Your Oregon Ducks soccer team kicked off Big Ten conference play this past week, with matches against Rutgers and Maryland. How’d they do? Let’s find out.
Thursday: Rutgers
Thursday night, the Ducks played host to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, looking to keep their unbeaten streak alive. The first half was a defensive battle, despite both sides being pretty aggressive (Rutgers attempted 7 shots in the half, Oregon attempted 11). Rutgers would save 4 shots on goal in the half, the Ducks would save 2,
and they would be tied at 0-0 going into halftime.
The 2nd half would start off with a bang, but not in a good way for the Ducks, with Rutgers scoring an unassisted goal just 4 minutes into the half. Oregon would have 6 shots on goal in the 2nd half, trying to score the equalizer, but that Rutgers keeper was a brick wall all game, saving anything that came close. The Ducks would go on to lose 1-0.
Sunday: Maryland
Sunday afternoon, the Ducks would try to bounce back from their first defeat of the season with the Maryland Terrapins coming to town. Sunday’s game would be another defensive battle, but this time there were far less shot attempts from both sides in the first half (4 for Maryland, 6 for Oregon). Two of Oregon’s shots in the half would be saved, and one of Maryland’s. The half would end at 0-0 once again.
In the 2nd half, for once, the Ducks weren’t the more aggressive team on offense, with Maryland out-numbering Oregon’s shot attempts 9-6. But Sunday, it would be Oregon scoring the lone goal of the match, with Lauren Hunter rocketing one over the outstretched arms of the Maryland keeper, giving the Ducks a 1-0 lead in the 70th minute, and eventually securing the win.
A 1-1 start to the conference schedule for the Ducks, but they’ve shut out their opponents in 6/8 games this season, which is definitely something to build upon. Let’s see how they do the rest of the season.
