Corvallis, Ore. – Sophomores Nikki Faris and Emma Jones scored and the Oregon State women’s soccer team upended preseason No. 4 UCLA 2-1 on Saturday in a Pacific-12 Conference game at Lorenz Field.

Faris took a pass from junior McKenzie Redberg near the 18-yard box, worked free and tucked a shot into the right corner to get OSU off on the right foot at 18:13.

Then, with UCLA pressing for the equalizer late in the game, Jones buried a left-footed shot from the left side to complete a three-way counterattack with Faris and Kayla Latham for a crucial insurance goal at 83:49.

UCLA answered late but OSU (6-5-3, 2-4 Pac-12) held firm in the final two minutes to register its first victory over the Bruins (6-7-1, 2-3-1) since 2010. UCLA is the defending Pac-12 champion and Advanced to the Elite 8 of the 2014 College Cup.

“It’s been a long time since we’d beaten them but today we were definitely the better team,” OSU coach Linus Rhode said. “We had a good game plan, the team played well, executed and it was fun to watch.”

Rhode said Faris’s goal, her second of the season, was huge in helping the Beavers settle into the game.

“It was a nice finish,” Rhode said. “After that they had to take more risks,” and OSU finally capitalized on UCLA’s choice to send more players forward when Jones drilled home the clincher for her second goal of the fall.

“That proved to be really important,” Rhode said. “Obviously they caught us on a free kick with two minutes left and the game changed. But overall we did a very good job of killing the clock off.”

UCLA outshot OSU 9-8 and held more possession, but the Beavers generally kept the Bruins well away from the goal. Sophomore keeper Bella Geist had two saves, giving her 189 for her career and moving her past Sammy-Jo Prudhomme into sixth place on OSU’s all-time list in less than two full seasons.

“We were really patient defending,” said sophomore Emmy Rodriguez, one of four defenders (senior Gwen Bieck, junior Helene Haavik, and junior Greta Espinoza) to play the full 90. “They swung it around in the back but once they crossed the half-field line we marked really tight.

“We were really compact and organized. The last goal was unfortunate. We can’t have those little breakdowns and let those things happen because it could result in a goal, which it did. We have things to work on for next time.”

Added Rhode: “UCLA is good at keeping the ball. So we said, ‘OK, they can keep the ball, but they’ll keep it where they can’t be dangerous.’ Keep it in front of us and close all the spaces by the goal.”

The Beavers resume Pac-12 action this Friday with a 7 p.m. game at Arizona State. They face Arizona in Tucson at 1 p.m. on Oct. 25, then return to Corvallis for their final three regular-season games.

“It’s good to have that win before leaving for Arizona,” Rodriguez said. “We can’t wait to come home for the Washingtons and Oregon, and defend our home turf again.”

---

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

Men's NCAA Tournament First Round Recap

TeamRank Presented By TeamSnap - Boys

Midwest High School Roundup - Nov.