Oregon Forces #15 Portland to Overtime
EUGENE, Ore. – In front of a Papé Field record crowd, the Univerity of Oregon soccer team gave 15th-ranked Portland all they could handle Sunday evening in a thrilling match. The Ducks (1-1-0) scored a second half equalizer and forced the Pilots to overtime for the first time in program history, but Portland prevailed 2-1 with a 93rd minute golden goal.
Junior Ryann Davie brought the crowd of 1,098 -- the largest crowd in Papé Field history -- to its feet with a 69th minute equalizing goal. Portland, who defeated 14th-ranked Marquette on Friday, scored two and a half minutes into the first overtime period to end the match.
"Overall, we're disappointed to lose a game in overtime," said head coach Kat Mertz. "You never want to lose a game in overtime. I'm proud that the girls got the goal to come back and tie it up. There was definitely good things we'll take away from this."
The Ducks put Portland on their heels with three corner kicks in the opening 15 minutes, but the Pilots settled in and grabbed the go-ahead goal five minutes before the half.
A shot from Portland's Parkes Kendrick on top of the box was deflected, and a fortuitos bounced landed at the feet of Micaela Capelle. Junior goalkeeper Abby Steele made a great save on Capella's first shot, but the Pilot scored the rebound goal when the ball bounced back at her feet.
A vastly improved Oregon side showed well in attack in the second half, stayed organized on defense and was deserving of an equalizing goal. Davie, a native of Marietta, Ga., provided that goal in the 69th minute.
Sophomore Kira Wagoner, who put in a positive 54 minutes off the bench, found space wide and delivered a cross that found Davie. Davie's orinigal shot was saved by a scrambling Erin Dees, but Davie slotted the rebound past Dees to the far post, tying the match at 1-1.
"We had talked in the lockerroom after they scored in the first half, and we told ourselves it was no big deal and we had 45 minutes to come back," said Davie, who tallied her second career goal. "We were pumped. We knew we were going to get the goal, we just needed a second one to win and unfortunately that didn't happen."
Oregon's backline of Achijah Berry, Reilley Moore, Ashleey Schulz and Riley Smith performed admirable throughout the contest and did well to force overtime.
Portland came up with the winning moment in the 93rd minute, as Danica Evans' cross was redirected by Emily Sippel. The pass fell to Ellie Boon, who scored from eight yards out to seal the victory.
Albeit in a losing effort, it was Oregon's closest decision to the perennial power since a 1-0 defeat in 2003.
The Ducks and Pilots were even with seven shots a piece in the second half, while Portland held a 14-10 advantage on the game. The Ducks had a 7-6 edge in corner kicks. Wagoner and sophomore Maryn Beutler led Oregon with two shots a piece, while Steele came up with four saves in goal.
The Ducks return to action next weekend with the Oregon Nike Tournament at Papé Field. The Ducks host Wisconsin on Friday at 5 p.m. (PT), and Texas on Sunday at noon.
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