Goalkeeper Emily Marrer is one of four true freshmen on the squad. As a prep player, she posted 54 shutouts.
The Ducks soccer squad is new this year.
New and young, for that matter.
Of the 14 different starters in 2003, only one is a senior. Oregon has welcomed six newcomers this year, two transfers and four true freshmen. Redshirt junior Erin Engelhardt and redshirt freshman Sabrina DeMonte both bring experience as transfers.
Engelhardt brings her talents to Eugene after a two-year stint at Virginia, where in her sophomore year she helped lead the Cavaliers to the NCAA tournament after tallying three goals and six assists.
The Hasbrouck, N.J., native is looking to bring her NCAA experience to Oregon and help lead the Ducks into their first post-season appearance.
“It’s a real goal for this team,” she said. “I’m just trying to bring that type of competitiveness I experienced playing at Virginia.”
That competitiveness as a Cavalier only lasted for two years because Engelhardt took a year off for a break. But now, Oregon seems to be the right fit.
“I enjoyed my time (at Virginia),” Engelhardt said. “I felt like I needed a change. Oregon just seemed right. I’m having a great time. It’s really a great bunch of girls.”
DeMonte, who transferred to Oregon in winter 2003 after spending her previous time at Harbor Junior College, is playing soccer for the first time at the college level.
With prep experience that includes being team captain, athlete of the year and leading scorer with 15 goals and 11 assists in 2002, DeMonte could have a strong impact at a young age.
Oregon’s four true freshmen include are goalkeeper Emily Marrer of Glendale, Ariz.; midfielder Dana Richardson of Vancouver, B.C.; midfielder Rachel Grushkin of Eureka, Calif., and Eugene native Kaily Winther.
Galas is a Duck at heart
Assistant coach John Galas can’t seem to get enough of Oregon.
An Oregon graduate in 1997 and a two-year volunteer coach thereafter, Galas has returned to become a Duck again after serving as an assistant coach for three years at Florida State.
“Part of it for me was getting Pac-10 experience,” Galas said. “If you look at what the athletic department’s done over the course of the last 10 years, it’s just an exciting time to be a part of Oregon athletics, and it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”
Galas focused his coaching on the goalkeepers while at Florida State and helped lead the team to two Sweet 16 appearances in three years. Now at Oregon, Galas will be able to work with all aspects of the team, including recruiting and coaching.
Galas became a father Monday afternoon at 1:15 p.m. His wife, Anna Galas, gave birth to their first son, Caleb Ryan Galas, who was 7 pounds, 12 ounces.
Could the schedule
be any easier? Yes.
The Ducks seem to live on the philosophy that in order to be the best, one must beat the best. That’s an explanation considering Oregon once again loaded its schedule with the best opponents around.
In 2002, the Ducks faced 11 NCAA tournament veterans from the previous season and 13 teams ranked in the top-25 at the time. And this year isn’t much easier.
This time around, the Ducks play 10 veterans from last year’s NCAA tournament, including defending national champions Portland, whom they face off with Friday.
Peters still sticking around
Former Oregon standout Sarah Peters was drafted as the 28th pick in the fourth round of the Women’s United Soccer Association draft last February by the San Jose CyberRays.
Yet, mainly due to injuries and troubles with her back, Peters is back in Eugene still helping out her team as a manager. Peters was a goalkeeper for Oregon from 1999-02, where she recorded 334 saves in 57 games.
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