Joseph Edgecomb / Collegian File Photo
The Fresno State women̢۪s soccer team continues to struggle early in the 2009 season as they fell to Oregon 2-0 in the home opener. Approximately 2,000 fans showed up to watch the game, unfortunately for them the ̢۪Dogs, who are now 0-3-0, came up short.
Oregon (1-1-0), coming off a loss to No. 4 Portland, came out strong when junior forward Jen Stoltenberg scored on a breakaway goal in the 14th minute to put the Ducks up 1-0. Fresno State had been working on stopping breakaway attacks the entire game, but let Stoltenberg slip behind the defense and score.
The Ducks then sealed the game when junior forward Rianna Mansfield headed in a goal past the outreached hands of Fresno State keeper Kaitlyn Revel in the 74th minute.
Goalkeeper Cody Miles, a 2008 Pac 10 all freshman team selection, allowed no goals as she saved the only three shots that sailed her way.
The ̢۪Dogs spent most of the game trying to get the ball away from the Ducks̢۪ attackers. Oregon was in control of the ball for most of the game, as it attempted 22 shots compared to Fresno State̢۪s five.
The Bulldogs, coming off loses to San Diego State and Long Beach State, came out with little effort or concentration, as they could not get past midfield most of the game and only had three shots on goal.
The ̢۪Dogs relied on their more consistent and veteran players to try and pull them out of a 1-0 hole, however they could not come back.
Technical breakdowns and lack of concentration and effort were just some of the problems according to head coach Brian Zwaschka.
“The effort was the biggest problem today. We were very inconsistent and didn’t really focus as a group on our game plan,â€Â Zwaschka said. “The team as a whole did not take responsibility for this loss today.â€Â
One bright spot for the Bulldogs was the superb goal keeping of preseason WAC Defensive Player of the Year Kaitlyn Revel.
Revel had 11 saves in the game, including some diving stops to prevent more Oregon scoring.
The ̢۪Dogs will continue to train more vigorously and go back to their basic techniques and continue supporting each other as they move on through the season.
“The techniques are there, the information is sticking it is just the effort that is letting us down. We did not communicate well out of the field,â€Â Zwaschka said.
The Bulldogs hope to get into the win column as they travel to Irvine later this week for a two-game tournament. There they will play games against UC Riverside and UC Irvine in the Irvine Tournament.
Watch The Collegian Online’s coverage of the Bulldog’s game against Oregon.