Goalkeeper Sarah Peters was there when her team needed her.
In Oregon’s loss to No. 1-ranked North Carolina on Sunday at Pape Field, Peters recorded her best game this season.
The Tar Heels, 17-time national champions, took 28 shots at the senior from Woodinville, Wash., and only three saw the back of the net. Peters earned 10 saves — a season-high.
“She has come a long way as a goalkeeper and as a leader,” Oregon head coach Bill Steffen said. “She stayed calm and poised and had a great performance on Sunday.”
Tar Heels head coach Anson Dorrance, who has developed one of the most successful college programs in history, referred to Peters as the “best goalkeeper we have seen all year.”
Dorrance also said Peters has the potential to play in the Women’s United Soccer Association.
For Peters, the praise was
welcome.
“I was in awe,” Peters said. “I was so excited. To get that kind of compliment from him was like a blessing from above.”
Peters is also co-captain for the Ducks in her senior year. Her list of accomplishments at Oregon does justice to her experience.
In 2001, Peters was second in the Pac-10 with 101 saves, and she allowed 1.45 goals per game. For her 2001 performance, she earned Pac-10 Honorable Mention honors.
Peters is a third-year starter for Oregon and looks to have another successful season after Sunday’s career-best performance against the best team in the nation.
“Sarah is one of the best across the country,” Steffen said. “It is a credit to her that she gets that respect from opposing teams and coaches.”

Tough schedule,

respect for Tar Heels
The Ducks can attribute
their record, in part, to a rigorous schedule.
Oregon has already faced five opponents ranked in the top 25 and four in the top 10.
But the Ducks have no complaints and were excited at their opportunity to face off against the No.1-ranked team in the country last weekend.
“They showed us a lot of things we need to do better,” Steffen said. “We take the lessons we learned and improve upon them.”

Injuries hurt

performance
Oregon is off to a slow start at 1-5-1 this season, and substantial injuries have partially plagued the team’s performance.
Sophomore Nicole Garbin and freshman Andrea Valadez will likely be out the entire season because of ACL injuries.
“We are losing two of our front runners,” Steffen said. “Nicole would be a big time player, not for us, but for any team in the country. She’s that good.”
Steffen is also very excited about the potential of Valadez, only a rookie for the team.
Goalkeeper Domenique Lainez sustained an early season injury to her right ankle Sept. 5 and is expected to be back within the next couple of weeks.
Lainez, a sophomore, backs up Peters in net. Senior Mary Etter is currently second-string for the Ducks until Lainez recovers.