Kuhns' Penalty Kick Goal Gives Ducks 1-0 Win

Sunday, September 28

Eugene, Ore.

12:00 PM

University of Oregon

Weber State

Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

09/28/08 | Women's Soccer

By: GoDucks.com

EUGENE, Ore. ? The Oregon women's soccer team won its second straight game in shutout fashion, blanking visiting Weber State 1-0 on Sunday afternoon at Pape' Field. The Ducks scored on Kirstie Kuhns'
penalty kick attempt in the 48th minute.

Oregon improved to 6-2-1 with the victory while the Wildcats fell to 3-6-1 on the season.

“We did a nice job to create that penalty kick and it was a well earned goal,” said head coach Tara Erickson. “Offensively we created a lot of opportunities but their goalkeeper did a great job to keep us from getting anything else.”

After a back-and-forth first half that saw the Ducks out-shoot the Wildcats 8-3, Oregon put the first number on the scoreboard just more than two minutes into the second frame.

After taking a pass from Allison Newton on the far side of the field, Jen Stoltenberg split the Weber State defense and as she dribbled toward the net a Wildcat defender grabbed a hold of the sophomore's jersey and pulled Stoltenberg to the ground inside the box.

Weber State's Shannon Thompson was issued a yellow card for the infraction but more importantly, it set up Oregon's first penalty kick attempt of the season.

Erickson chose Kuhns to take the freebie and her trust was well-placed, as the sophomore from Pleasanton, Calif., delivered a perfectly placed shot that put the Ducks up 1-0 and proved to be the eventual game-winning goal.

“I think we're playing really well,” said Stoltenberg. “We're all coming for the same goal, all wanting the same thing, and it's definitely showing out there. We all want to win.”

It was Kuhns' first goal of the season and second of her career.

Oregon outshot Weber State 20-8 in the Ducks' final non-conference home game of the season. Erickson's squad also took five more corner kicks (6-1) while Weber State held an 8-3 advantage in saves due to the relentless Oregon offensive attack. Oregon's Cody Miles tallied her second career shutout after playing all 90 minutes in the clean sheet victory.

Up next for the Ducks is their longest road-trip of the season as the team heads to Big 12 country to play Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. The OSU Cowgirls, as of Sunday night, are ranked No. 12 in the nation with an undefeated 9-0-0 record.

“We have one more big weekend before starting conference play,” Erickson said about the upcoming games. “I'm excited to go into the Oklahoma weekend and know that each of those teams will present a different style of play. Going on the road and playing two very good opponents will help prepare us for the Pac-10 season.”

NOTES: The Ducks tallied 20 or more shots for the fourth time this season, all coming in the last six games ... Jessica Goodell's five shots is a new career high for a single game ... The penalty kick goal was on Oregon's first PK attempt of the season ... Oregon has gone six straight games without a loss (five wins, one draw), tied for the fourth longest streak in program history.