Tucson, Ariz. - The University of Arizona Wildcat soccer team hosted the Oregon State Beavers at Mulcahy Stadium on Friday. Arizona won their first Pac-12 match of the season and moved to 7-2-1 (1-1) on the year. Oregon State dropped to 0-8-3, 0-2 with the loss. The two goals from the Wildcats came from juniors Sheaffer Skadsen and Kaitlyn Lopez.
“I thought we competed,” Head coach Tony Amato said. “I thought our ability to win the first ball in the air made a big difference. We were challenging them for everything, we were winning a lot of balls and I thought that helped our attack and helped us win some corners and some long throw-ins."
Arizona began attacking early with Lopez, senior Alexandra Doller and freshman Gabi Stoian all registering shots. Doller connected on a couple headers but neither were troubling for the Beavers keeper. Doller also found Stoian in space on the right wing but her strike was always going wide of the target. Junior Lexe Selman also got into the action, taking a long shot with good pace but it was always high.
The Wildcats took the lead at the 19:23 mark of the first half. Doller took a throw in deep into Oregon State territory. The official called a handball on the Beavers as they tried to prevent Lopez from heading the ball towards the goal. Skadsen took the penalty kick for the Wildcats and buried it. It was her second goal on the season and both have come from the spot.
Although Arizona tallied 10 shots in the first half and six were on target, the Oregon State goalkeeper was not really tested. Everything was either right at her or without much pace. The Wildcats committed nine fouls, were called offside twice and won one corner kick. Oregon State registered two shots but neither were on target. They committed five fouls. Senior Mykaylin Rosenquist and junior Alexa Montgomery both did a good job of shielding Oregon State attackers away from long balls to stifle the attack. Senior goalkeeper Gabby Kaufman did not register a save in the first half but did a good job of intercepting an out-swinging set piece from Oregon State.
“Our girls were putting them under pressure,” Amato said. “We limited their time and space and being able to deny chances by winning their first ball in the air. Gabby (Kaufman) had to come for a few balls served into the box. Overall, I thought from our forwards through our back four, they did a really good job of locking things up.”
In the 58th minute of the second half, Lopez had herself a great sequence on the left wing. She took on her defender one-on-one, beat her with a cheeky nutmeg that led to a corner kick for the Wildcats. Stoian took the corner kick and found the head of Lopez at the near post who was positioned in front of the keeper and right on the goal line. It was Lopez's second goal of the season and Stoian's fifth assist, the second-best mark in the Pac-12.
“We put a lot of emphasis on set pieces and corners in particular,” Lopez said. “I was just in the spot I was supposed to be in and the ball came. Instincts really took over, I got a head on it and so that was great. I think games like that (physical games) are the most fun. When it gets chippy it gets competitive and you go back and forth, those are the most fun games to play in. Any Pac-12 game, whoever is on that day, they can win. A Pac-12 win always feels better.”
Arizona tallied 22 shots overall and forced the Beavers keeper to make 13 saves. Arizona won five corner kicks, was called offside on six occasions and committed 15 fouls. Oregon State did not register a shot in the half, tallying only two overall and zero were on target. They did not win a corner kick in the 90-minute match. Kaufman tallied her fifth shutout on the season and the 14th of her career. Her five shutouts in a season is tied for the fifth-best mark in UA history. Her 14 career shutouts rank as the second-best total in program history
“We pretty much shut them down,” Montgomery said. “Although, they were physical we held them back. If they are going to be physical, I'm going to be more physical.”
A complete recap and box score will be available at ArizonaWildcats.com after Sunday's match against Oregon at 12 p.m. Also follow @ArizonaWSoccer on Twitter for live updates. A free live stream of the Oregon game on Sunday will be available at ArizonaWildcats.com.
