The Oregon Ducks played host to the Grand Canyon Antelopes on Sunday morning, and the Lopes got things started really quick. About five minutes into the match, the Lopes would score their first goal of the day, with Hannah Smith sneaking behind the Duck defense and guiding the ball just past keeper Caeley Goldstein. Then, just 14 minutes later, Tatum Hofstetter kicked a beautiful, looping ball from outside the box, finding the net once more for GCU, giving them a commanding 2-0 lead.
The Lopes would take that 2-0 score to halftime, and eventually, full time, giving them the win. But that’s not to say the Ducks didn’t fight. They absolutely did, to the tune of 30(!) shots on goal, including 19 shots in the 2nd half alone. They were ultra-aggressive today, on the attack, but it just wasn’t their day. The GCU keeper, Emma Knack, put on an absolute clinic today with an impressive 11 saves, and she should be proud of that. But man, what a disheartening loss for the Ducks.
But if they continue to be aggressive like that on the attack, I have no doubt in my mind they’ll be able to break through at least a couple times in their next few matches.
The Ducks next take on the Seattle University Redhawks, in Seattle, on Friday, September 5th, on ESPN+.
As always, ‘Sco Ducks.
