Oregon is back to its old ways again.
After losing five straight shutout matches earlier this season, the Oregon women’s soccer team appeared to have a second wind after winning two over Weber State and Oregon State. That was until the Ducks played Washington and Washington State.
Oregon (7-7 overall, 1-2 Pac-10) lost 2-0 to Washington State on Friday. The Ducks repeated the score two days later at the hands of Washington.
Washington’s Tina Frimpong delivered the final blow to the Ducks again. She scorched Oregon for two goals in a 2-1 Husky victory last season at Papé Field.
The junior forward delivered the final shot at 46:35 in the second half by sliding the ball past rushing goalkeeper Domenique Lainez. It was Frimpong’s team-leading 10th goal of the season.
The Huskies scored in the first half off a header by senior Jaime Carstensen, good enough for her fourth goal of the season.
Oregon had its opportunities throughout the match, most notably when forward Mele French fired one from close range in the 81st minute that was cleared by a Husky defender.
To Oregon’s credit, freshman Kelsey Rasmussen was in goal for Washington. In just her second career start, Rasmussen posted her second shutout. Rasmussen has not allowed a goal this season in 315 minutes, which is the equivalent of three-and-a-half games.
“Kelsey had a great game today; the kind of game we expect her to have because she has been doing really well in training,” Washington head coach Lesle Gallimore said. “She was calm, composed and had a lot of key saves and catches on crosses.”
Rasmussen recorded eight saves against an Oregon squad that accounted for 14 shots. The Huskies accumulated eight shots at Husky Soccer Field in Seattle. In Friday’s matchup, Washington State (5-8-1, 1-2-1) also earned its first conference win at the hands of the Ducks. And it was a one-woman show with the spotlight on senior Rachel Rodrick.
After a slow first half, Rodrick scored the first goal of the game off a penalty kick at 63:40. Oregon senior Lindsey Werdell was given a red card after clipping forward Shelby Brownfield, resulting in the penalty kick.
Rodrick sealed the deal at 88:59 off a header from a cross by forward Nicole Wilcox.
“This win was so important for us,” Rodrick said Friday. “We were at a point that we couldn’t lose anymore. We were losing close games to hard teams, so it feels good to go out and win 2-0 in conference.”