The Pacific-10 Conference schools of the Grand Canyon State proved too tough for the Ducks over the weekend, who lost on the road to both Arizona and Arizona State by a combined score of 7-2.
On Friday, Oregon fell 4-2 in its conference opener against the Wildcats and was blanked by the Sun Devils 3-0 on Sunday.
Going into their game against Arizona (7-3-2 overall, 2-0-0 conference), the Ducks (8-3-1, 0-2-0) were riding high after winning Wyoming’s UniWyo Shootout Oct. 2 en route to posting the best start in program history. Not seen out of Oregon this weekend were the two essential parts of its game that have led to its eight wins – an offense that scores at least once an outing and a defense that seldom allows more than one goal.
The loss to Arizona State (6-5-2, 1-1-0) was especially uncharacteristic of the Ducks under first-year head coach Tara Erickson, who saw her team’s drive fade in the second half under the desert sun.
“We played a good half, but we didn’t play for 90 minutes,” Erickson said. “I think fatigue was a factor, but we didn’t fight through that and take care of the little things that allowed us to be successful earlier this season.”
Led by their young but reliable freshman goalkeeper Jessie Chatfield, the Oregon defense held the Sun Devils at bay through a scoreless first half, but buckled early in the second. Seniors Lara Kezer and Brittany Cooper drew first blood for the Sun Devils in the 50th and 56th minutes, respectively, giving them a comfortable 2-0 lead. Their front line struck again in the 61st minute as Elizabeth Bogus tallied her ninth goal of the season, driving a shot past Chatfield into the top right corner of the Ducks’ net. Bogus’ goal was the last scored in the game, ending the toughest 12 minutes of Oregon’s season thus far.
The Duck offense could not get past goalkeeper Kim Bingham of Arizona State, who held Oregon to just its second scoreless game of the season. The junior from Pleasanton, Calif., grabbed three saves, highlighting her second shutout this year. Not even Oregon’s leading goal scorer Nicole Garbin had an answer for the Sun Devils. The senior forward has been an offensive juggernaut this season, but was held to just two shots.
The Ducks have been hindered by injuries all season, two of which sidelined starters Andrea Valadez and Cristan Higa on Sunday. The reliable tandem were not in Erickson’s lineup because both were injured Friday against the Wildcats. Erickson turned to her bench for support, calling upon freshman Taylor Callan and junior Sabrina DeMonte to play. DeMonte made the most of her outing, managing one shot on goal. Erickson was pleased with Callan, who started in place of Higa.
“Taylor had a good game stepping in and starting for us at the last minute,” Erickson said.
Oregon may have lost to No. 23 Arizona two days prior, but the Ducks’ offense did not go quietly. Garbin and fellow senior Katie Abrahamson scored against the defending Pac-10 champions, who walked away the victor thanks to senior Mallory Miller, who recorded her second hat trick of the season. The game was hard-fought and played physically by both squads, leading to 31 fouls called. Joining Higa and Valadez in the trainer’s office after the game was Chatfield, who was treated after colliding with Kelly Nelson of the Wildcats during the game.
Arizona head coach Bill Tobias was glad to get a win out of the goal-heavy game, which featured a combined 35 shots.
“This is good lesson for our team and especially our young players,” Tobias said. “Pac-10 play is very physical. We have to be prepared for that. No one is going to back down from anyone.”
The Ducks look to right their ship this weekend as the conference’s Los Angeles schools come to Pape Field. On Friday, Oregon faces No. 4 UCLA (11-1-0, 1-0-0) at 5 p.m. and then plays USC (6-4-1, 0-1-0) Sunday at noon.

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