Without 2006 Pacific-10 Conference Player of the Year Nicole Garbin – who set 21 program records during her career in Eugene – Oregon’s other offensive weapons are now out of the shadow of one of the Ducks’ biggest stars.
And at least through eight matches, Oregon’s attack is proving just as dauntless now as they were with Garbin’s golden boot.
The Ducks (5-3 overall), powered by junior midfielder Allison Newton, lost 3-2 to No. 15 Purdue on Friday, but bounced back to defeat Illinois State 5-1 Sunday.
Newton, who’s already just one goal shy of tying her career mark of six, finished with three goals on the weekend, including one against the Boilermakers and two more against the Redbirds.
In Oregon’s first-ever match against a Big Ten opponent, Newton sank an off-speed shot from 15 yards that gave the Ducks a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute; however, the Boilermakers matched the score just 21 seconds later and slotted in two more goals shortly after halftime.
Junior midfielder Jessica Goodell, a transfer from Nebraska, cut Purdue’s advantage to a goal by scoring on a cross from Darcie Gardner in the 60th minute, but the Ducks could not even the battle.
Despite her team blowing its opportunity at a valuable non-conference victory against a ranked opponent, Oregon coach Tara Erickson said she was still pleased with her team’s effort.
“It was disappointing to give up those goals, but when we got down 3-1, we kept playing and kept trying to score. I thought we attacked more in the second half,” Erickson said in a media release.
Oregon, which was ranked No. 19 by Soccer Buzz in its preseason poll, came two goals short of tying a program record for goals scored in a game Sunday in a lop-sided victory over Illinois State.
Newton, who leads Oregon in goals and scoring with five goals for 10 points, nailed two goals early in the first half, including the eventual game winner in the 19th minute. Sophomore central midfielder Teresa Bowns recorded a match-high five points, scoring goals in the 26th and 67th minutes and contributing an assist. Jill Jensen, a true freshman from Puyallup, Wash., nailed Oregon’s fourth goal.
Carrie Schurr gave Illinois State its only goal in the 36th minute.
The Ducks outshot the Redbirds 20-10 in the match. Without senior defender Dylann Tharp, who sustained a sprained left ankle in a match against Utah State on Sept. 14, the Ducks’ defense was still strong. Junior goalkeeper Jessie Chatfield, who already owns the program record for shutouts with 14, made two saves. Chatfield is also fast approaching the program record for career wins, as she’s just one victory short of Amanda Fox’s record 23 victories.
The Ducks play their next three matches at Papé Field beginning at 1 p.m. Sept. 30 against Portland State.
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