Women’s Soccer: Chatfield Breaks Career Shutouts Record in Oregon’s 0-0 Tie at Cal

At 10-5-2 overall, Oregon also guaranteed itself of a winning record, regardless of what happens in the final three regular season games and any potential postseason matches.

Photo courtesy: goducks.com

EUGENE - Oregon goalkeeper Jessie Chatfield and the Oregon defense fended off 16 shots as the Ducks fought to a 0-0 tie with California Friday afternoon at Edwards Stadium.

Chatfield made four saves in helping Oregon record its school-record eighth shutout of the season.

"Jessie was definitely our player of the game," said Oregon coach Tara Erickson. "She made some key saves when the moment came up.

"And I think overall, our defense played great," Erickson said. "I can think of only three dangerous chances that we gave Cal, and Jessie came out and stuffed all of them. She made one save late in regulation diving on the ground to her right and knocked the ball off the goal line. I don’t know how she gets down to ground so quickly."

The Eugene, Ore., native became the Ducks’ all-time leader in shutouts, notching the 12th of her career on Friday. The sophomore moved ahead of Amanda Fox, who recorded 11 shutouts in 75 career games from 1996-99. Chatfield broke the school record in just her 31st appearance in net.

Oregon remained undefeated in the Pac-10 at 4-0-2 overall as the Ducks ensured themselves of a winning league record for the first time in school history.

"In the big picture, this helps us," said Erickson. "I’m not the type of coach who likes to settle for a tie, but when you take into consideration how important your results on the road are, this tie does move us closer to the NCAA Tournament."

The tie could prove to be pivotal in Oregon’s quest for its first-ever NCAA Tournament bid. Since the field expanded to 64 teams in 2001, every team with a winning record in Pac-10 play has received a bid to the NCAA Tournament, with one exception. In 2004, Arizona State went 4-3-2 in the Pac-10, but was ineligible for the NCAA Tournament, due to its sub-.500 8-9-2 overall record.

The Pac-10 has sent at least five teams to the NCAA Tournament in each of the last six seasons.

The tie also means that Oregon will end up no worse than fifth in the Pac-10, which will be its highest-ever conference finish.

On Friday, the Ducks were hampered by a season-high 20 fouls, which was just three off the school single-game record.

As a result, Oregon managed a season-low five shots at the California net -- one each by Nicole Garbin, Jen Cameron, Rianna Mansfield, Tiffany Smith and Teresa Bowns.

"Our offense never really got clicking," said Erickson. "It was a narrow field and our outside midfielders didn’t have a lot of space to operate, so it was a little clustered in there. We didn’t play our greatest game but I’m satisfied with the result."

Cal goalkeeper Gina Pellegrini made two saves for the Bears, who moved to 8-4-5 overall and 1-3-3 in the Pac-10.

In the second half, the Ducks switched from a four midfielder lineup to a five midfielder set, with only Garbin at forward.

"We weren’t defending the middle of the field well enough, so we brought Teresa Bowns in and went with five midfielders," said Erickson. "I think that allowed us to counter what Cal was trying to do, so the move paid off and Teresa did a nice job in there for us today."

It was the first time in five tries that Oregon escaped Berkeley without a defeat. The Ducks had been outscored 13-2 in their four previous games at Cal and dropped a 5-0 decision to the Bears last season at home in Eugene.

Garbin, the sixth-year senior from Wailuku, Hawaii, tied her own UO single-season record with her 70th shot of the season. She needs one more attempt to break the tie she currently holds with Beth Bowler (2001) and herself from 2003.

It was just the third 0-0 tie in school history, but the second in 12 days. The Ducks also played Washington State to a scoreless result on Oct. 15. The other 0-0 tie came at Arizona in 1999.

Oregon plays its final road game of the season at No. 17 Stanford on Sunday at 1:00 PM.

Adding comments to these stories has been disabled. View the current sports stories Salem-News Sports