The Ducks have five more matches – three against Pacific-10 Conference teams with better overall records than them – to prove they belong in the NCAA Tournament.
Oregon (8-6-1 overall, 1-2-1 Pac-10) will resume its conference schedule today with a match at Washington State (9-2-2, 2-1-0) and continue on to Seattle for a Sunday contest against Washington (4-9, 1-2).
A question that looms large over the squad is whether or not the NCAA selection committee will see an Oregon team worthy of the post-season tournament come season’s end. Last year, the Ducks finished 12-6-2 overall and 6-1-2 in the Pac-10 and they were still were not chosen.
When the regular season concludes, will the selection committee have reason to believe that Oregon is better than it was last year?
Ducks coach Tara Erickson said she’s hoping so, but added that truthfully, she doesn’t know what the team’s chances are of getting in.
Why? Well, she’s not on the committee.
“I don’t know what the magic number of wins would be,” Erickson said. “You can be hopeful that you can win every game. What we saw from last year is that there is no formula.”
To be on the safe side, junior central defender Nicole Dobrzynski said the team is considering every match a “must win.”
“Now it is just getting up for every game and performing well for every game,” she said.
The Ducks, who beat Arizona State 1-0 last Friday, are coming off a bizarre double-overtime tie. Two Arizona Wildcats coaches were red carded last Sunday in a contest that also saw junior defensive midfielder Jen Cameron and Dobrzynski collide violently late in the first half.
Cameron, who had already suffered concussions against Portland State on Sept. 30 and Portland on Oct. 5, was bleeding after her nose and mouth smashed into Dobrzynski’s forehead, which was also bloodied.
After visiting a doctor on Monday, Cameron said on Wednesday that she’ll travel with the team to Washington with the intention of playing against the Huskies. Dobrzynski said she’ll also be traveling and, awaiting the results of two mandatory concussion tests, should play as well.
As for how they are feeling?
“I have had a few headaches but I’m doing better,” Dobrzynski said.
“It has been overwhelming,” Cameron said. “Two concussions is a lot to handle, but I am feeling a lot better every day and lot of my teammates and family have been supporting me and getting me through.”
Sophomore transfer Jenny Baker will likely see more time Friday against Washington if Cameron’s spot does need to be filled. Sophomore Danielle Sweeney will provide added versatility in the midfield against two very different Washington teams.
Though the Huskies hold an 8-2-1 all-time record versus the Ducks, Erickson has yet to lose to her former team. At Papé Field last year, the Ducks defeated Washington 3-1. The Ducks also beat the Huskies in 2005 1-0.
Oregon has not, however, had much success against Washington State. And lately, both teams seem to end up on the field past regulation, too: The last three matches have gone into overtime.
The Ducks and Cougars ended in a tie after two overtimes last season, while Oregon lost 1-0 in overtime to the Cougars in 2005. In 2004, a double-overtime tie was the end result.
“WSU is probably a little more on the physical side with some big presence of players and that is a positive or strength of theirs for sure,” Erickson said.
[email protected]