Oregon, in only its second season with coach Tara Erickson, lost just one Pacific-10 Conference match in 2006.
Yet, the team’s 6-5 non-conference record seemed to be the deciding factor when the NCAA Tournament selection committee decided to leave the Ducks off its post-season list.
Overshadowed was Oregon’s 6-1-2 Pac-10 finish and remembered was the fact that it never earned a victory over a ranked non-conference opponent that year, though the squad came close against the team it’ll face Friday.
The Ducks, who currently stand at 6-3 overall with just two non-conference matches remaining on its schedule, have one more chance to show the committee they can compete against anyone.
It won’t be easy though.
The Ducks play the University of Portland – a two-time national champion that is experiencing a rare two-match losing streak – tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Papé Field.
Historically, Portland has had no trouble defeating Oregon. Oregon has only scored two goals against the Pilots, both coming in a 5-2 loss in 2004. Portland’s 9-0 all-time record against the Ducks is a strong indicator that Erickson’s squad will have their work cut out for them Friday.
The two squads last met at Papé Field in 2005, when Portland won 6-0. Pilot Christine Sinclair booted in five goals to propel her squad to victory.
In the most recent Oct. 1 national polls, the Pilots (7-3) slipped from No. 2 to at least No. 8. Soccer Buzz dropped them to No. 8, Soccer Times and the NSCAA moved them to No. 10 and Soccer America Top 25 pushed them all the way back to No. 13.
Portland plummeted in the rankings after losing weekend matches to UCLA and USC.
The Pilots handed the Ducks their second-to-last loss of the season in heartbreaking fashion last year in Portland. Though Portland eventually won 3-0, its offense had been shut down by a tenacious Duck defense leading up to the 60th minute. But with the score tied at 0-0, the Pilots eked out the victory late, erupting for three goals to steal the game.
Oregon will need a spark on offense itself, and the team’s seen a jump in the scoring department this season. Through nine games, the squad has recorded 20 goals. In comparison, it took the Ducks 19 matches to register that many last year.
Ten different Duck players have earned goals in 2007. Junior midfielder/forward Allison Newton leads the team with five, while sophomore midfielder Danielle Sweeney, senior forward Tiffany Smith and sophomore midfielder Teresa Bowns each have three.
The Ducks’ defense will be reenergized if senior defender Dylann Tharp can return after severely spraining her right ankle in a Sept. 14 game against Utah State. Oregon’s goals against average was 0.60 before Tharp’s injury. In the four games since then, the Ducks have allowed 1.75 goals per game.
Oregon’s defensive unit will be tasked to lock out senior midfielder Natalie Budge, who leads the Pilots with five goals in 2007. Freshman midfielder Elli Reed has recorded four goals. Sophomore forward Michelle Enyeart has been finding her teammates, clocking in 10 assists in just half a season.
The Ducks will conclude their three-game home stand at 1 p.m. Sunday when they face Gonzaga, which is 7-2-1 this season. Their first Pac-10 match is Oct. 12 at USC.