It has all come down to this moment.
After this, it’s all over. The NCAA tournament isn’t an option for the Oregon women’s soccer team, and the one thing at stake is pride.
Oregon will face Oregon State tonight in the seventh edition of the Civil War. The Ducks dominate the series with the Beavers, and have a 4-1-1 record overall. Oregon’s only loss came last year in Corvallis, but now the Ducks are at home and have something to prove.
“There is a certain amount of redemption that goes into the players thinking about this game,” Oregon head coach Bill Steffen said. “With it being the seniors’ last match, the players are very excited about the game.”
In 2001, the Beavers rolled over Oregon for an easy 4-1 victory. For Oregon, now-senior goalkeeper Sarah Peters faced 22 shots and recorded seven saves, while now-seniors Lindsey Peterson and Robi Thayer also accounted for shots.
Oregon (2-13-2, 1-6-1 Pac-10) comes off a rough weekend in Los Angeles, where it took a 1-0 overtime loss to No.15 USC and held No. 2 UCLA to a scoreless first half before the Bruins went on to a 2-0 victory.
The Beavers haven’t fared well, either, and sit at the bottom of the Pac-10 at 1-6 and 8-9-2 overall. Oregon State also took on the Southern California squads on the weekend and walked away with a 2-1 overtime loss to the Trojans and a 4-1 loss to UCLA.
“We match up really well, we both play the same style, and we are both pretty aggressive on the ball,” sophomore defender Christine Mintz said.
Freshmen Katie Abrahamson, Mele French and Carlie Ashcraft have all contributed solid efforts to Oregon’s offense. Peters will take care of goal duties, as she leads the conference with 5.71 saves per game and ranks second with 97 total saves, behind Fletcher.
Five Ducks will step on the field wearing an Oregon jersey for the last time. Seniors Sarah Denner, Amanda Orand, Peterson, Thayer and Peters will conclude their Oregon careers tonight.
“It allows us a proper way to send them off,” Steffen said. “This is a chance for them to bring the season to a good wrap-up at home in front of their friends, family and their teammates.”
The Ducks and Beavers face off at Papé Field at 7 p.m.