Late Goal Lifts Ducks To Victory In Conference Opener

Friday, September 21

Eugene, OR

7:00 PM

University of Oregon

7-1-1, 1-0-0

Utah

3-5-1, 0-1-0

Utah

Oregon

Photo by: Samuel Marshall/Eric Evans Photography

Late Goal Lifts Ducks To Victory In Conference Opener

09/21/18 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Oregon-Utah Box Score

Zoe Hasenhauer forced a turnover and assisted on a goal by Marissa Everett in the 88th minute Friday night, giving Oregon a 1-0 victory over Utah.

By: Rob Moseley

EUGENE, Ore. — Thanks to a heady play from freshman Zoe Hasenauer, a typically clutch finish from senior Marissa Everett and key adjustments from the bench, the Oregon soccer team is off to the best start of the Kat Mertz era.

Everett's header off a steal and assist from Hasenauer in the 88th minute was enough to give the Ducks a 1-0 victory over Utah on Friday night before 670 fans at Papé Field. The UO women improved to 7-1-1, their best start since 2009, and won their conference opener for the first time in four seasons.

"The seniors we recruited, they've done a lot of work on but most important off the field, to really change this culture," said Mertz, who is in her sixth season as UO head coach. "So I'm really proud of them, and proud of the whole team, just believing in each other and playing for 90 minutes."

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How It Happened: Unbeaten in their previous five and riding a four-game win streak, the Ducks started well and controlled play in the opening few minutes. Everett made a run up the right side just two minutes in and had her crossing pass deflected out of bounds for one of four first-half corner kicks by the Ducks, and Hasenauer put a header on goal four minutes later for Oregon's first shot on goal.

But as the half progressed Utah turned the tables, pushing forward more frequently. And the Utes took better advantage of their chances; at one point five of Utah's seven shots were on goal, while just two of Oregon's first 12 shots were on goal.

"I thought we came out well; they made some adjustments and they put us on our heels," Mertz said. "That's why we went into halftime and we made adjustments, and I thought we got the ball back, and settled, and just played."

The key adjustment Mertz made was asking her attacking center midfielder to pressure the Utah center backs that were keying the forward push by the Utes. That strategy paid off in spades in the final moments of the game when, off a Utah thrown-in, Hasenauer pressured the Utes into a turnover, won a 50-50 ball against a defender and unleashed the crossing pass that Everett deftly headed in for the winner.

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"She baited the pass a little bit, and as soon as that pass took off, she picked that ball off," Mertz said. "It was awesome. It was exactly what we talked about at halftime, making that adjustment. And Marissa — whew, great finish."

The goal was Everett's team-high sixth of the season, and fourth in her last three games.

"Marissa will finish anything you give her," Hasenauer said. "You've just got to get the ball to her, and that's all that matters."

What It Means: The Ducks won their conference opener for the first time since a 1-0, double-overtime thriller over Washington in 2014. Oregon's last regulation win in its conference opener was in 2006, a 2-1 over Arizona.

Notable: Everett is now tied for fifth in UO history with 42 career points. … Goalkeeper Halla Hinriksdottir recorded her 22nd career win, third in UO history and three shy of the school record. … The shutout was Hinriksdottir's fifth of the season. Oregon has gone five straight home games without allowing a goal.

Up Next: The Ducks go on the road to play at No. 14 Washington State on Thursday (7 p.m., Pac-12 Network).