Beavers Drop Match to Wildcats
TUCSON, Ariz. – The Oregon State women’s soccer team fell 2-0 to Arizona Friday afternoon in Tucson, Ariz.
“It was very unlucky for our girls to fall behind on a penalty,” said head coach Linus Rhode. “After that moment we just could not get a handle on the match. As a group we must just move on.”
The Wildcats (7-2-1, 1-1-0 Pac-12) jumped out to an early lead when Sheaffer Skadsen converted a penalty kick in the 20th minute to put Arizona ahead 1-0.
The Beavers (0-8-3, 0-2-0 Pac-12) responded by creating a scoring chance less than a minute later, but freshman Natalie Higgins’ shot from 20 yards out on the left side was blocked.
Fellow freshman Emma Jones came through with another scoring opportunity for the Beavers in the 39th minute, but her shot was blocked as well, and Oregon State went into the half trailing by a goal.
Arizona added a second goal in the 59th minute, when Kaitlyn Lopez found the net off a corner kick to give the Wildcats the two-goal victory.
Freshman goalkeeper Bella Geist made 13 saves in the match, including a nice reaction save midway through the closing frame. Geist now has 68 saves on the season, placing her atop the Pac-12.
Junior Gwen Bieck and sophomore Kathryn Baker joined Geist in playing the full 90 minutes for the Beavers. Freshman Amanda Tewes made her Oregon State debut, playing 23 minutes in the match.
The Beavers will return to action Sunday, when they play No. 18 Arizona State in Tempe, Ariz.