Soccer Opens Spring Campaign in Corvallis
EUGENE ? The University of Oregon women’s soccer team opens its shortened spring season Saturday, March 6 at the Merritt Truax Indoor Center in Corvallis on the Oregon State campus.
The 14-team, single-day tournament that will feature a 7x7 player format, and regulation-shortened matches. The Ducks know their opponents for their opening games of the tournament, with the top teams playing in quarter-, semi- and finals later in the afternoon.
The Ducks schedule follows:
- 10:30 am vs. Oregon United U-17 club team
- 12:30 pm vs. Portland State
- 1:30 pm vs. Maroon 5 club team
- 3:30 pm Western Baptist
- 4 or 4:30pm - Quarterfinals
- 5 pm - Semifinals
- 5:30pm - Finals
Fans driving to the facility will find it on southwest corner of the Oregon State campus at the corner of 30th Street and Washington Way. The building is northwest of Reser Stadium and directly west of Gill Coliseum.
Breaking down this year’s UO squad, the Ducks graduated only three seniors and two starters from last year’s squad - defenders Lindsey Werdell and Dara Wone - from a breakthrough 2003 campaign. The Ducks were in contention for an NCAA trip heading into the final week of the season and ended with a school record nine regular season wins, and tied their best-ever conference win total (3).
The squad returns six of last year’s top point-getters, seven of its top eight goal scorers and eight of its top assist leaders. Junior-to-be Nicole Garbin broke school season records in 2003 for assists (8) and points (22), and tied the shots record (70). Sophomore-to-be Andrea Valadez led Pac-10 freshmen at the end of the 2003 regular season in goals (7), points (18) and assists (5). Junior-to-be goalkeeper Domenique Lainez ranked first in saves (90) and second in saves per game (4.50 avg.). The 2004 season will mark head coach Bill Steffen’s ninth in Eugene.
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