Ducks Rally Past Utah, 3-2

Friday, September 5

Eugene, Ore.

7:00 PM

University of Oregon

Utah

Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

09/06/08 | Women's Soccer

By: GoDucks.com

EUGENE, Ore. ? The Oregon women's soccer team took home a gutsy victory on Friday night, storming back from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Utah 3-2 at Pape' Field. The Ducks improved their record to 2-2-0 while the Utes fell to 1-4-0 on the season.

With the score tied 2-2 heading into the 84th minute of play, Teresa Bowns set a corner kick to the top of the box where Nicole Dobrzynski redirected the ball back toward the net. Allison Newton was waiting just feet away from the Utah net where she corralled the pass and slipped in a close shot that tickled the twine for the game-winning goal.

It was the second time this season and third in her career that Newton's goal won the game for the Ducks.

Oregon took a season-high 25 shots in the contest, keeping the pressure on the visiting Utes. Utah goalie Emalee Rogers recorded seven saves in the game, but she could not get her hands on the final Duck shot of the night.

“We've improved so much from last weekend to tonight,” Newton said. “We are still taking a lot of shots, but we are getting more purpose from those shots. Our crosses are finding girls on the ground rather than ending up in the keeper's hands. We are getting better looks in the box.”

Oregon has now outshot their opponents 67-41 on the season. The Ducks had taken 42 shots in their first three games prior to Friday night's outburst.

Head coach Tara Erickson attributed a lot of Oregon's potent offensive attack to the play of her midfielders.

“I loved the intensity, especially in the middle of the field with Kirstie (Kuhns) and Mercedes (Walters) hitting and hitting it hard,” Erickson said. “I was so proud of our mental toughness, to go down a goal early and then claw back from that and ultimately get the win. It didn't just happen either; we created all of our chances to get back into the game.”

Oregon opening up the scoring in the contest with Allison Newton finding Jen Stoltenberg in the 10th minute for her first goal of the year. But the Utes placed two shots into the back of the Ducks' net within six minutes of one another.

Katy Reineke tied the game on a penalty kick in the 31st minute, before Kelly Isleib put the Utes on top 2-1 by sending home a missile following a rebound on her own free kick from 23 yards out.

The Ducks tied the game just before halftime after Rogers couldn't handle a Danielle Sweeney shot and Walters followed up on the rebound, pounding in the first goal of the sophomore's career.

But it was in the 84th minute of the game, as the clocking was ticking away, that the Ducks used a corner kick to set up the game-winning goal.

“It was our best win this year and it was a great way to get it,” Erickson added. “We created all of our own chances and I loved it.”
The Ducks defeated Utah for the first time in program history, with a 0-4-1 record in the teams' first five meetings.

NOTES: Teresa Bowns led all Ducks with six shot attempts which gives her 87 on her career, good for seventh all-time, passing Mele French (82/2002-04) ... Allison Newton compiled three points in the game on one goal and one assist, which gives her a team-best five points on the season and 36 points (13 G-10 A) in her career, moving her into fourth place on the all-time list and past Sierra Marsh (35/1996-99) ... Newton's 13 career goals moved her into sole possession of fifth place on the all-time list, jumping Marsh (12/1996-99) ... Oregon matched its season output in both goals and assists ? 3 and 4 ? during Friday night's game.