With just two weeks to go in the season, the Oregon women’s soccer team is focused on finishing the season on a positive note. It’s been tough sledding for the Ducks after remaining winless in Pacific-10 Conference play and sitting at the bottom of the conference standings. Though they’ve been competitive, the Ducks have struggled to turn their efforts into wins. The one thing that is certain about this team is that they play in one of the best conferences in America.
Last week’s National Soccer Coaches Association of America rankings had four Pac-10 teams ranked, including three in the top 10. No other conference had more than that in the top 10, and only the Atlantic Coast Conference had more total teams in the poll. No. 4 UCLA and No. 5 Stanford both remain undefeated, and with their wins this weekend will likely move into the top three in the national polls. No. 10 USC rounds out the Pac-10 in the top 10. With two other programs receiving votes, Washington and Cal, it
becomes a little easier to understand Oregon’s
struggles in conference play.
The Ducks have a nice combination of veteran leadership and young talent that would normally characterize a winning team. But the close nature of many of their matches and the injuries that have sidelined players have mounted, leaving the Ducks roster thin. All 11 of the starters in Friday’s match against No. 22 Washington State played the entire 102 minutes of the double-overtime game.
“I am so proud of this team, especially with the number of injuries we’re dealing with,” head coach Tara Erickson said after the game Friday.
So while a National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament bid is probably out of the question at this point, the Ducks have four games remaining to make a statement and leave a positive mark on the season. This week they travel on a final road trip for games at Arizona and Arizona State. Both teams have just one conference win each and are situated with the two Oregon schools as the four programs in the conference to not yet be ranked in a poll this year.
A road victory would be an indicator of serious improvement and dedication.
The following week will be the last games of the year, at home against national powers USC and UCLA. The Oregon seniors will be honored as they play their final games as Ducks in front of their home fans. If they could find a way to knock off the Bruins or Trojans, it would be quite a way to go out.
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