EUGENE, Ore. - On senior day for Oregon women’s soccer (2-10-5, 0-6-4 Big Ten), the Ducks took on the Minnesota Golden Gophers (6-7-3, 2-5-3 Big Ten) in a competitive matchup. In an evenly matched game, neither team could find the back of the net.
As the rain started to fall on Papé Field, Minnesota recorded the first shot in the eighth minute, with an attempt from Caroline Birdsell, but it went too high above the goal. Oregon’s first shot came off the boot of Miya Alamares in the 12th minute, but just like Birdsell’s shot, Alamares also shot high.
In the 18th minute, Minnesota’s Paige Kahal shot one in the bottom right corner, and Oregon goalkeeper Caeley Goldstein stopped it from finding the back of the net. Oregon responded in the 20th minute, with Taylor Bryan firing up top, but missed the target.
Lauren Kenny gave Oregon its best chance at scoring in the early portion of the match, but the Golden Gophers’ goalkeeper, Sarah Martin, was able to protect the goal.
A foul committed by Kenny gave Minnesota a penalty kick after Birdsell’s shot went high into Goldstein’s gloves. Kahal fired her penalty directly into Goldstein’s hands and saved her first penalty of the year.
Mya Nugent had her shot in the 36th minute directed towards the top right corner of the goal, but it was off target and out of bounds before it reached the net.
The heavy rain cleared the way for blue skies and sun before halftime and Oregon’s last first half attempt came in the 45th minute, with Alamares getting a shot off, but Martin was able to get her fingertips on the ball, giving the Ducks a corner, but Alamares couldn’t connect off of the set piece, with the ball flying high above the goal and the game remaining scoreless at half.
The second half action kicked off in the 50th minute when Minnesota’s Birdsell placed a shot in the bottom center, but between Oregon’s defense and Goldstein, the ball couldn’t find the back of the net.
In the 55th minute, a yellow card was issued to Kate Childers after tripping Savannah Holley, giving Oregon a free kick. Jayde Holley, Savannah’s sister, took a shot off the set piece and placed it directly in the hands of Martin.
Ella Osmussen placed her first shot of the game, in the 64th minute, in the bottom center, but it was saved by Martin.
Another yellow card was issued in the 66th minute to Mariah Nguyen, giving Oregon another set piece. However, sophomore Carly Cormack couldn’t connect off the kick and turned the ball over.
“We were able to draw quite a few fouls,” Oregon head coach Tracy Joyner said. “Unfortunately, we weren’t able to capitalize on anything on goal, in terms of set pieces, but generated some really good opportunities.”
Minnesota’s Birdsell and Tatiana Cunningham flew the ball right over the top of the goal in back-to-back shots in the 76th and 77th minutes, in the first two shots for the Golden Gophers in the second half.
Oregon responded in the 80th minute with a long shot beyond the penalty box off the boot of Abella Hunter, but Martin picked up her fourth save of the game.
The final push for the Golden Gophers came in the 86th minute, off a shot by Katie Krohn from around 20 yards out, but it curled right of the goal.
The last push for the Ducks came in the 89th minute after a free kick, with Osmussen taking the set piece and placing the shot wide up top.
“I think we generated a lot of chances,” Joyner said. “We looked good in possession, and I thought we switched the point of attack really well today.”
Neither team could find the back of the net, and Oregon picked up another point in conference play in an evenly matched game.
The Ducks will wrap up their season on Sunday, Oct. 26, against the rivals up north, the Washington Huskies, with kickoff set for 1:00 p.m.