EUGENE, Ore. - Coming off their first home defeat of the season, Oregon Women’s Soccer (2-3-1) looked to rebound against the Grand Canyon University (GCU) Antelopes (3-1-0) at home. In an intense offensive battle, the Ducks dropped their second straight match and fell short 0-2, despite a strong second half.
“As a coach, it’s about playing 90 minutes solid, not 45,” Oregon head coach Tracy Joyner said. “It’s a long game and a long season, so the mentality and resilience that we showed in the second half, we got to make sure we extend that to the first half as well.”
Oregon started off the game with Sydney Chura creating an early look for the Ducks in the fourth minute, but Antelopes goalkeeper Emma Knack saved the shot.
Grand Canyon responded instantly in the fifth minute with a goal off the boot of Hannah Smith, putting the Ducks in an early 0-1 deficit.
Oregon had four opportunities in a five-minute span, with Cloe Chase heading the ball in the 11th minute, Chura taking a shot from inside the penalty box in the 13th minute, and Chase and Carly Cormack each taking shots in the 15th minute. However, none of the attempts could find the back of the net.
A stunning shot by Grand Canyon’s Tatum Hofsetter from outside in the 19th minute, from outside the penalty box, put the ball just out of reach of Ducks’ goalkeeper Caeley Goldstein, and into the back of the net, putting the Antelopes ahead by two.
Oregon’s Cailin Bloom placed a shot in the bottom left in the 27th minute, but Knack was able to get her hands on the ball to prevent Oregon from getting on the board.
In the 34th minute, Ella Osmussen took a strike for the Ducks, but couldn’t find the back of the net.
The 11th shot of the first half for the Ducks came in the 43rd minute, with Chase getting another look, but she placed it just off the top of the goal.
Oregon came out swinging in the second half, with Cormack giving the Ducks a good look in the 54th minute, but no Oregon player was able to connect with the ball, as the shot went out left.
“I thought this was one of the best games [Cormack] has played,” Joyner said.
In the 58th minute, on a free kick opportunity for Oregon, Osmussen put one right into the hands of Knack. Just a minute later, Cormack had a shot on goal that landed just above the top of the goalpost. Chura provided the next opportunity in the 64th minute, but Knack picked up her sixth save of the game. Addisen Boyer had a look in the 66th minute, but it was saved by the fingertips of Knack.
The Antelopes’ first shot in the second half came in the 72nd minute, with Maya Paeske placing it high over the net.
Oregon’s next three shots on goal came in the 73rd minute, with Lauren Kenny, Savannah Holley, and Chase’s chances all being saved by the tough Grand Canyon defense.
The Ducks’ relentless offensive pressure in the second half didn’t let up, with Kenny placing the ball in the bottom center, but Knack continued her defense of the net, picking up her 10th save of the game, in the 76th minute.
Two goal-scoring opportunities for the Ducks came in the 83rd minute, with Chase’s bouncing off the right woodwork, and Bloom’s getting saved by the Antelopes’ defense.
“[Chase] did a really good job getting on the end of some services,” Joyner said. “We had her out in the wide position today, seeing if that would generate something new, and I thought it really, really did. She did a fantastic job.”
Oregon finished the match with 30 shots, tying the fourth most shots taken by the Ducks in a single game, but none could find the back of the net. The Ducks will look to bounce back on the road on Sep. 5 against Seattle University.
“We are really building something special here,” Joyner said. “And that takes time.”