Undefeated Ducks Hit the Road for Week Two

Thursday, August 22

Las Cruces, NM

6:00 PM

University of Oregon

New Mexico State

Photo by: DBARRETO

08/20/24 | Women's Soccer

Soccer Game Notes - Week 2

After posting back-to-back shutouts to open the 2024 season, Oregon hits the road for matches at New Mexico State (Thurs.) and New Mexico (Sun.). Thursday's game will be on ESPN+ while Mountain West Network will stream Sunday's action.

KICKING IT OFF
• Oregon is off to a 2-0 start for the first time since 2018. The Ducks' last 3-0 start was in 2011 when the team opened at 4-0.
• Through the first weekend of play, Oregon leads the Big Ten in shots per game at 20.5
• GK Maddy Goldberg earned her first career wins last weekend, while Livvy Moore scored her first career goal.
• Oregon welcomed 16 newcomers to the team for the fall - 8 freshmen, a sophomore, 3 seniors and 4 fifth years - 13 of whom saw action during the first weekend of competition.
• Seven of Oregon's eight transfers have NCAA Tournament experience, including NCAA Champion Makoto Nezu (Santa Clara).
• Six players currently on the Ducks' roster are working on their Master's degrees.
• Oregon played the 15th-hardest schedule in the nation last season after navigating 11th-toughest schedule nationally in 2022.
• #ProDucks. Oregon currently has three alums playing professionally in the NWSL: Chardonnay Curran (Chicago Red Stars), Croix Soto (Kansas City Current) and Chai Cortez (San Diego Wave).

WEEK 1: DUCKS OPEN SEASON 2-0 FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2018
Oregon got the 2024 season off to a strong start by defeating Seattle, 1-0, in the Aug. 15 season opener and then topping Portland State, 2-0, Aug. 18. Goalkeeper Maddy Goldberg posted back-to-back shutouts to earn her first two career victories. Taylor Bryan, a transfer from Virginia Tech, hit the game-winner versus Seattle in the 73rd minute. Lexi Lerwick, a transfer from Washington State, sent a ball into the box from midfield to Grace Mensah, who dropped it to Bryan and she drove it into the left corner of the net. Livvy Moore scored her first career goal in the 59th minute against Portland State. She crossed the ball ahead to Haley McWhirter, who then returned the ball to Moore as she crashed down on the goal and finished by tucking the ball just inside the near post. Freshman Carly Cormack added an insurance score in the 70th minute. Lauren Kenny drew Portland State's attention with the ball in the middle of the box. She then dropped a pass outside on the box to Cormack, who chipped a shot over everyone into the goal from 20 yards out. The win against Seattle snapped a 26-match winless for the Ducks that dated to a 1-0 win at Utah on Oct. 6, 2022.

NEW FACES
Oregon welcomes a mix of young and veteran new players for 2024. Among the 16 newcomers are eight freshmen, a sophomore three seniors and four fifth-year players. Thirteen newcomers saw action during the first weekend of the season.

"GRANDMA SEASONS"
Coined by Taylor Bryan in the aftermath of her game-winner against Seattle, Oregon has seven players in their "grandma season" (fifth year) of eligibility thanks to the NCAA's Covid policy. In addition to Bryan, others playing their fifth season in college include Sydney Cradle, Lucy Green, Sydney Hennessey, Haley McWhirter, Makoto Nezu and Jayd Sprague. All seven of those players have NCAA Tournament experience - Bryan at Virginia Tech, Cradle with Towson, Green at Mississippi, Hennessey with Tennessee, McWhirter at Mississippi State, Nezu an NCAA champion with Santa Clara and Sprague at Idaho. Because they played in the 2020 Covid season and subsequently redshirted, both Bryan and Hennessey actually have another year of eligibility remaining and could return for a sixth season.

SCHOLARLY DUCKS
Six members of the 2024 team are currently working on their Master's degrees:

Player                           Master's Degree
Sydney Hennessey Sports Business
Taylor Bryan                Sports Medicine
Mako Nezu                    Sports Business
Haley McWhirter            Finance
Jayd Sprague                Sports Product Management
Sydney Cradle               Nonprofit Management

BIG TEN PRESEASON HONORS
Haley McWhirter, Livvy Moore and Makoto Nezu were named to the Big Ten Preseason Watch List. Nezu was an NCAA champion with Santa Clara, while McWhirter made two NCAA Tournament trips with Mississippi State. Moore is one of four returning starters for the Ducks.

SCHEDULE UP
Oregon played the 15th-most difficult schedule in the nation last season after navigating 11th-toughest schedule nationally in 2022. In 2024, the Ducks will face preseason No. 8 Texas Tech in week four, as well as No. 6 Nebraska, No. 11 UCLA, No. 13 Michigan State, No. 23 USC and No. 25 Iowa during the Big Ten slate.

GOLDBERG CLIMBS CAREER GOALIE LIST
Maddy Goldberg made her 100th career save in the season opener against Seattle and currently ranks ninth in school hitory with 102. She's also tied for eighth in career shutouts with three.