EUGENE - The University of Oregon women's soccer team wrapped up its spring home opener Sunday at Pap? Field with a pair of wins Sunday in a three-team invitational vs. Concordia and Western Oregon.
In the first hour-long game, Oregon defeated Western Oregon 6-0, as Cristan Higa and Nicole Garbin each scored two goals. Higa, from Diamond Bar, Calif., connected from 25 yards out into the upper-left corner just 30 seconds into the game. Her second goal came off an assist from a Garbin cross just outside the inner-box to put the Ducks up 2-0.
Garbin, a Wailuku, Hawai'i native, scored her goals in early in the second half. In the 34th minute, Garbin had a diving header from eight yards out off an assist from Kami Kapaku to put the Ducks up 3-0. Garbin's unassisted second goal came just two minutes later, and extended the lead to 4-0.
The fifth and sixth Duck goals came from Churchill High graduate Kaily Winther (48:30) and Utah native Caitlin Gamble (49:50).
In the second game, Concordia beat Western Oregon 3-0, led by Kaeleigh Loveland's two second half goals. Concordia led 1-0 at halftime after Jennifer Hughes scored in the 24th minute.
Oregon wrapped up the day with a 5-0 decision over Concordia. Kapuku's unassisted goal just outside the inner-box put the Ducks up 1-0 in the seventh minute.
Gamble's Sunday hat trick came thanks to two more goals in the second game. Her first score came from 15 yards left off an assist from Winther and put the Ducks up 2-0 in the 22nd minute. Winther's opportunistic effort continued when she controlled a scramble balled inside the box and scored in the 24th minute.
Gamble's second goal came off a cross from Lisa Tedford in with a little more than a minute left in the first half (28:55). Garbin followed with her third goal of the day, and ended UO’s scoring with an unassisted goal in the 53rd minute.
Looking ahead, the Ducks next head to Pullman, Wash., Sat.-Sun., April 23-24 for the Washington State 7-A-Side Classic, Pullman, Wash. The tournament features 7-player teams and 30-minute games, and more tourney info is available at the www.wsucougars.com website.
- www.GoDucks.com -
