While Oregon (2-4-1, 0-1-0 Big Ten) held its ground in Westwood versus No. 4-ranked UCLA (5-2-0), it was not enough as two penalties would be the difference in a 2-0 defeat.
The Bruins wasted no time showing their class, as within the first 10 minutes, the dynamic UCLA attack forced sixth-year transfer senior goalkeeper Caeley Goldstein to make two key saves.
As the half continued, Oregon was outpossessed heavily and absorbed pressure all throughout the first 45. The heroics of the Oregon backline were pivotal, especially the efforts of sixth-year transfer senior centreback Jasmine Young.
“She’s been just a stalwart back there,” Oregon head coach Tracy Joyner said. ”She’s so composed, she’s so confident... She’s done a wonderful job this year so far.”
The Ducks managed to achieve their first chance in the 18th minute, when a soaring cross from transfer senior Jayde Holley met the head of junior Lauren Kenny, but landed just high of the crossbar.
The rest of the half was defined by UCLA’s constant threat and Oregon’s bend-don’t-break mentality.
In the 40th minute, UCLA freshman forward Leena Powell had an open field and an eye for goal as she approached the 18-yard box, but a crucial crunching tackle from Oregon’s freshman centreback, Selah Simms, kept the match tied.
At the end of the first 45 minutes, UCLA managed to outshoot Oregon 6-2 with most of the game played in the Ducks' half.
The Ducks opened the second half flying across the field.
Oregon secured an early corner in the 46th minute, where sophomore midfielder Carly Cormack rocketed the ball into the penalty area, only to meet a clearing punch from UCLA’s sophomore goalkeeper Mariangela Medina.
The competitiveness and aggressiveness of Oregon were showing, and while they may not have been the more technical group, they were leaving it all out on the field.
However, in the 57th minute, the gritty defense of Oregon began to show its cracks. Up to this point, Simms was able to put out the fire that was UCLA’s Leena Powell, but a crash into the back of Powell’s legs inside the box meant a penalty and a yellow card for Simms.
Redshirt senior midfielder Emma Egizzi fired the penalty into the Oregon net, breaking the Ducks’ iron wall at last, the score now 1-0.
It didn’t take long for UCLA to put Oregon in a risky situation as senior Lily Boyden blazed down the left wing in the 75th minute and drew yet another penalty from a Duck defender.
Sophomore Bella Winn slotted the ball in the bottom right past a diving Goldstein, making the score 2-0.
Time ticked to the full 90, and the Ducks’ late attempts were to no avail. A tough and gritty game came down to two fouls, ending in a 2-0 loss for Oregon.
“We came in knowing it was going to be a battle,” Joyner said. “We just wanted to walk away from the game feeling like we gave it our best effort and we had the right mentality.”
The Ducks return home and will host Illinois this Thursday to open up Big Ten play at Pape Field, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. PST.