In her first games for the Oregon soccer team, midfielder Chalise Baysa set the tone for her remarkable career by scoring five goals in two games and immediately changing the face of Duck soccer.
Now, as a senior, Baysa is watching young Nicole Garbin do the exact same thing. Garbin, a freshman, has scored four goals, three of them game-winners, in Oregon’s three wins this season. The three game-winners match an Oregon season record, and Garbin has 13 games left to smash it.
But it won’t get any easier for the Ducks. After facing San Diego and Eastern Washington at home this weekend, Oregon’s next four opponents feature No. 5 Portland, No. 6 California and No. 8 Stanford.
Oregon head coach Bill Steffen said his team still needs to improve, even before this weekend.
“We want to keep developing, keep moving forward,” Steffen said. “I don’t think we’ve been doing that.”
Baysa agreed.
“We’re not playing well right now,” Baysa said. “We need a better showing.”
Oregon will take on San Diego Friday at 3 p.m., and Eastern Washington Sunday at 1 p.m.

Home cookin’
The Duck kickers are smack-dab in the middle of their longest-ever home stand, and they need to enjoy it while they can.
Oregon’s game against Nevada on Sunday was the first of seven-straight home contests. Traditionally, the Ducks have been better at home than on the road, winning 16 total games at home versus five in opposing teams’ stadiums. In five seasons, the Ducks have 20 home losses and 32 road losses.
This season, Oregon is 2-0 at home, and 1-1-1 on the road. A road victory at San Jose State last week broke Oregon’s 10-game road losing streak.

The Hawaii connection
When Oregon played Nevada at Papé Field Sunday, Garbin and other Ducks faced some familiar foes. Garbin, last year’s near-unanimous Hawaiian player of the year in her senior season, said she had faced Nevada’s Leisha Makinano in competition last season.
“I’ve seen those girls before,” Garbin, who had a goal and an assist, said after the game. “I knew they were going to try and slow down the pace on us.”
The Wolfpack did indeed slow down the pace of Sunday’s game. The teams committed a total of 25 fouls, including three yellow cards, as the referee stopped the game numerous times to warn players. Garbin and Makinano tussled at one point in the first half, and the Nevada player was cautioned by the referee.

(Not) injury ridden
The Ducks have stayed mostly away from injuries this season, despite close, tough games. Oregon has already received 11 yellow cards, as the Ducks have found themselves in several physical contests.
However, the Ducks will enter the season’s second month with a few nicks. Senior midfielder Crystal David has suffered from inflammation and tendonitis in her knee, and still hasn’t started a game this season in limited action. Sophomore forward Ann Westermark sprained her ankle Sunday, and her status for Friday is uncertain.