The Ducks lost both of their matches to begin their Pacific-10 Conference portion of the schedule this weekend in Los Angeles.
Oregon fell 1-0 on Friday to No. 13 USC (9-2-1 overall, 2-0-0 Pac-10) and was then steamrolled 3-0 on Sunday against top-ranked UCLA (9-1-2 overall, 2-0-0 Pac-10).
The Ducks dropped to 7-6-0 overall and 0-2-0 in the Pac-10.
Janessa Currier’s goal in the 4th minute did Oregon in against the Trojans. Two days later, the Pac-10’s leading goal scorer, Lauren Cheyney, forced coach Tara Erickson and the Ducks in yet another “must-win” situation.
Oregon, eager if not desperate to pick up its first conference victory, will host Arizona State on Friday and Arizona on Sunday.
“These weren’t must-win games this weekend,” said Erickson of her team’s contests against the California schools in an Oregon press release. “But now the games coming up at home are must-win games. Hopefully we’ll be more healthy and ready to play well at home.”
Oregon’s losses came in stark contrast to its results last season against both teams. In their final two matches of the regular season, the Ducks defeated USC 3-1 and then edged out UCLA 2-1 in double overtime at Papé Field.
On Sunday at Drake Stadium, the Bruins outshot Oregon 16-5. Cheney scored one of her two goals off a give-and-go from Danesha Adams at the 23:49 mark to put UCLA up 1-0. Cheney, who’s scored a conference-high 13 goals, scored again during the 49th minute off another assist from Adams.
Caitlin Mac Kechnie boosted her squad’s advantage to 2-0 in the 31st minute off an assist from Cheney.
“They have so many weapons and we were playing a little short handed, so our options were somewhat limited,” Erickson said in a press release. “UCLA is very good and losing at the No. 1 team certainly isn’t the end of the world, but there were things we could have done better.”
Junior goalkeeper Jessie Chatfield matched her season high, set Friday, with six saves.
Dani Oster, Jessica Goodell, Teresa Bowns, Jen Stoltenberg and Kirstie Kuhns all attempted shots.
On Friday at McAlister Field, the Trojans’ early score was its only – Oregon simply could not match it.
Currier, a junior defender, booted in the decisive score three minutes, 11 seconds into the first period off a USC throw-in near the Ducks’ goal post.
For the rest of the match, defense wasn’t Oregon’s shortcoming, as it held off a USC offense that came into the contest fourth in the Pac-10 in scoring, averaging 2.0 goals per game.
“The defense played well today, but we did not attack well,” Erickson said.
Oregon was outshot 14-4, though Chatfield made six saves in the loss.
“Jessie made some really good stops,” said Erickson. “And our defense stepped up. It’s great to limit a team like USC to one goal. (Defenders) Dylann (Tharp) and Nicole Dobrzynski kept us in the game. It was good to see the defenders get a little of their swagger back.”
Barbara Blocker, Bowns, Jessica Goodell and Allison Newton each attempted one shot for the Ducks.
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