Oregon soccer wrapped up their spring preseason on Saturday against the rival Oregon State Beavers with a 1 to 1 tie. Though just a preseason game, it was apparent that to the players on the field it was still a Civil War. Both teams played a hard and physical game for 90 minutes, trying desperately to get ahead of one another.

Zoe Hasenauer got the Ducks up early with a shifty move in the box, and a shot that the aggressive Beaver goalie Emma Dean could only get a piece of. Though Oregon had their inter-state rivals on their heels for the entirety of the first half, Hasenauer’s shot would be the only one to beat Dean.

Although the Ducks came away with just a single goal despite a great first-half performance, Head Coach Kat Mertz recognizes that the incoming Freshman will continue to prove their worth throughout the season. It’s a young team with high expectations, and the Ducks look to bring their impressive spring performance to the regular season.

With three wins and a tie to complete Oregon’s preseason, Coach Mertz hopes to do what no other Duck coach has done before her and reach the NCAA Tournament.  

Coach Mertz and her Oregon squad now look toward mid-august, when their quest for the post-season begins with the first game of the 2019 season.

Game Story by Trent Shigut

Head Coach Kat Mertz