Spring training was officially over Saturday for Tara Erickson’s Oregon soccer squad, which ended with a 4-0 win over Western Oregon.
With a 3-0-1 record in exhibition games plus well-developed play from younger Ducks, Erickson feels that this year’s offseason was well spent.
“I’m happy with our spring,” Erickson said. “My theory has always been to have a good spring, and unlike past springs, we’ve had success which is pretty obvious.”
On Saturday, Erickson had her team focused on improving their play rather than winning.
With more than 600 people watching, the attendance at Papé Field on Saturday was fit more for a regular-season game than a friendly spring matchup.
“It’s just really fun to be back on our home field. We have an awesome group of fans,” Rachel Grushkin said.
Grushkin ended with an assist and a goal scored with 21 minutes remaining in the first half. It put the Ducks ahead 3-0.
Earlier, the senior midfielder dished the ball to her freshman teammate Adriana Montes, who scored the game’s opening goal in the fourth minute.
Montes found the net again with 28 minutes left in the first half. Grushkin fed her the ball just inside of Western Oregon’s penalty box and Montes sent the ball past goalkeeper Ally Meyer.
Montes returned the favor seven minutes later by assisting Grushkin. It capped off afive-point day for Montes, which did not go unnoticed by Erickson.
“Seeing her score goals was very exciting,” Erickson said. “She has a ton of individual talent. Her strength is her individual play on the ball which is catching up to the level of Division I play.”
Despite her youth, Montes was composed during and after the game.
“Everything is a big step for me,” Montes said. “Just to get the opportunity to play for this team is exciting.”
Montes was partly surprised with how many scoring chances she had. In the past, Oregon’s offense has relied heavily on senior forward Nicole Garbin for offensive output.
Saturday featured a different kind of Oregon squad.
As usual, Garbin created separation from her defenders and took several shots, but it was her teammates that put the points on the scoreboard.
Departing seniors Cristan Higa and Andrea Valadez made their final appearance in a competitive game for Oregon. They entered the game in the 32nd minute and the crowd welcomed them with a cheer.
Higa rounded out Oregon’s four-goal first half by scoring nine minutes later.Higa’s goal delighted Erickson, who used a makeshift roster for Saturday.
“I thought we did some good things and, again, with limited numbers out there and putting people here, there and everywhere,” she said. “I thought it was great that we made a few scoring opportunities for people as well.”
Valadez had her share of those opportunities. The forward from Torrance, Calif., blasted two shots on goal that both banked off the crossbar.
Junior Sabrina DeMonte also dressed in an Oregon uniform for the final time on Saturday.
Although she is eligible for another season of Division I soccer, DeMonte chose to forgo this option and will be attending dental school next year.
On defense, Oregon held Western Oregon to only 10 shots.
Oregon’s sophomore goalkeeper Jessie Chatfield, fresh off of earning freshman all-conference honors last fall, made two challenging saves in the 36th minute of play. Chatfield blocked one shot from a Western Oregon forward then deflected a rebound shot from another.
Saturday showed that yellow cards can be issued in an exhibition game as well. Amy Weberg and Kristin Werhane of Western Oregon each received one in the first half.
In related spring news, midfielder Kate Nelson was forced into early retirement from soccer last week because of injury. Nelson has gotten multiple concussions in her playing career. She will remain with the team next season as a student assistant.
With the preseason now behind them, the Ducks now have summer training ahead before their season opener against Long Beach State on Aug. 25.
Looking back at spring camp, Erickson is pleased with the progress her team has made, but insists that there is much to improve this summer.
“I’d like to see us mesh better with the new players because we’re going to need them to step up next season,” Erickson said. “We’ve gotten a lot better with our returning players.”