Oregon's Erickson Named NSCAA West Region Coach of The Year

Tara Erickson was named Pac-10 coach of the year last month.

Tara Erickson was named the NSCAA West Region coach of the year. Photo: goducks.com

EUGENE - Oregon women’s soccer coach Tara Erickson has been named the West Region coach of the year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).

Erickson is one of six national coach of the year finalists.

Exceeding predictions for a last-place finish in the preseason coaches poll, Erickson, 33, led Oregon to a 12-6-2 overall mark and a 6-1-2 record in Pac-10 play, in addition to setting myriad school records.

Among those were the most wins and Pac-10 wins ever for the Oregon program as the Ducks claimed second place in the conference -- five places higher than they had ever finished previously. The winning record was the first in program history.

In 2006, Oregon set school defensive season records fewest goals allowed (17), lowest goals against average (0.81), fewest points allowed (55) and most shutouts (8).

The team also recorded its first defeat of a ranked team on the road (2-1, No. 24 Arizona) and its 2-1 overtime upset of No. 3 UCLA the last weekend of the season was the highest ranked team the Ducks have ever knocked off.

The Puyallup, Wash., native began the season by giving birth to her second child, Taj Makena, just two days before the season opener.

The former three-time MVP at Washington and former Portland State head coach has accumulated a 21-15-3 mark in her two seasons in Eugene.

She is now responsible for 30 percent of Oregon’s 70 wins in the 11-year history of the program.

The other final five national finalists are Chris Petrucelli, Texas (Central Region), Randy Waldrum, Notre Dame (Great Lakes Region), John Daly, William & Mary (Mid Atlantic Region), Kevin McCarthy, Columbia (North East Region) and Anson Dorrance, North Carolina (South Region).

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