Huskies Down The Ducks 2-1

Thursday, October 27

Seattle, Wash.

7:00 PM

University of Washington

7-10-1

Oregon

8-9-1

Oregon

Washington WSOC

October 27, 2016 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Final Box Score

SEATTLE – On a rainy Seattle night the Washington women's soccer team scored a game-winner just five minutes after the match was tied by Oregon to grab a 2-1 win at Husky Soccer Stadium.

"We wanted to come in to this home stand with these last three games and just start it out 1-0," said Washington head coach Lesle Gallimore. "We've had a little bit of a rough go at it but I thought we played good soccer last weekend and we wanted that to carry over into this week."

As the rain came down hard to open up the match, neither team was able to create much offensively, with the first shot of the match not coming until the 8th minute. The Huskies offense began to see more and more chances as the match rolled on however, with Keever just missing Becca Schoales on a pass into the box in the 17th minute, and Dominique Bond-Flasza sending a hard-hit ball at the goal that was blocked by Oregon's defense.

In the 21st minute however, Keever sent a ball out to the left as she ran into the box for the ensuing pass. The lob sent in by the Huskies bounced off a defender and right back at the junior's chest, when Keever hit a high arcing shot that dropped just inside the far post for her fourth goal of the season.

"It just seemed like a lob," said Keever. "I think I was just in a position in front of the goal and decided what the heck, might as well put it on frame, and luckily it went in."

The remainder of the first half was controlled by Oregon following the Huskies grabbing the one goal advantage, with Oregon taking all four shots and all four corners in the final 25 minutes. The Washington defense stood strong however, entering the half with a 1-0 lead.

"Oregon's a good team, they're fast, they're athletic, they keep the ball well and are dangerous going forward," said Gallimore. "I thought we did a good job of stringing passes together and being dangerous in the first half, and obviously Kimby's goal was sweet. It was really fun and a good finish to watch."

The game's intensity grew in the second half as the Ducks began to fight for the equalizer, grabbing a yellow card less than five minutes in and four fouls in the first 25 minutes of the second half. However, Oregon would get their chance when they were able to sneak a ball past the Husky defense to even the score in the 72nd minute.

"In the second half we knew they were going to throw things at us," said Gallimore. "We made some decisions that weren't great, but the finish that Oregon had was a great break, great pass and a great finish."

With the match back to an even score the Dawgs turned up the intensity on offense. A shot by midfielder Ava Lewis in the 75th was blocked, but gave the Huskies a corner kick to keep the momentum on their side. Sophomore Pascale Dumesnil took a shot moments later that was saved by the Oregon keeper, but the Huskies continued to press.

After back to back corner kicks kept possession in the Ducks' third, a bouncing ball was headed down by Lewis to the feet of Shaye Villanueva. The junior midfielder sent a hard-hit pass into Schoales who was waiting just to the left of the penalty mark to send a shot across the goal and inside the far post to give the Huskies a 2-1 lead in the 76th minute.

"You have to hand it to our players, they stuck with it," said Gallimore. "It got a little chaotic there in the end, trying to get the second goal and just not give another one up. But I thought we hung in it and stayed mentally tough, and I was happy to see, on a recycled ball, Becca finish the rebound there and get one."

As the final 15 minutes of the match rolled on the Huskies looked to close it out and take the victory, maintaining possession through most of the final moments. With three fouls called on Oregon in the last 10 minutes, the Ducks were unable to answer UW, giving Washington their second conference win and seventh victory on the season.

"I'm glad we got the win," said Washington forward Kimberly Keever. "We had to grind a little more than we wanted to but I'm super happy we finished strong and got the second goal."

The Washington offense was certainly efficient tonight, only taking eight shots, with six of those coming in the second half. It was the lowest amount of shots the Huskies had taken in their last seven matches.

"We didn't really create too much and the good news is, without creating that many we finished two," said Gallimore. "I'll take those percentages any day, and I think we can still be a little more dangerous going to goal, but if you're going to finish the chances that you do get you're going to end up on the better end more often than not."

The Huskies have two games remaining on their 2016 schedule, with a matchup this Sunday against Oregon State, and a road trip to Pullman to face in-state rival Washington State next Thursday.

"I'm just happy to win," said Gallimore. "Happy to win a game and we're going to try and go do it again on Sunday."

Washington's matchup with Oregon State will be the final home game of the year, and honor the 2016 senior class for Senior Day. The match will also offer free admission to all middle school students that wear their school's attire for SPS Middle School Day, and half price for their parents. Sunday's game is set for a 3 p.m. start time, and will be televised by the Pac-12 Network.