By: Logan Thompson

The Oregon Ducks (0-8-2) came into this game against the Utah Utes (4-3-4) with a good bit of optimism after playing their best game of the season on Thursday against a very strong Colorado side. Unfortunately for the Ducks, this wasn't enough.

The game didn't start out the best for the Ducks as Utah dominated possession early eventually resulting in a penalty committed by the Ducks in the box. The resulting free kick was converted by Katie O'Kane giving Utah an early lead in the 19'. Utah continued their attack after this but the Ducks caught a break in the 25' as a Utah shot from the far side barely rolled past the goal on the near side.

After this things turned around in the Ducks' favor for the rest of the half. After a strong shot by McCulloch was saved, a couple of minutes later Kaitlyn Paculba scored her first goal of the season in the 40' during a strong Ducks counter. The good play would continue for the Ducks with a fantastic punch save by the goalkeeper Parsons preserving the tie game going into the 2nd half.

Unfortunately for the Ducks, the second half would start the same as the first with a penalty in the box giving Utah their second goal of the match on another free kick by O'Kane. A counter by the Ducks soon after was just barely saved keeping the Ducks down 1. The Utes then continued their attack but the Ducks refused to give in tallying a flurry of blocks and saves. Eventually, however, the attack wore the Ducks down as they surrendered their 3rd goal of the match to the Utes courtesy of Lilliah Blum 80'.

The Ducks refused to go down quietly as they soon responded with a goal of their own via the foot of Lauren Kenny in the 83'. An immediate attack by the Utes right after would lead to their 4th goal of the game and the third by O'Kane 85' completing her hat trick.

That's where the game would end up as time would end soon after with the Utes handing the Ducks their 9th loss of the season 4-2. Oregon's 2 goals are the most scored by the team at home this season as the offense seems to be figuring things out. The defense and goalkeeping played better than the final score would indicate but penalties, especially inside the box, need to be cleaned up. This is to be expected with a team this young as they will only improve over the course of the season and the next few years to come.

The Ducks will head out to LA to face USC on 10/5 and UCLA on 10/8.