Oregon’s soccer victory over Oregon State on Friday was more than just another win.
It was the first overtime victory by either team in the history of the Civil War, and Oregon’s first overtime victory since the Ducks defeated Arizona State on Oct. 20, 2001.
“At the time it meant a lot,” forward Mele French said. “After I scored, we acted like we just won a championship game.” French, of course, scored the game-winning goal against the Beavers.
Oregon hadn’t won its Pacific-10 Conference opener since the 1998 season. Now, with its seventh win, Oregon is just one win away from tying its all-time record of eight wins in a season, which was achieved in 2001.
“It is exciting, and I just can’t wait to see how it’s going to turn out,” French said of the team’s eight remaining games. “I don’t want to jump ahead of myself and get too cocky about it because we have so many more games. But it’s exciting; I believe we can do it.”
As a new season begins, the Ducks are trying to remain focused and keep the momentum in what could be the team’s best season in program history.
“It was definitely a good way to start the Pac-10 schedule,” redshirt sophomore Nicole Garbin said. “We’re concentrated on getting the results in the games we should win, and battle it out in the other games when maybe we’re not favored. We still know we can play against any team in the league if we play well and together.”
UCLA dominating
the Pac-10
For the second straight week, UCLA holds down the No. 3 position in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/Adidas national poll. Only North Carolina and Notre Dame, which both have five more wins than the Bruins, are ranked higher.
The Bruins came off a double overtime victory against Washington on Saturday to move to 9-1-2 overall and 1-0 in conference play. Just a week before, UCLA scored with three seconds left in regulation to defeat UNLV, 1-0.
Huskies hanging around
Want proof that the Pac-10 is one of the strongest conferences in soccer? Washington still holds down the No. 10 ranking in this week’s poll with a 7-3-3 record. The Huskies have the fewest wins and most losses of anybody ranked in the top 15.
The Huskies did suffer at the hands of the Bruins last weekend in a 3-2 double overtime loss. Washington can still make claim as the best statistical team in the Pac-10, leading the conference in shots, points, assists, assists per game and shutouts, as of Oct. 7.
Washington looks for its first conference win this weekend when Oregon and Oregon State travel north to play in Seattle.
ASU: Shutout queens
While holding down the No. 23 national ranking, Arizona State comes off a solid weekend by defeating Cal, 3-2, and Stanford, 1-0.
The Sun Devils are tied for the conference lead with six shutouts this season after having their way with Stanford this weekend. It was also the first time in school history that Arizona State swept the California-Stanford series.
Arizona State moves to 8-2-2 overall and 2-0 in conference play before heading to Tucson this weekend to face in-state rival Arizona.
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