EUGENE, Ore. - With a temperature of 54 degrees, it was an electric senior day for the Oregon Ducks against the Iowa Hawkeyes. Although the Ducks started slow, they were able to bring it back in the last 15 minutes with some of the best play all season. The game ended in a tie, 3-3.
Iowa’s lineup started the match with some fire. Oregon felt the pressure, with Iowa maintaining control of the ball and keeping the Ducks on their toes. The Ducks were unable to connect any of their passes in the first half, as Iowa’s defense did not give the Ducks an inch to try and score.
In the seventh minute of the game, the Hawkeyes’ star striker, Reily Heman, got the first goal of the game for Iowa. With a top center goal and an assist from midfielder Sara Batchadji, the Hawkeyes took the early lead.
Unluckily for the Ducks, after a foul on Iowa, Oregon's Cloe Chase went down in the 26th minute of the game. Chase was taken out, limping off the field with an injury; Lauren Hunter was subbed in.
Momentum was shifted by the Ducks in the 30th minute of the half, with the Ducks pressuring Iowa’s defense. Along with a major stop by Kailey Kimball that would have been another point for the Hawkeyes. But ultimately, the half ended with Iowa in the lead, Ducks down by one.
Oregon started the second half with some great momentum, making the Hawkeyes work to keep their lead with a penalty save by Kimball on a shot taken by Iowa’s Kylie Cino.
“Kailey Kimball, saving the penalty kick, shifted our energy,” Coach Tracy Joyner said.
The Hawkeyes responded to the Ducks' power with equal power; Lucia Englund scored Iowa's second goal in the 64th minute, Iowa furthering their lead, 2-0.
But the Ducks did not lose their fire, with Carly Cormack scoring a point in the 74th minute, bringing the momentum back to the Ducks, 2-1. There was great pressure from Oregon after that first goal, breaking the scoreless drought they have had over the last month of play.
With back-to-back play from both the Ducks and the Hawkeyes, Heman scored another point for Iowa in the 79th minute. The Hawkeyes had a two-goal lead with 10 minutes left; the Ducks were feeling the pressure.
Yet the Ducks still did not give up; they scored another two goals to tie up the match 3-3. Caitlin Bloom got her first goal of the season and on her senior day in the 81st minute. And then again Bloom with an assist to Kylie Farmer. The Ducks took the score from 3-1 to 3-3 in just a few minutes.
“Feels amazing. I’ve been trying really hard and working really hard, so I’m just so happy that I got it home,” Caitlin Bloom said
With a good fight from the Ducks in the last few minutes, the match ended in a tie, 3-3. The last 20 minutes were electric at Papé Field. The Ducks will play again on Friday, October 16th, at 6 pm against Michigan in the last game of the season at Papé Field.