Ducks Nip New Hampshire For First Win

The Ducks return to Corvallis on Sunday to meet Iona at 11:00 AM.

Photo courtesy: goducks.com

CORVALLIS - Nicole Garbin scored in the 53rd minute to lift Oregon to its first victory of the season, a 1-0 triumph over New Hampshire Friday at the OSU Soccer Classic.

Midfielder Jen Cameron played a perfect ball up the middle of the field to Garbin, who raced past the Wildcat defense and beat goalkeeper Lynn Gugliuzza to the upper right corner of the net. It was the 23rd career goal for Garbin, a senior from Wailuku, Hawaii.

"I was trying to connect with Garbin all game," said Cameron, who orchestrated several scoring chances for the Ducks. "It felt good to get that one and really good to finally get a win."

Cameron, a sophomore from Tigard who redshirted last season due to a knee injury, collected just the second assist of her career.

"Everybody just wanted it really bad today," said Cameron. "I think we played as a team and it just came together."

The win lifted Oregon’s record to 1-3-0 on the season, while New Hampshire slipped to 1-2-0.

"We won by playing good soccer," said Oregon coach Tara Erickson. "We did the things we worked on in practice all week and it clicked in the game."

Duck goalkeeper Jessie Chatfield made just two saves in picking up her first shutout of the season and eighth of her career. The sophomore from Eugene also became just the fourth Oregon keeper to reach 10 career wins.

"We were very controlling of the play today," said Erickson. "We really limited New Hampshire’s chances on goal. The credit for that goes to all of our backs and Jen Cameron and our goalkeeper."

The Ducks nearly took the lead three minutes before halftime when freshman Leigh Quinlan redirected a cross from the wing on which UNH’s Gugliuzza made a remarkable point-blank save to keep the game tied at 0-0.

Oregon outshot the Wildcats 8-5.

GAME NOTES: The win snapped the Ducks’ six-game losing streak dating back to last season’s 1-0 win at Washington in October...Garbin moves a goal and two points closer to first on the UO career list...she now shows 23 goals (8 behind Chalise Baysa’s 31) and 60 career points (9 behind Baysa’s 69)...Chatfield is one win behind Domenique Lainez (11/2001-05) for third on the UO career list...freshman midfielder Rianna Mansfield is not available this weekend due to a hip flexor.

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