Despite scoring goals in the opening and closing minutes of the game, the Ducks allowed three second half goals and fell 3-2 to the California Golden Bears.
The match at Edwards Stadium on Friday afternoon was a back and forth affair for much of the first half. The Ducks struck first in the 11th minute when a high strike from Maryn Beutler found the back of the net, giving Oregon a quick 1-0 lead.
Coach Kat Mertz praised Beutler’s play.
“Maryn had a great game today,” Mertz said. She showed leadership and good poise on the ball. Her defensive pressure was high and her decision-making was spot on.”
Inspired by Beutler’s early aggression, the Ducks began firing away at goal. They took six shots in the first 21 minutes of the game, including four on goal.
Defensively the Ducks were incredibly successful, limiting the Bears to only one shot on goal in the first half.
“I thought we set the tone early and dictated play in the first half,” Mertz said.
The first half goal marked the 4th time the Ducks have scored first this season. Until this game they were 4-0-0 when they did so.
In the second half, both teams came out shooting. ShayLee Miner and Miranda Schulz both had shots on goal for the Ducks, but neither were successful. Cal on the other hand, was patient on offense; it didn’t take its first shot until the 56th minute. Shortly after that shot Cal scored its first goal, a strike off the foot of Arielle Ship that got past Oregon goalkeeper Halla Hinriksdόttir.
In the 76th minute, Cal took a 2-1 lead with a hard strike from Celeste Boureille, assisted by Ship. Less than three minutes later, Ship attacked again, netting her second goal of the afternoon and tenth of the season.
In a 3-1 deficit, the Ducks stepped up their offense. Cal goalkeeper Emily Boyd saved a try by Marissa Everett, who had a season high seven saves in this game, in the 82nd minute. Everett’s next try just two minutes later found the back of the net to make it a 3-2 game.
Momentum was on the Ducks’ side, but time was not. Oregon managed two more shots in the final minutes but neither found the back of the net.
The Ducks out-shot their opponent for the 11th time this season, but took the hard-fought loss.
Oregon is now 4-8-0 overall and 1-3-0 in Pac-12 play. The team will travel south to take on No. 6 Stanford on Sunday night at 5 p.m.
Follow Gus Morris on Twitter @xgasbus
Golden Bears sink Ducks with 3 second half goals
Gus Morris
October 8, 2015
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