Forgive me, but I can’t believe I wrote that title. Much like seeing USC
here, seeing the Oregon Ducks play
here is fairly wild. Unlike #23 in the
nation USC though, Oregon is a big name school, but apparently not great in
Women’s Soccer. I made the mistake of
looking at the game preview and found out that Oregon was winless on the road
last year. This is a bit shocking,
because I know that the Pacific Northwest is a soccer hotbed. (I don’t like looking at opponents’ records
before a game. It gives me expectations.)
This season, the Ducks are 2-0 with home wins against
former Aggie opponents, Seattle U
and Portland State. Still, this felt like a winnable game for the
Aggies. I was personally having a poor week. I wanted a win for myself and was hoping my
misfortune wouldn’t rub off on the team.
I also hoped the girls were looser than I was feeling going into the
game.
With a day off, I unfortunately did anything but relax
before going to the game, so I was even more uptight. Coming to NMSU, I was greeted with a girl in a sports bra and tiny shorts
doing a handstand at entry arch. I think
there was a photographer there. I was
tempted to stop and stare, but I was in a bit of a rush. I’d tried to leave early for the giveaway and
I was expecting another full house.
The parking lot was full 40 minutes before the game. I parked closer to the baseball stadium. At the front gate, I ran into Coach Baarts and his wife. I told the coach, “Good luck.” So much for the pep talk. There were a bunch of Oregon fans at the concessions. I wasn’t entirely expecting their fans to travel well to Las Cruces. I just got a drink and some popcorn. (Oddly, though the popcorn was good, it irritated my stomach. I’d had a foot-long chili dog earlier that caused me no problems.)
I got my New Mexico State flag. I’d missed out on this giveaway at least
twice last year. I’ll figure out
somewhere to fly it. Even better, the Hot
Marketing Girl from baseball last season handed it to me. This evening was already a complete success
and then some. (She’s as unapproachable
as ever, but still nice to look at.)
Encouragingly, Xitlaly
Hernandez was out on the field practicing, but she did not play in the
game. A ball got shot into the stands
during practice. You really got to keep
your head up at the Soccer Complex.
There was a whole section of Oregon fans in the stands. An Aggie fan asked them, “Are you people
really from Oregon?” I heard one of them
answer that it was just a four-hour drive.
I’d get an explanation on this a bit later.
It was hot, but reasonably pleasant with some cloud cover
blocking the sun and a light breeze. In
fact, they had to turn the lights on before the match. However, there was a storm to the south. We could see rain and some lightning flashes
in the distance. Thankfully, this didn’t
interfere with the game. There was a big
partial rainbow around the rain.
The Outlaw Pep Band
and the Drum Corps were here. We’d have music for the game. A gorgeous girl sat down in front of me. She looked like a student-athlete, but I
couldn’t place her. Unfortunately, she
left halfway through the first half. A
bunch of Aggie teams filled up the hill behind the north goal.
Oregon wore white shirts with yellow shorts. (Not the combination I would have
picked.) As their team was introduced, Trinity Morales got a huge cheer from
the Oregon section. She’s from
Tucson. Oh, that’s where the fans came
from. Aggie Mya Hammack came out and I think I saw her wave to someone on the
Oregon team. Mya is from Oregon. I should also mention Meredith Scott was the C-USA
Offensive Player of the Week for her great performance last week. Everyone was up for the Anthem. The HMG came back for a merch toss and really
played up to the crowd like she does at baseball.
First
Half
The wind kicked up as the half started. It was blowing against the Aggies. The Aggies started off the offense with a
breakaway by Shila Rasoul, but she
missed a pass to a connecting teammate.
41’ left in the half, Aggie keeper Valerie
Guha fell on a loose ball. A Duck
player came up and nearly kicked her when she was on the ground. 37’ Brooke
Schultz fired a long shot at the Oregon goal that was caught. A minute later, Oregon took an open shot on
the wing that went wide.
35’ Shila sent a chip shot into the stands. I could almost hear the Softball dugout sing
out, “Kick it . . . That way!” and pointing at the Oregon goal. Val caught another long shot. Mya booted a free kick that was caught. 28’ Loma was tripped on a throw in by the
Oregon box. The Aggies got a free kick
on the wing that Duck keeper, Maddy
Goldberg had to knock away.
26’ after several passes, Ari took a shot that went
wide. A minute later, Meredith took a
shot at the top of the Oregon box that was just wide. She covered her face afterward. Back to the other end, Oregon got a free kick
on the wing of the Aggie goal. Val
pushed out the shot. 22’ Marlee Cavitt on defense broke up an Oregon
attack, which led to a counter by Shila on a solo rush. A couple of minutes later, Carolina Rodriguez made a nice turnover
at midfield. 18’ Marlee blocked a Duck
shot.
18’ out of a hydration break, Loma McNeese made a brilliant misdirection on a pass by Shila. Loma stepped aside as Ari took the pass behind
her and fired a line drive into the goal. 1-0 Aggies. There wasn’t much time to celebrate. Val had to make a save right after. Then Lauren
Machuca took a foul for pushing down an Oregon attacker. 15’ this led to a free kick at the top of the
Aggie box. Duck Haley McWhirter knocked in a header past Val. 1-1.
It got worse. Right
after this, Ari was sent flying out-of-bounds on a body check. The trainers came over and had to help her
off. Oregon next made a point blank shot
on the Aggie goal, but Val stopped it.
After, Duck Taylor Bryan did
a crowd-pleasing bicycle kick near the stands.
I think Aggie fans applauded, as well.
9’ Sydnee Johnson
was tripped hard just outside of the Oregon box. This was basically putting it on a tee for Brooke, who took the free kick and put it right
in the goal. 2-1 Aggies. (I found out later, Brooke actually played
for Oregon early in her career.) The
wind began picking up significantly. I
almost had my floppy hat blow off while I was cheering.
After another ball went directly into the stands, Oregon
took a shot with 2’ left in the half.
The wind took it as it sailed wide.
The Aggies had a final chance with a minute left. Lauren took a shot that went wide. Aggies up 2-1 at the half.
Halftime
The Aggies were up 3 to 2 in shots on goal and 1 to 0 in
corners. Three of the Aggie players took
off to the public bathroom in the break.
Oregon was using the locker room.
It totally varies from team to team and game to game whether they stay
on the field during the break.
The Band and then the drum corps performed during the
break. The Band was a bit more in tune
than last time. They also did the
Macarena while the drums were performing.
They were great, but watching the HMG cross the field before the show
was the best entertainment.
Unfortunately, she only did a t-shirt toss to the students on the hill
and I didn’t get to see her that well.
Second
Half
The wind calmed down.
The teams changed ends. With
that, I got to see my favorite, Mya, walk over to the stands to gather a ball
for a throw in at the start. Ah, beautiful. 42’ left in the game, the Aggies had a
corner, but nothing came of it, except Shila got a yellow card for a foul I
didn’t see.
Oregon was back on the attack. They took a shot on the wing that went
out. The Aggies countered. Loma broke the ankles on a defender. She took a liner shot that was caught. 40’ Val caught high bouncing shot in front of
a couple of attackers. Right after, Syd
was fouled. The free kick produced an
Aggie free kick and a header that went over the goal.
37’ Oregon got their first corner. The attack ended with the ball going
out. 35’ Loma took an elbow to the back
and was pushed into the ground. 34’
Oregon had a great rush. Too great. Offsides.
Trinity came in. The Oregon
section cheered. The Aggies and Ducks
were pretty judicious in using their subs tonight. There was a bit of an Aggie defensive
breakdown, but the Ducks didn’t capitalize and took a shot that went way high.
25’ Ariana Ellison,
with her arm still in a cast, took a shot into the side of the Duck’s
goal. Back on the other end, Oregon had
a great chance at the top of the Aggie box, but it went just wide. 22’ Shila took a running shot that went wide. 18’ Ari E. had the drive of the game. The 5’3” freshman went the length of the
field, knocking two defenders out of her way.
The attack ended with a Loma header that went over the goal. The crowd incorrectly cheered the near miss
like it was a goal. How
embarrassing. One of the Oregon players
was hurt on the play and limped off.
17’ Loma elbowed a player down in the Oregon box. It spoiled her attack, but I wonder if that
cheap shot was revenge. The Aggies took
another crack at it a minute later. Loma
faked out a defender. A header shot was
stopped, but Meredith was there for the rebound and just chipped it over the
net. She threw up her hands.
14’ Mya made a one-on-one stop on the Aggie end on
defense. Shila came back with a shot
that went just wide. The Aggies got
back-to-back corners. 11’ Caetlyn Johannes took a chip shot that
went just high. 10’ Oregon took a shot
into the Band. They didn’t miss a
beat.
8’ Oregon took a long shot that went high. 7’ Ari E. hit the coach on the sidelines with
a wild kick. This might be her last
game. 6’ Meredith was blatantly shoved
into the ground. 4’ an Oregon player
flipped a dead ball on the sidelines into Mya’s face instead of handing it to
her. This happened right in front of the
stands. I almost jumped down to have a
word with this young woman about her manners.
The player (whose number I saw, but am choosing not to write up) did
come back and apologize, sort of. Oregon
made a final weak attack with under a minute left. Val caught a bouncer to her. Aggies
win 2-1! It’s their first win
against a Power Four school! (As I found
out later.)
Looking back, this game seemed a little chippie. Don’t you think? The fouls were really obvious. I was a bit concerned that Oregon might be
coming in determined to win the fights if they didn’t think they could win the
game. The Aggies dominated 5 to 2 in
shots on goal and 4 to 1 in corners, but both teams had their chances.
Ariana
Leamons was all smiles with the win . . . as she came on to the
field wearing a cast and walking on crutches.
This was a costly victory. Ari
and Brooke Schultz get my Players of
the Game nod. Them and Haley McWhirter were the only players
able to defeat the force fields around the goals tonight. I’d love to credit the goalies, but most of
the shots in the game were well off target.
Oregon ran over to the stands and saluted their fans after
the game. The Aggies slapped hands with
fans around the field and saluted the Band.
I was feeling a bunch of tension in the second half (it might have been
indigestion), but I was relieved by the outcome. Tonight, it was another great crowd. We are getting spoiled by this team. The fans will show up when they think their
team has a good chance to beat anybody at home.
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