Sunday, September 13
Eugene, OR
1:00 PM
University of Oregon
6-1-1, 1-1-0
1
vs
0
Maryland
3-4-1, 0-2-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oregon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Photo by: Rob Moseley/GoDucks.com
Ducks Win On Opening Week of B1G Play
09/13/26 | Women's Soccer
The Oregon soccer team posted a 1-0 victory over Maryland on Sunday at Papé Field.
EUGENE, Ore. — It was raining cats and dogs Sunday at Papé Field, although mostly dogs, and the home team used the familiar conditions to its advantage.
The Oregon soccer team fought through a couple of significant downpours to win a Big Ten match at the earliest point of the season since joining the conference, 1-0 over Maryland on Sunday. More than two dozen dogs were in the stands for the program's annual "Pups on Papé" promotion.
Lauren Hunter's rocket from outside the box in the 71st minute preserved the shutout for goalkeeper Kailey Kimball, making her third start of the season. Her first shutout of the fall for the Ducks (6-1-1) kept their season total for goals allowed at two, fewest in program history through eight matches.
"Not a pretty game by any means, but we found a way to get it done and I loved the grit," UO coach Tracy Joyner said. "I loved the scrap. I think that's what we were missing on Thursday in some ways, and just some better decision-making. So I was really, really happy for us to get that result."
The victory gave Oregon its earliest win in the Big Ten since joining the conference for the 2024 campaign, coming quicker than a Sept. 22 victory that first fall. It was a welcome bounceback from a 1-0 loss to Rutgers three days earlier.
"We needed a big response today after Thursday," said Kimball, who had two saves in goal. "Any way I could help the team out, getting us in there, getting us hype, just keeping us locked in and just really pushing them for 90 minutes, because we needed that full 90 minutes — going, going, going."
Hunter's goal came amid a period of rainfall. Carly Cormack won a battle for possession near midfield, drove the ball up the left side into Oregon's offensive end and sent a pass across the field to Hunter outside the top of the box. She unleashed a missile at a spot from which the Ducks frequently practice scoring, she said.
"It was just, like, the spot," Hunter said. "It was just a very familiar spot, and no one's in front of you — you just see an open goal. Just hit it."
How It Happened: The Ducks had edges of 6-4 in shots and 4-2 in corner kicks during the first half, which ended scoreless. Video replay took a UO goal off the board, sending the teams into halftime tied, 0-0.
Kimball, making her first start since Aug. 23 and second of the season, made one save in each half as Oregon's typically strong defense at every level showed up again. And they were unfazed by the periodic precipitation.
"I think it just was a little bit more scrappy than we thought it was going to be, but nothing that we couldn't handle," Kimball said. "And you know, I think we handled it really well with having it coming and going the whole game."
Early momentum coming out of halftime seemed to be with the visitors. But Hunter entered off the bench in the 66th minute, and five minutes later she found the back of the net.
"It was a matter of time," she said. "Like, we'd been knocking at their door actually the entire game. Even last game, it was just unfortunate with the outcome. But I'm glad we finally got the shot and scored."
That was Oregon's final shot of the game, as Maryland tried to make a late push and find the equalizer. But the Ducks' defenders didn't allow a shot on goal after getting the 1-0 lead, and they improved to 1-1 in conference play before returning to action Friday at USC.
"We just wanted a good response, right?" Joyner said. "Focusing on having a good performance today, and then hoping the outcome and the result would be indicative of how we approached today. So just, good vibes all around, and getting a Big Ten win is huge going into next Friday."
Notable: Oregon's "Pups on Papé" promotion brought 28 furry friends out to Sunday's match. … The Ducks have won six of their first eight matches for the first time since 2018, and at 6-1-1 are off to their best start since opening 5-0-3 in 2021. … Cormack's assist was her team-leading fourth of the season. … The Ducks' two goals allowed through eight matches are two fewer than the previous program record of four set in 1981.
Up Next: The Ducks play at USC on Friday (6 p.m., B1G+).
The Oregon soccer team fought through a couple of significant downpours to win a Big Ten match at the earliest point of the season since joining the conference, 1-0 over Maryland on Sunday. More than two dozen dogs were in the stands for the program's annual "Pups on Papé" promotion.
Lauren Hunter's rocket from outside the box in the 71st minute preserved the shutout for goalkeeper Kailey Kimball, making her third start of the season. Her first shutout of the fall for the Ducks (6-1-1) kept their season total for goals allowed at two, fewest in program history through eight matches.
"Not a pretty game by any means, but we found a way to get it done and I loved the grit," UO coach Tracy Joyner said. "I loved the scrap. I think that's what we were missing on Thursday in some ways, and just some better decision-making. So I was really, really happy for us to get that result."
The victory gave Oregon its earliest win in the Big Ten since joining the conference for the 2024 campaign, coming quicker than a Sept. 22 victory that first fall. It was a welcome bounceback from a 1-0 loss to Rutgers three days earlier.
"We needed a big response today after Thursday," said Kimball, who had two saves in goal. "Any way I could help the team out, getting us in there, getting us hype, just keeping us locked in and just really pushing them for 90 minutes, because we needed that full 90 minutes — going, going, going."
Hunter's goal came amid a period of rainfall. Carly Cormack won a battle for possession near midfield, drove the ball up the left side into Oregon's offensive end and sent a pass across the field to Hunter outside the top of the box. She unleashed a missile at a spot from which the Ducks frequently practice scoring, she said.
"It was just, like, the spot," Hunter said. "It was just a very familiar spot, and no one's in front of you — you just see an open goal. Just hit it."
How It Happened: The Ducks had edges of 6-4 in shots and 4-2 in corner kicks during the first half, which ended scoreless. Video replay took a UO goal off the board, sending the teams into halftime tied, 0-0.
Kimball, making her first start since Aug. 23 and second of the season, made one save in each half as Oregon's typically strong defense at every level showed up again. And they were unfazed by the periodic precipitation.
"I think it just was a little bit more scrappy than we thought it was going to be, but nothing that we couldn't handle," Kimball said. "And you know, I think we handled it really well with having it coming and going the whole game."
Early momentum coming out of halftime seemed to be with the visitors. But Hunter entered off the bench in the 66th minute, and five minutes later she found the back of the net.
"It was a matter of time," she said. "Like, we'd been knocking at their door actually the entire game. Even last game, it was just unfortunate with the outcome. But I'm glad we finally got the shot and scored."
GOAL!
— Oregon Ducks Soccer (@OregonSoccer) September 13, 2026
Lauren Hunter rips one into the back of the net from distance!
70' | Oregon 1, Maryland 0#GoDucks pic.twitter.com/m0278b2bBU
That was Oregon's final shot of the game, as Maryland tried to make a late push and find the equalizer. But the Ducks' defenders didn't allow a shot on goal after getting the 1-0 lead, and they improved to 1-1 in conference play before returning to action Friday at USC.
"We just wanted a good response, right?" Joyner said. "Focusing on having a good performance today, and then hoping the outcome and the result would be indicative of how we approached today. So just, good vibes all around, and getting a Big Ten win is huge going into next Friday."
Notable: Oregon's "Pups on Papé" promotion brought 28 furry friends out to Sunday's match. … The Ducks have won six of their first eight matches for the first time since 2018, and at 6-1-1 are off to their best start since opening 5-0-3 in 2021. … Cormack's assist was her team-leading fourth of the season. … The Ducks' two goals allowed through eight matches are two fewer than the previous program record of four set in 1981.
Up Next: The Ducks play at USC on Friday (6 p.m., B1G+).
Players Mentioned
Team Stats
MAR
ORE
Goals
0
1
Shots
13
12
Shots on Goal
2
4
Saves
3
2
Corners
4
7
Fouls
9
12
Scoring Plays
Lauren Hunter (2)
Assisted By: Carly Cormack
GOAL by ORE Hunter, Lauren Assist by Cormack, Carly.
70:11
Game Leaders
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
def
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Friday, September 11
Wednesday, September 09
Wednesday, September 09
Wednesday, September 09
