University of Oregon
Portland
Ducks Scare No. 6 Portland Before Falling
08/24/08 | Women's Soccer
PORTLAND, Ore. ? The Oregon women's soccer team put a scare into No. 6 Portland when Jessica Goodell scored with six minutes left in the game Saturday night, cutting the Pilots' lead to 2-1.
But Portland's Rachael Rapinoe scored just :26 seconds later to finally put away the pesky Ducks 3-1 in the season opener for both teams before a sell-out crowd of 4,892 at Merlo Field.
"I think our girls did a great job," said Erickson. "They played with UP, they hit them, they got hit, they popped back up and I was really pleased. You're never happy to lose a game but I was pleased with the effort we put into the match.
"When you come into UP, on their home field, against a team I have such tremendous respect for, you know it's going to be a battle."
On Oregon's goal, Jen Stoltenberg ran down a ball in the right corner of Portland's end and sent a cross to Goodell, who was cutting toward the near post. The senior from Durango, Colo., got to the ball on one hop and sent a low line drive into the goal from seven yards out.
"I saw Stoltenberg streaking down the side and you know when you see her, she is going to deliver a ball," said Goodell, who actually recorded her second career goal against the Pilots. She also scored on Portland while at Nebraska in a 3-2 loss during the second round of the 2005 NCAA Tournament. The Pilots went on to win the national championship that season. "I kind of faded far post and made my run near post and Stolt delivered a perfect ball and I decided I was going to put some power behind the ball and if I was going to hit the post it was going to come right back. So I just hit the ball a little bit harder and luckily it went right past the keeper."
In the first half, Oregon's best scoring chance also came on a Stoltenberg to Goodell connection. In one of the Ducks' more impressive attacks of late, Teresa Bowns jumped in the air to bicycle-kick a ball to Allison Newton just across midfield, who then passed the ball up the left side to Stoltenberg at the back of the Pilots' defensive line. Stoltenberg then crossed the ball to Goodell, whose shot attempt banged off the far post before the Pilots cleared it.
Goodell, who netted her third career goal at Oregon on Saturday, led the Ducks with four shots. Stoltenberg, who earned her third career assist, attempted three shots.
In the first half, the Pilots capitalized on miscommunication by the Oregon defenders to get on the board in the fourth minute. After the Ducks had blocked a shot attempt by Megan Rapinoe, a pair of Duck defenders converged on the ball, but couldn't clear it, and Danielle Foxhaven seized the loose ball and drilled home a strike from 16 yards straight out.
Michelle Enyeart scored Portland's second goal in the 36th minute, which was one of the more athletic goals Oregon has seen in recent years. Charney Burk crossed a bending ball from the right that was barely out of the reach of diving goalkeeper Cody Miles. Then Enyeart, flying in from the left side, leapt in the air and kneed the ball into the Ducks' net.
Though she gave up three scores, Miles, the freshman from Salem, Ore., played well in net, with three saves, including a one-handed deflection of a blistering shot by Elli Reed in the second half that came from 15 yards out.
"Codi was outstanding," said Erickson. "I think for her first game, I can't imagine a more intimidating setting to go into and she was a little bit nervous but she really came out on top and made a couple nice saves. We'll look for her to get more comfortable, but that was all I could ask for and more for a freshman stepping into goal for the first time."
The result was also a moral victory of sorts for the Ducks. It was the first time Oregon had scored on Portland since 2004, and the two-goal margin of defeat was the closest the Ducks had played the Pilots since a 1-0 loss in 2003. Portland had a 15-9 shot advantage on the night.
"I think we just learned that we can play with those teams that are ranked higher," said Miles. "It was so fun tonight. It was a little nerve-wracking, but I'm pretty excited about this team and the players we have."
NOTES: Junior Teresa Bowns moved into a tie for 10th in career shots with one against the Pilots. She finished the night with (73) career shots to tie Julie McClellan (73/1999-01).
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