This soccer stuff comes easy for the Washington Huskies.
The Huskies, the Oregon soccer team’s opponent tonight in Seattle, have never let the Ducks come close to beating them in five series games. That’s because Washington is a perennial national title contender, while Oregon is perennially fighting to get out of the Pacific-10 Conference cellar.
But things could be different this year. The Ducks have some fresh faces that haven’t been around in past years. These newcomers, balanced with senior leadership, have led the Ducks to the verge of their best season ever. Oregon needs only one more win to break the school wins record. The Ducks are currently 7-8-1 overall.
Still, Oregon has struggled in the Pac-10 this year. The Ducks have dropped six of their last seven since starting Pac-10 play, and their only win was at Arizona State in overtime.
The Ducks will be desperate for a win when they face the Huskies tonight and the Washington State Cougars Sunday in Pullman.
Washington will not make things easy for Oregon. The 13th-ranked Huskies have an 11-4-1 record and stand third in the Pac-10.
The Huskies win games with effective play on both sides of the ball. Washington averages 2.06 goals per game, and when the team scores goals, it wins. The Huskies are 8-0 when scoring two or more goals this season.
The reason Washington is able to hold leads is its star goalkeeper Hope Solo. The junior goalie has played for the U.S. National Team on seven occasions, though she’s never started. Solo ranks second in the Pac-10 with an impressive 0.68 goals-against average, and the Huskies have given up the least goals in the conference this season.
Last season the Ducks were unable to get to Solo in Eugene. Washington beat Oregon in that contest, 6-1, despite being outshot by the Ducks 20-15. Theresa Wagner, a senior for the Huskies last year, scored four goals in that game.
Oregon may have an easier time in Pullman on Sunday. The Ducks have not been successful against the Cougars in the past, but Oregon’s only win in the series was two seasons ago at Washington State. Overall, the Cougars lead the series 4-1.
Washington State is tied for seventh in the Pac-10, and is only one conference win ahead of Oregon. The Cougars are 7-8-0 on the season overall.
Washington State is not accustomed to playing at home this season. The Cougars are 1-1 in Pac-10 play at home, and earlier this season went a stretch of 49 days — the longest such streak in Pac-10 history — without a home game.
The Cougars are led by a trio of playmakers on offense. Senior Beth Childs sets up many of Washington State’s chances, and ranks second in the conference in assists. Junior Katrina Stroh and sophomore Rachel Rodrick are often there to finish the chances, as the two scorers lead the team with six goals each.
Rodrick was the knife in Oregon’s heart last season in Eugene. The sophomore scored both of the Cougars’ goals in a 2-1 victory on Papé Field.
Oregon will face Washington in Seattle at 5 p.m. and will square off with Washington State in the regular season’s final game at 1 p.m. on Sunday.