Ducks Drop Double Overtime Heartbreaker Sunday
SEATTLE, Wash – The Oregon women’s soccer team held tough for 102 minutes but a goal from the Seattle Redhawks at the 102:09 mark handed the Ducks a 1-0 loss on the road Sunday afternoon at Championship Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Head coach Kat Mertz made several key changes to the starting line-up in the Ducks’ second contest of the year. Sophomore Halla Hinriksdόttir got the nod at keeper for her first career start in an Oregon uniform. Forwards Kyra Fawcett and Zoe Higgins also made their first career starts as the Ducks went to a 4-3-3 formation in an effort to generate more offense.
Hinriksdόttir was tested early as the Redhawks came out aggressive and put two shots on goal within the first seven minutes. The Iceland native made saves on both attempts to help the Ducks weather the early storm. Oregon would then switch the momentum as it took the next four shots. Kira Wagoner put two on goal, forcing the Seattle keeper to make saves on both.
From there, it continued to go back and forth with the Ducks getting one more shot on goal before the half ended. Marlo Sweatman, who had Oregon’s lone goal in Friday’s contest against LSU, got off a free shot in the 33rd minute, but the Redhawk keeper was there to make the save and preserve a 0-0 tie going into the intermission.
Both teams subbed heavy in the second half as each was looking for an offensive spark to try and end the game in regulation. The Ducks had the best chance to do that as Marissa Everett got taken down in the box with 19 seconds to play. That foul earned Seattle a yellow card and it was Sweatman who stepped into the take the penalty kick. The kick would be denied as the Seattle goalkeeper made a diving save to her left and prevented the Ducks from taking the game.
Seattle then came out attacking in the first overtime, but Hinriksdόttir played spectacular, making three huge saves to send it into double overtime. There, two minutes in, the Redhawks created a scrum in the box forcing Hinriksdόttir to come up to make a play on the ball where Seattle freshman Karli White managed it around her and have it trickle into the back of the net for the game winner.
QUOTES:
Head Coach Kat Mertz
“It was a very tough loss for us today. I thought we played and competed better in the second half. We are creating chances for ourselves and taking our shots so now it becomes a matter of execution. I’m looking forward to learning from this game and spending the week preparing for our two home contests next weekend.”
WHAT IT MEANS:
Seattle advanced onto the second round of the NCAA tournament a year ago and is the pre-season favorite to win the WAC for the third straight year. They are one of the toughest opponents the Ducks will face prior to Pac-12 play so while the loss on the road is tough, the ability of the Ducks to hang with the Redhawks for over 102 minutes is promising. Halla Hinriksdόttir was nothing short of impressive in her first career start and she provided a steady presence as the Oregon back line was tested time and time again.
The Ducks managed to get 19 shots off, six of which were on goal. Kyra Fawcett took five shots in just her second game in an Oregon uniform and her play at the center forward spot provided a spark for the offense. Overall, with two games under their belts, the Ducks are showing the early signs of an attacking offense but need to work on executing their shots to test the opponent’s goalkeepers more and take some of the pressure off of the Oregon defense.
YELLOW CARDS:
Today’s contest featured four yellow cards being given by the officials. Maryn Beutler received the first one as she tugged on the jersey of a Seattle defender in the 75th minute. That was followed by a card being given to freshman Brianne Parsons as she committed a foul on a Redhawk. The first Seattle yellow card was awarded with just 19 seconds left in regulation. Marissa Everett was laid out by Seattle’s Kelly Beck in the box to give the Ducks a chance to win the game on a penalty kick. The final card was given to the Redhawks’ bench just 90 seconds into the first overtime.
UP NEXT:
Oregon will return to the friendly confines of Papé Field for a pair of matches next weekend. Up first will be San Francisco on Friday night at 7 p.m. and then the Ducks will close out the weekend by hosting Fresno State for a 1 p.m. kickoff on Sunday. Tickets for both games can be purchased here.
