Sunday, October 13
1:00 PM
University of Oregon
5-8-2, 1-5-2
1
vs
1
Michigan
2-11-2, 1-6-1
1
2
F
Michigan
1
0
1
Oregon
1
0
1
Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com
Ducks Draw With Michigan on Senior Day
10/13/24 | Women's Soccer
EUGENE, Ore. – Oregon wrapped up the home portion of the 2024 season with a 1-1 draw against Michigan Sunday afternoon at Papé Field.
Grace Mensah scored her first career goal as the Ducks honored six players on senior day.
"I thought we should have ended the game in the first thirty minutes," said coach Graeme Abel. "But, you know, I thought we started the game really well. Obviously, created a ton of chances, took it to them and then we let them get back into the game. So, I think lesson for us is the game's got to be over after 30 minutes and we can manage the game from there."
The Ducks now head out on the road for their final three matches at Nebraska, Iowa and Washington in hopes of qualifying for the Big Ten Tournament. The top 12 teams in the league advance to the conference tournament that begins Oct. 31.
How It Happened: Oregon was on the attack from the opening whistle. Haley McWhirter set the tone by firing a couple of shots on goal in the first 20 minutes that nearly found the net before Mensah broke through for the Ducks in the 25th minute.
Sydney Hennessey found Taylor Person at the end line to the left of Michigan's net. Person then chipped a ball into the box toward Mensah who headed the ball over the goalkeeper for her first career goal.
"It felt really good," said Mensah. "I was just really proud of my teammates and all of our effort. Just the first goal of my career, it felt really good and I want to do it again."
The Wolverines (2-11-2, 1-6-1) tied the match in the 41st on a set piece, a long corner that eluded Oregon's defense but that was all they would get as Maddy Goldberg made three saves in each half.
"I think our defense did a really good job," said Goldberg. "We work on trying to make it predictable for the keeper in goal."
Oregon (5-8-2, 1-5-2) outshot the Wolverines 11-7 in the first half and 18-17 for the game.
The Ducks came within inches of scoring the go-ahead goal just after halftime. Taylor Bryan's shot deflected to McWhirter, who poked it towards Michigan's goal. But before the ball could completely cross the goal line, a Wolverine defender fell to the ground and stopped McWhirter's shot as it sat squarely on the goal line before being cleared away.
The Ducks had two more scoring opportunities in the 83rd minute. Carly Cormack drilled a shot from distance toward the top part of the net that required a leaping save by the Wolverines' goalkeeper. On the ensuing corner kick, Cloe Chase elevated and got to the ball before anyone else, but her header went over the crossbar.
Notable: McWhirter led the Ducks with four shots. … Goldberg, McWhirter, Sydney Cradle, Lucy Green, Makoto Nezu and Jayd Sprague were all honored in a senior ceremony prior to kickoff. … Goldberg, who redshirted the 2022 season, will graduate in the spring but said she is planning to return in the fall and use her final season of eligibility. … Hennessey moved into a tie for the team lead with her third assist of the season. … Person's assist was her second of the year. Today's match marked the 80th career game for Nezu.
Quotable:
Goalkeeper Maddy Goldberg on senior day
"It was really nice and definitely a good goodbye for the players not coming back next year. It was emotional in general, but felt good overall."
Up Next: The Ducks hit the road for the final three matches of the season beginning Thursday at Nebraska (5 p.m., B1G+).
- www.GoDucks.com -
Grace Mensah scored her first career goal as the Ducks honored six players on senior day.
"I thought we should have ended the game in the first thirty minutes," said coach Graeme Abel. "But, you know, I thought we started the game really well. Obviously, created a ton of chances, took it to them and then we let them get back into the game. So, I think lesson for us is the game's got to be over after 30 minutes and we can manage the game from there."
The Ducks now head out on the road for their final three matches at Nebraska, Iowa and Washington in hopes of qualifying for the Big Ten Tournament. The top 12 teams in the league advance to the conference tournament that begins Oct. 31.
How It Happened: Oregon was on the attack from the opening whistle. Haley McWhirter set the tone by firing a couple of shots on goal in the first 20 minutes that nearly found the net before Mensah broke through for the Ducks in the 25th minute.
Sydney Hennessey found Taylor Person at the end line to the left of Michigan's net. Person then chipped a ball into the box toward Mensah who headed the ball over the goalkeeper for her first career goal.
"It felt really good," said Mensah. "I was just really proud of my teammates and all of our effort. Just the first goal of my career, it felt really good and I want to do it again."
The Wolverines (2-11-2, 1-6-1) tied the match in the 41st on a set piece, a long corner that eluded Oregon's defense but that was all they would get as Maddy Goldberg made three saves in each half.
"I think our defense did a really good job," said Goldberg. "We work on trying to make it predictable for the keeper in goal."
Oregon (5-8-2, 1-5-2) outshot the Wolverines 11-7 in the first half and 18-17 for the game.
The Ducks came within inches of scoring the go-ahead goal just after halftime. Taylor Bryan's shot deflected to McWhirter, who poked it towards Michigan's goal. But before the ball could completely cross the goal line, a Wolverine defender fell to the ground and stopped McWhirter's shot as it sat squarely on the goal line before being cleared away.
The Ducks had two more scoring opportunities in the 83rd minute. Carly Cormack drilled a shot from distance toward the top part of the net that required a leaping save by the Wolverines' goalkeeper. On the ensuing corner kick, Cloe Chase elevated and got to the ball before anyone else, but her header went over the crossbar.
Notable: McWhirter led the Ducks with four shots. … Goldberg, McWhirter, Sydney Cradle, Lucy Green, Makoto Nezu and Jayd Sprague were all honored in a senior ceremony prior to kickoff. … Goldberg, who redshirted the 2022 season, will graduate in the spring but said she is planning to return in the fall and use her final season of eligibility. … Hennessey moved into a tie for the team lead with her third assist of the season. … Person's assist was her second of the year. Today's match marked the 80th career game for Nezu.
Quotable:
Goalkeeper Maddy Goldberg on senior day
"It was really nice and definitely a good goodbye for the players not coming back next year. It was emotional in general, but felt good overall."
Up Next: The Ducks hit the road for the final three matches of the season beginning Thursday at Nebraska (5 p.m., B1G+).
- www.GoDucks.com -
Team Stats
MIC
ORE
Goals
1
1
Shots
17
18
Shots on Goal
7
8
Saves
6
6
Corners
3
6
Fouls
11
9
Scoring Plays
Grace Mensah (1)
Assisted By: Taylor Person , Sydney Hennessey
GOAL by ORE Mensah, Grace Assist by Person, Taylor and Hennessey, Sydney.
24:53
Sierra Sargent (1)
Assisted By: Kali Burrell
GOAL by MIC Sargent, Sierra Assist by Burrell, Kali.
40:20
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
4
SOG
3
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's SoccerD
/ Women's SoccerM
/ Women's SoccerM
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's Soccer
M
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