Sunday, September 8
1:00 PM
University of Oregon
4-3-0, 0-0-0
2
vs
0
Sacramento State
1-3-2, 0-0-0
1
2
F
Sacramento St.
0
0
0
Oregon
1
1
2
Photo by: Rob Moseley/GoDucks.com
Ducks Remain Perfect At Papé Field
09/08/24 | Women's Soccer
Oregon beat Sacramento State on Sunday, 2-0, remaining unbeaten in four home matches this season.
EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon converted a penalty kick after drawing a Sacramento State red card in the first half Sunday, and the Ducks added an insurance goal late in the game for a 2-0 victory over the Hornets before 369 fans at Papé Field.
Playing up a player for most of the match after the red card in the 22nd minute, the Ducks (4-3) outshot the Hornets 24-7, though only two found the back of the net. But any tension eased considerably when Oregon scored again in the 86th minute.
"We got the win and we're moving on to the Big Ten," said Oregon's Haley McWhirter, looking ahead to Saturday's conference opener against UCLA. "It's exciting. There's things we can work on — always, there's things that we can work on. And after this week, we definitely have some things that we can look at and work on and look forward to UCLA."
Oregon improved to 4-0 at home this season, with a scoring differential of 7-1 on those games. Still, the Ducks would have liked to have taken better advantage of their opportunity after the early red card Sunday.
"Our standard can't be basically what's up on the scoreboard; it has to be the things that we do," UO coach Graeme Abel said. "And you know, it can be difficult playing against a team of 10 players. … (But) we made it too much of a game, in terms of a team that's gone down to 10 players. We need to put those games away quicker."
How It Happened: After 20 evenly played minutes to open the game, the Ducks drew a penalty 21:12 into the match that led to the opening goal. Lexi Lerwick created a run for Taylor Person, who was dragged down in the box by her jersey, drawing the red card.
Makoto Nezu converted the penalty, becoming the sixth different Oregon player to score a goal this season.
"That was a team goal, because Lexi put a really good ball behind them, and then Taylor had a really good run and then she got the PK," Nezu said. "So I think that's not my individual goal, that's like a team goal. But I'm really glad to score that goal."
Up a player the rest of the way, the Ducks controlled play but weren't able to convert another chance until late in the game. Maddy Goldberg made the 1-0 lead hold up by saving the three shots Sacramento State put on goal, earning her third shutout of the season.
Goldberg now has four career shutouts, tied for seventh in UO history with Domenique Lainez (2001-05).
The Ducks nearly made it 2-0 in the 66th minute, when Livvy Moore put a shot off the crossbar. They finally did so with 85:25 on the clock off a corner kick, as Lerwick put a header from near the top of the box into traffic in front of the goal. As Taylor Bryan and the Hornets keeper battled for possession, the ball popped out to McWhirter, who headed it through the traffic into the net.
"I was just like, let me do anything I can to try to get this in the back of the net," McWhirter said. "Taylor Bryan was up there jumping for it, and I think it kind of bounced around. I just got my head on it, and it got in the goal."
Notable: McWhirter's goal was her second of the season and 16th of her college career. … Lerwick got her second assist of the season on McWhirter's goal. … Bryan attempted a career-high five shots for the second time in a week.
Up Next: The Ducks host UCLA in a Big Ten match Saturday (7 p.m., B1G+).
Playing up a player for most of the match after the red card in the 22nd minute, the Ducks (4-3) outshot the Hornets 24-7, though only two found the back of the net. But any tension eased considerably when Oregon scored again in the 86th minute.
"We got the win and we're moving on to the Big Ten," said Oregon's Haley McWhirter, looking ahead to Saturday's conference opener against UCLA. "It's exciting. There's things we can work on — always, there's things that we can work on. And after this week, we definitely have some things that we can look at and work on and look forward to UCLA."
Oregon improved to 4-0 at home this season, with a scoring differential of 7-1 on those games. Still, the Ducks would have liked to have taken better advantage of their opportunity after the early red card Sunday.
"Our standard can't be basically what's up on the scoreboard; it has to be the things that we do," UO coach Graeme Abel said. "And you know, it can be difficult playing against a team of 10 players. … (But) we made it too much of a game, in terms of a team that's gone down to 10 players. We need to put those games away quicker."
How It Happened: After 20 evenly played minutes to open the game, the Ducks drew a penalty 21:12 into the match that led to the opening goal. Lexi Lerwick created a run for Taylor Person, who was dragged down in the box by her jersey, drawing the red card.
Makoto Nezu converted the penalty, becoming the sixth different Oregon player to score a goal this season.
"That was a team goal, because Lexi put a really good ball behind them, and then Taylor had a really good run and then she got the PK," Nezu said. "So I think that's not my individual goal, that's like a team goal. But I'm really glad to score that goal."
Up a player the rest of the way, the Ducks controlled play but weren't able to convert another chance until late in the game. Maddy Goldberg made the 1-0 lead hold up by saving the three shots Sacramento State put on goal, earning her third shutout of the season.
Goldberg now has four career shutouts, tied for seventh in UO history with Domenique Lainez (2001-05).
The Ducks nearly made it 2-0 in the 66th minute, when Livvy Moore put a shot off the crossbar. They finally did so with 85:25 on the clock off a corner kick, as Lerwick put a header from near the top of the box into traffic in front of the goal. As Taylor Bryan and the Hornets keeper battled for possession, the ball popped out to McWhirter, who headed it through the traffic into the net.
Haley McWhirter gets a head to a deflected ball for a late score that puts the match away!#GoDucks pic.twitter.com/qhMCE2nXkc
— Oregon Ducks Soccer (@OregonSoccer) September 8, 2024
"I was just like, let me do anything I can to try to get this in the back of the net," McWhirter said. "Taylor Bryan was up there jumping for it, and I think it kind of bounced around. I just got my head on it, and it got in the goal."
Notable: McWhirter's goal was her second of the season and 16th of her college career. … Lerwick got her second assist of the season on McWhirter's goal. … Bryan attempted a career-high five shots for the second time in a week.
Up Next: The Ducks host UCLA in a Big Ten match Saturday (7 p.m., B1G+).
Team Stats
SAS
ORE
Goals
0
2
Shots
7
24
Shots on Goal
3
12
Saves
10
3
Corners
2
6
Fouls
6
8
Scoring Plays
Makoto Nezu
ORE Makoto Nezu PENALTY KICK GOAL.
21:12
Haley McWhirter (2)
Assisted By: Lexi Lerwick
GOAL by ORE McWhirter, Haley Assist by Lerwick, Lexi.
85:25
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
def
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
5
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's SoccerD
/ Women's SoccerM
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's SoccerD
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's SoccerTracy Joyner | Postgame vs. Grand Canyon
Sunday, August 31
Tracy Joyner | Postgame vs. New Mexico
Friday, August 29
Carly Cormack: "All focused on mentality."
Wednesday, August 27
Sydney Chura: "The energy was all there."
Wednesday, August 27
