Oregon Ducks women’s soccer opens Abel era with 1-0 over Gonzaga

Register-Guard

The start of the Graeme Abel era at Oregon was delayed months by the pandemic. But it was worth the wait.

The Oregon soccer team took the field for the first time in 15 months Sunday, and for the first time under Abel, who was hired in December 2019. The Ducks ushered in the new era of the program beating Gonzaga, 1-0, on a goal by sophomore Ally Cook in the 87th minute.

The game was physical, featuring 24 fouls — 15 by Gonzaga. Quality scoring chances were scarce, but the Ducks converted a set-piece to break the scoreless tie when Chai Cortez lofted a corner kick to the near post that Cook headed into the net.

“It was just nice to play,” Abel said. “These kids have worked so hard. They’ve done all the right things to get to this point, followed all the protocols. To get out there and play, and to scrap the way we did and hang in there at times; at the end of the day they say the cream rises to the top. That’s what Ally did.”

The goal was the sixth of Cook’s career and her third game-winner. The sophomore had two of Oregon’s three shots on goal.

“We’ve been working all preseason on how important set pieces are,” Cook said. “We have amazing delivery on set pieces, so it was just combining the two. … It’s so rewarding to see what we’ve been practicing so much go into effect.”

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Cortez, Croix Soto and Mia Palmer led the Ducks’ defensive effort, joined midway through the first half by Chardonnay Curran after starter Hannah Taylor suffered an ankle injury. They helped Leah Freeman record the first win by a freshman goalkeeper in a UO season opener since Jessie Chatfield in 2005.

Gonzaga had the advantage of having already played a game this season. The Bulldogs beat Dixie State on Wednesday, 5-1, but Freeman needed to make only two saves for the shutout Sunday.

“They did an incredible job in terms of managing the game,” Abel said. “For the back line to defend the way they did was a testament to them.”

The first half was tight with four combined shots by the two teams, all by Gonzaga. Play opened up after halftime, with Zoe Hasenauer creating a scoring chance in the 56th minute by passing to Maggie Lacey, who set up Jordan Wormdahl for a shot on goal.

Gonzaga got off a shot in the 65th minute that eluded a diving Freeman, but it hit the post. Seven minutes later, Oregon’s Lexi Romero found Cortez charging up the middle of the field from the back line, but the shot by Cortez sailed wide of the goal.

In the 87th minute, the Ducks broke through when Cortez set up Cook for the winner.

“At halftime we spoke about, we’re going to have to fight for this game,” Cook said. “They’re a very hard-working, blue-collar team. If we wanted to win, we were going to have to fight and get gritty. And I think we really showed that in the second half.”