TUCSON, Ariz. – The Arizona Wildcats (11-4-1, 5-3 Pac-12) scored two goals in the span of three minutes to defeat the Oregon State Beavers (6-7-3, 2-5 Pac-12) by a score of 2-1. Hayley Estopare and Charlotte Brascia scored for the Wildcats.
“We were reactive on Friday and weren't dictating any portions of the game, and I thought today was the total opposite,” head coach Tony Amato said. “We were pushing the tempo and were in control of a lot of the game. It was a huge improvement from Friday, and that is what we're looking for. We had a lot of girls step on the field today and they did a good job.”
With today's victory, Arizona has 11 regular season wins, which is the second-most in school history. The 2004 squad finished the year with 15.
This is just the second time this season that Arizona has come away with a victory after allowing the opponent to score first and it is the first time when they are losing at halftime. The Wildcats are now 7-1 when scoring two or more goals, 8-1 when outshooting the opponent, 5-0-1 when taking more than 15 shots and 8-1-1 after a win.
Arizona dominated the shot department as they took a total of 19 to Oregon State's four. Cali Crisler, Gabi Stoian and Estopare each took three for the Wildcats.
Neither team had much of a scoring chance in the first 20 minutes, but in the 21st minute, Paige Crouch delivered a cross that looked to be perfect to Hannah Wong. Wong jumped for the header, but was just short of connecting and the ball rolled to safety.
Stoian found some space in the 23rd minute and decided to go for goal from about 25 yards out. It was well struck, but Oregon State goalkeeper Bella Geist made the save with ease.
Oregon State scored the first goal of the match in the 32nd minute. Rachel Jones looked to be taking a shot towards goal, but the ball deflected off Toni Malone and the ball rolled into the back of the net, making the score 1-0.
In the 42nd minute, Brascia received a nice through ball from Wong on the right side of the field and Brascia went for goal. Geist was forced to dive and was able to make the save.
Halftime came and went and Estopare scored the equalizer in the 53rd minute. Jaden DeGracie perfected the flip throw, Estopare got her head on the ball and Geist had no chance to make the save. Estopare now has four goals on the season and DeGracie is alone in second place for the most assists in Arizona history with 16.
In the 55th minute, Brascia gave Arizona the lead after she took advantage of a misplayed ball by the Oregon State defender. She had a breakaway and calmly and clinically placed it into the back of the net.
Geist was challenged again in the 63rd minute as Erica Stephan, who made her first-career start today, and Crisler took shots on goal. She was able to make a pair of saves and kept the match in reach.
Crisler looked to extend Arizona's lead in the 75th minute as she was able to get a shot off from about 10 yards away. It has some nice pace on it, but Geist made her best save of the day.
Despite injuries to Stoian and Brascia that knocked them out of the match earlier in the day, Arizona was able to keep Oregon State out of the net in the last 15 minutes. Burdett was forced to make a save on a rocket of a shot with two minutes left, which was her only save of the day.
The Wildcats hit the road for one last time during the regular season as they travel to Boulder, Colo. to take on Colorado on Friday, Oct. 30 at 2 p.m. MST. The match will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks.
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