Oregon finally has control over its postseason destiny — the first time the situation has arisen.
As the Ducks head out to their final road trip of the season, they await a weekend that holds larger implications than any other has.
Oregon heads south for a two-game stint with the Arizona schools. The Ducks play Arizona State on Friday in Tempe at 6 p.m. and finish the weekend on Sunday in Tucson with a game against the Wildcats. That game starts at noon.
“This is what we have been working all season for,” sophomore defender Carlie Ashcraft said. “This is what all the fitness and all the training is working towards.”
Oregon (8-8 overall, 2-3 Pacific-10 Conference) enters its final regular season road trip with confidence. The Ducks are coming off a 2-0 win over California last week at Papé Field, the team’s second shutout since August.
The Ducks have never advanced to the postseason in the seven-year history of the program. Arizona State, which Oregon faces on Friday night, has qualified for the tournament in two of the last three years.
“This weekend is very important for us, especially Friday,” redshirt sophomore Nicole Garbin said. “Friday we need to get the ‘W.’ It’s kind of a make-or-break-your-season type of game. If we get that win on Friday then Sunday’s going to come a lot easier.”
Arizona State (8-4-3, 2-2-1), which was ranked as high as 11th earlier this season, will also be looking to keep its postseason hopes alive after being swept by USC and UCLA last weekend.
Oregon holds a 2-4-1 series record against the Sun Devils. The last time the Ducks were in Tempe, in 2001, they won 3-2. Arizona State, now unranked, has shut out five opponents this season.
“They’re a good team and they’re finishing their last weekend at home so they’ll be motivated,” Oregon head coach Bill Steffen said. “Arizona State is a very talented team. It’s going to be a real battle because we each have our motivating factors.”
After Friday’s matchup, Oregon will head to Tucson to face Arizona. Like the Ducks, the Wildcats have never advanced to the postseason, dating back to 1994.
Arizona (5-8-2, 1-3-1) is coming off a 1-0 upset of USC and a 4-0 loss to UCLA last weekend. Although Oregon has a 4-1-1 series lead over the Wildcats, they don’t expect it to be a walk in the park.
“Arizona is a much improved team,” Steffen said. “They’re very athletic but they’re much more organized than in years past. It’s also going to be their last home game so their kids will be very motivated.”
Oregon’s motivation is sky high right now. With the win over Cal last weekend that tied the best record in program history, the Ducks couldn’t be more excited.
“Right now they are probably performing at the highest level of any team we’ve had here,” Steffen said. “I think this team still has a ways to go in terms of how good can they be. I think they can still be better. They still have their best soccer in front of them this season.”
This year’s team will have its chance to stake its claim as Oregon’s best team ever while in Arizona this weekend.
Regardless of what the next two weekends hold — including the final regular season matchups with USC and UCLA — it has become NCAA tournament or bust.
Garbin put it the best: “We have nothing to lose,” she said.