Nothing went according
to plan for the Oregon women’s soccer team this season.
From spring practice to their final match against Arizona in early November, the Ducks struggled against a relentless
enemy –injuries.
Oregon spent its entire season patching together a lineup — which included as many as five freshmen — to face a schedule that included 10 teams that qualified for the 2004 NCAA Tournament.
At one time or another throughout the season, the Ducks were without six starters due to injuries.
The end result was a 3-13-3 overall record and Oregon’s first winless Pacific-10 Conference season since the team gained varsity status in 1996.
“It didn’t go how the seniors wished it would have,” Oregon senior Kelly Baird said. “We had a lot of youngsters, and the older players (on the team) couldn’t get it done.”
Ducks struggle through unhealthy fall season
Injuries. Injuries. Injuries.
The one constant in an inconsistent season.
Going into the spring, Oregon was without forwards Nicole Garbin, Mele French and Andrea Valadez. At the end of the year, Valadez was the only one of those three in the lineup — and she still suffered from nagging leg injuries.
Garbin, Oregon’s top offensive threat from last season, was lost for the year after suffering a knee injury early in spring practice.
For her career, Garbin ranks first all-time in assists (13), is tied for second in game-winning goals (6), is third in points (36), third in goals (12) and fourth in shots (112).
“(Injuries) played a pretty big part,” Baird said. “When people get injured, (the team) can’t use them, and that is obviously a factor.”
The injuries left the Ducks without much offense for the entire season. Oregon was shut out a record 10 times and scored more than three goals on only two occasions.
Oregon was the lowest scoring team in the conference, managing only four goals in nine conference matches. In comparison, conference leader UCLA scored 20 goals in the same span.
Oregon was also the only team to score less than 10 points during conference play. The Ducks ranked last in every offensive category in the Pac-10.
The bright spot offensively for Oregon was the production from freshman Kami Kapaku. The Hawaii native led the team in goals (4) and points (9). Her three points against Wyoming was a team-high in 2004.

Steffen resigns as
Oregon head coach
The 2004 season also saw
the end of Bill Steffen’s reign as head coach.
Steffen compiled a 49-107-14 record during his nine-year tenure. His 2003 squad won a school-record nine matches and tied for a school-record three wins in conference play.
As the Ducks’ head coach, Steffen never finished above seventh in the conference.
Prior to his arrival in Eugene, Steffen served as a women’s assistant coach at North Carolina for three years (1993-95), helping the Tar Heels to two NCAA national titles and a third trip to the national semifinals.
Ducks lose Mele French due to medical problems
Recurring injuries also claimed the career of French, another one of the Duck top scorers.
The junior suffered from
ongoing concussions and made the decision after an Oregon State match midway through the season to end her career for medical reasons.
“She was one of the most dangerous forwards in the Pac-10,” former assistant head coach John Galas said. “Behind Garbin, she was a player that the conference had to take notice of.”
In 2004, French ranked second in points (5), tied for second
in goals (2) and tied for third
in shots (17).
For her career, French finished with 82 shots, 38 shots on goal, eight goals, three assists, 19 points and two game-winning goals. Her eight goals leave her tied for seventh all-time with teammate Valadez.
Tough schedule hinders Oregon’s record
Another roadblock that led to the Ducks’ 3-13-3 record was the fact that they played one of the toughest schedules in the country.
The Ducks played against 10 NCAA Tournament invitees and held an exhibition match against an 11th tournament team in Ohio State.
Oregon posted a record of 1-8-1 against these teams, which included Arizona, UCLA, Washington, Stanford, California, Portland, Central Connecticut State, Connecticut, Utah, and Weber State.
Oregon sends off two top senior performers
The Ducks also said goodbye to two of their most consistent performers in seniors Christine Mintz and Baird.
Mintz ended her career with 56 starts to rank eighth all-time for the Ducks. Last season, she was one of only five Pac-10 players to play every minute (1,394) of the season.
In an awards banquet a couple of weeks ago, Mintz earned the team’s Defensive MVP honor.
Baird returned from a serious spring ankle injury to play the last 15 games of 2004, including 11 in a row as a starter. She ended her career with 67 appearances — ninth all-time for Oregon.
Baird made a successful switch from the forward position she held her first two years to a defender slot her junior and senior years.
Oregon will return 22 players next season, including six of its eight top goal scorers.

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