EUGENE, Ore. - Looking to rebound after four straight losses, Oregon women’s soccer (2-6-1, 0-2-0 Big Ten) looked to get back on track at home against the unbeaten Illinois Fighting Illini (8-0-1, 1-0-1 Big Ten), in the first Big Ten conference matchup of the season at Papé Field. However, the Ducks couldn’t find the back of the net to break the losing streak, falling 1-0 against the Fighting Illini.
“A lot of our reactions are reactionary, rather than anticipatory, and we got to make some adjustments there, and look at film,” Oregon head coach Tracy Joyner said. “The details matter.”
Oregon goalkeeper Caeley Goldstein had her first save of the game in the third minute, off a shot from Illinois. Oregon responded with a shot of its own just a couple of seconds later, coming from the boot of Taylor Bryan, but it couldn’t get past Illinois goalkeeper Izzy Lee.
In the fifth minute, Oregon sophomore Abella Hunter took a shot in the bottom right corner. Lee, however, was able to get her hands on it. Goldstein was able to protect a shot of her own after a strike from Ellen Peterson in the 11th minute.
After a foul committed by Ella Osmussen in the penalty box in the 14th minute, Illinois was awarded a penalty kick. Sarah Foley found the back of the net and put the Ducks in a one-goal deficit.
Bryan took a shot for the Ducks, but it missed the mark to the left of the goal in the 18th minute.
Local native Cloe Chase gave Oregon their best look in the first half, in the 24th minute, with the header going wide left, and offside was called on the play.
In the 43rd minute, freshman Miya Alamares took a long shot from deep, but it found the gloves of Lee.
Téa Mayson picked up a yellow card in the 44th minute for the Fighting Illini, giving Oregon a set piece. However, the Ducks couldn’t convert the chance into a goal.
Oregon had six corner kicks in the first half, setting a season high in a half, but couldn’t connect with the net on any opportunities.
“We created really, really quality chances,” Joyner stated postgame. “It’s disappointing to not put any of them away.”
Addisen Boyer kicked the second half off strong for Oregon with a shot out left in the 47th minute.
Chase went down in the 49th minute inside the penalty box after colliding with Lee, and after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review, no penalty kick was awarded.
“Morale is really high,” Joyner said, despite the loss and injuries impacting the team. “There’s so much belief and heart, because I think [the team] is having so much fun playing right now, with this much passion. It’s fun to play soccer.”
In the 59th minute, Ashley Stellon had a shot fall just out left in the Fighting Illini’s best look at scoring since the penalty kick conversion earlier in the match. Oregon followed the Illinois shot attempt up with one of their own, just a minute later, off the boot of Bryan, but it was saved by Lee.
Lauren Kenny gave Oregon their best look in the second half, coming in the 75th minute, but couldn’t seem to get an accurate look at the goal, as it curved out left.
Boyer gave the Ducks another strong look in the 79th minute, but it bounced off the hands of Lee, giving Oregon a corner kick. However, the Ducks couldn’t translate off the set piece.
Three corner kicks in the final four minutes for the Ducks all had moments of hope for Oregon, but the game of luck wasn’t on the Ducks’ side Thursday.
“We didn’t execute [the corner kicks] quite the way we would’ve wanted to,” Joyner said. “In terms of not necessarily the services, but the anticipation of the trajectory of the ball, where’s it going to go next.”
Oregon looks to get over the losing streak bump on Sept. 21, when it will take on Northwestern at home, with kickoff set for 12 p.m. PST.
“If [the players] hold each other a little bit more accountable,” Joyner said. “Then maybe that gives us the edge that we need.”