Ducks Down Davis 3-1

An early strike gave Oregon the upper hand in a 3-1 result against UC Davis Friday evening at Pape` Field. Kelsey Hone's notched her first mark of the season 12 minutes into the contest when she took Jen Stoltenberg's cross into the box, then found an angle to the right post.

Despite the goal and a 1-0 lead at the half, head coach Tara Erickson was decidedly unsatisfied with what she saw in the first 45 minutes. The second 45 were more to her liking with the Ducks maintaining possessions deeper into the UC Davis zone, resulting in two more counters.

In the 62^nd minute, freshman Brynne Konkel gathered a ball in the box and darted past two defenders then placed a well placed strike inside the right post, giving the Ducks a 2-0 advantage.

The Aggie spoiled Lindsay Parlee's clean sheet with a blast to Parlee's from 18-yards out, but 39 seconds later, Oregon's Stoltenberg took a run through the center of the UC Davis defense and after fielding a return touch from Konkel inside the box, banging home Oregon's third goal of the night, a season high.

"I really wasn't pleased with our first half play," said Erickson. "But I liked how we bounced back in the second half and we had a little bit effort, intensity and obviously that turned into some goals on the attacking side of things."

Speaking of her goal - a career first - Konkel said that it "felt really good" to get the milestone. "When I got the ball . there were people in front of me, so I just kept going and I shot it and it went in."

The win improves Oregon's season record to 2-1-1. The Ducks return to action Sunday at 1:30, hosting Pacific at Pape` Field beginning at 1:30

Ducks Fall To Oklahoma State 1-0
Rick Morgan

A free kick from just outside the box in the 104^th minute of play shattered Oregon's hopes to upset 25^th ranked Oklahoma State Friday evening at Pape` Field. A feisty game throughout - a player from each side was sent off early in the second half - the Cowgirls' Whitney Wernimont struck a bolt that curved inside the left upright giving the visitors the 1-0 result.

Particularly in the second half and the first overtime, Oregon's attack offered promise at moments but never was able to take full advantage, garnering eight shots with only a pair on goal.

Keeper Cody Miles collected seven saves on 17 Cowgirl shots and had no chance to stop the game winner. In such close quarters her defensive wall left exposed a full third of the net and Wernimont's strike was perfect.

"Heartbreaking, I would say," offered head coach Tara Erickson. "Really, really devastated for my players. To battle as hard as they did . it hurts anytime you lose - but to give up that opportunity and have them capitalize on it, that was hard for us.

"The first half we were a little tentative. In the second half and the overtimes I thought we got after them. I thought in the first half we might have respected them a tad too much and not have the confidence and the drive ourselves. But I thought going forward we were playing to win the game."

The Ducks won't have much time to commiserate; they host SMU Sunday at 1:00 pm.

Ducks Open With 2-0 Win

First shot for a season's first goal, the first goal of a collegiate career yielded a first win in the first game of the 2010-11 athletic season when Oregon blanked Boise State 2-0 Friday evening at Pape` Field.

Senior forward Jen Stoltenberg opened the scoring, converting her first touch twelve minutes in when Kelsey Hones on the right attack found Stoltenberg in the at the top of the box. Stoltenberg quickly settled the ball and stuck to the far post, beating the Bronco keeper cleanly.

Twenty five minutes later it was Stoltenberg on the right who found sophomore Tahne Apo with a nice pass into the middle of the Boise State defense, getting the assist on her teammate's career first marker.

"I had a feeling," said Apo. "I went in anyway - went in hard and just screamed for the ball. We had that connection and she passed it to me and I just hit it first time."

Head coach Tara Erickson was pleased with her team's performance in the 2010-11 debut, particularly in the opening half.

".it was a nice way to open the season," Erickson said. "That first half was great. We were generating a ton of good opportunities. We need to work on being more consistent and carrying that through the full 90 minutes."

The Ducks enjoyed a 20-7 advantage in shots and pressed the attack most of the game. Keeper Cody Miles earned her 12^th clean sheet, making three quality saves in the process.

"(She) did a nice job in goal against a very direct style of play that Boise State brought tonight," said Erickson. "I felt that she did a nice job to settle the game for us."

The coach also pointed to Hones as a key factor. "She gave us a punch and helped take some pressure off Jen (Stoltenberg)," Erickson said.

Up next for the Ducks at Pape` Field is Oklahoma State on Friday at 7:00 pm then SMU on Sunday at 1:00 pm