midfield that was able to squirt through the Oregon defense. From there the speed of Rodriguez could not be matched and the senior forward tacked on her eighth goal of the season as she fired a low shot to the far post, just beyond the outstretched arms of a diving Cody Miles.
“This was a hard fought battle on both ends,” said head coach Tara Erickson. “Obviously we wanted to win, but they are last year's national champions and I thought we played very well. We did a good job of limiting their chances while also creating our own.”
The game continued to be a back-and-forth affair in the second half and the Ducks just could not finish on some good looks on the offensive end. On multiple occasions crossing passes found themselves at the feet of Oregon attackers but the speedy USC defense was always able to get in the way of a shot or clear the pass away before a good touch could be made.
Oregon's best chance came late in the second half. After back-to-back corner kicks by the Ducks and nearly every player on both teams cramped in the USC defensive half, Teresa Bowns came away with a ball in space just outside the box and stung a shot high to the top post. The ball would have went in if not for USC keeper Kristin Olsen's outstretched arm that was able to just graze enough of the ball to redirect the potential game-tying goal innocently over the crossbar.
Oregon was outshot just 17-14 in the game but USC held a large advantage in corner kicks, 9-4, and 5-1 in the first half.
Miles finished with five saves in the net for the Ducks and has surrendered just one goal in the last three Pac-10 games. Olsen also snagged five saves for the Trojans, who will head north to play the Beavers in their regular season finale on Sunday.
The Ducks will play host to No. 2-ranked UCLA on Sunday in Oregon's final game of the 2008 season. It will be Senior Day at Pape' Field as six Oregon seniors will play their final game in green and yellow. Kick-off is set for 11 a.m.
NOTE: There was a brief moment of silence before the game in honor of the late Randy Pape', who passed away Thursday ... It was out of his generosity that the Oregon Women's Soccer team can call Pape' Field home.
Oregon fell to 9-8-2 (2-5-1 Pac-10) on the season while the Trojans improved to 14-4-1 (4-3-1) with the win.
Oregon and USC battled back and forth in the opening minutes with the Ducks holding a slight advantage in possession. But the Trojans' high-powered offense needs just one ball to bounce its way to take the lead and that happened in the 43rd minute when Kelley Finch sent a through ball from the midfield that was able to squirt through the Oregon defense. From there the speed of Rodriguez could not be matched and the senior forward tacked on her eighth goal of the season as she fired a low shot to the far post, just beyond the outstretched arms of a diving Cody Miles.
“This was a hard fought battle on both ends,” said head coach Tara Erickson. “Obviously we wanted to win, but they are last year's national champions and I thought we played very well. We did a good job of limiting their chances while also creating our own.”
The game continued to be a back-and-forth affair in the second half and the Ducks just could not finish on some good looks on the offensive end. On multiple occasions crossing passes found themselves at the feet of Oregon attackers but the speedy USC defense was always able to get in the way of a shot or clear the pass away before a good touch could be made.
Oregon's best chance came late in the second half. After back-to-back corner kicks by the Ducks and nearly every player on both teams cramped in the USC defensive half, Teresa Bowns came away with a ball in space just outside the box and stung a shot high to the top post. The ball would have went in if not for USC keeper Kristin Olsen's outstretched arm that was able to just graze enough of the ball to redirect the potential game-tying goal innocently over the crossbar.
Oregon was outshot just 17-14 in the game but USC held a large advantage in corner kicks, 9-4, and 5-1 in the first half.
Miles finished with five saves in the net for the Ducks and has surrendered just one goal in the last three Pac-10 games. Olsen also snagged five saves for the Trojans, who will head north to play the Beavers in their regular season finale on Sunday.
The Ducks will play host to No. 2-ranked UCLA on Sunday in Oregon's final game of the 2008 season. It will be Senior Day at Pape' Field as six Oregon seniors will play their final game in green and yellow. Kick-off is set for 11 a.m.
NOTE: There was a brief moment of silence before the game in honor of the late Randy Pape', who passed away Thursday ... It was out of his generosity that the Oregon Women's Soccer team can call Pape' Field home.
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MF
/ Women's Soccer
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