CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Oregon State women's soccer team battled No. 11 UCLA to the final whistle on Thursday night, but the Bruins prevailed 1-0 at Lorenz Field.
 
The Beavers (5-4-2, 0-2-0 Pac-12) hit the crossbar twice in the second half and outshot the Bruins (8-2-0, 2-0-0) 6-5 in the second half of their Pacific-12 Conference home opener.
 
Unfortunately, they were unlucky and unable to break through, as two attempts at the equalizing goal hit the cross bar and bounced over top of the frame.
 
OSU's best opportunity came at 75:30 when UCLA was called for a handball in the box. However, sophomore Emma Bergstrom bounced the ensuing penalty kick off the cross bar. Sophomore forward Allison Pantuso had a header deflect off the cross bar as well early in the half.
 
Junior forward Nikki Faris led the Beavers with three shots; freshman forward Taylor Lemmond had two.
 
UCLA outshot the Beavers 11-3 in the first half and scored the lone goal at 26:07 when Darian Jenkins headed home a free kick by MacKenzie Cerda. OSU keeper Bella Geist partially deflected the shot, but was unable to prevent it from crossing the line.
 
OSU's best chance of the first half came in the 31st minute. A shot by junior midfielder Natalie Higgins deflected to Faris inside the 18-yard box, but UCLA keeper Teagan Micah got a piece of the Faris' hard shot and it was cleared away after rolling across the goalmouth.
 
Geist had three saves, all in the first half. She ranks fourth all-time at OSU with 251 for her career, just two away from passing Colleen Boyd (2008-11) for third.
 
The Beavers resume Pac-12 play against No. 9 Southern California (8-2-0, 2-0-0 Pac-12) at 1 p.m. Sunday. It will be televised by Pac-12 Networks. USC defeated Oregon 3-1 in Eugene on Thursday.
 
For more information on the Oregon State women's soccer team, follow the team on Twitter and Instagram at @BeaverWSoccer or its Facebook page at BeaverWSoccer

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