Ducks Earn a Point with Draw at Colorado

BOULDER, Colo. – Oregon surrendered a goal to Colorado early in the match, but Jordan Wormdahl connected with Ally Cook to pull the Ducks even 15 minutes later in a 1-1 draw Thursday at Prentup Field.
 
Oregon earned a point with the tie and at 8-2-5 overall (3-2-2 Pac-12), have secured back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in 40 years.
 
"It's never easy coming to Boulder," said head coach Graeme Abel. "Credit to Colorado, they make it difficult with their ability on set pieces and the pressure they put you under."
 
How It Happened: The Buffaloes (6-6-3, 1-3-3) scored on a corner kick that Oregon had trouble clearing in the 14th minute. Kayleigh Webb was the beneficiary of a ball that ricocheted to her at the top of the box and she lined a shot into the far side of the Ducks' net.
 
After Leah Freeman saved a low shot attempt by Gabbi Chappa, Oregon countered, first with a shot by Wormdahl that eventually deflected back to her outside of the box on the right side. She ripped a pass directly at Cook, who headed it squarely to the right side of the net to pull the Ducks level in the 31st minute.
 
Cook stayed on the attack in the second half and nearly headed in her second goal of the match in the 58th minute.
 
Then it was Freeman's turn to preserve the tie. She was credited for six saves, but her best play may have come in the 72nd minute when she reached through a sea of Colorado attackers to punch away a dangerous corner kick.
 
The Buffaloes outshot the Ducks 9-3 in the second half, but Oregon turned the tables in the overtime with a 6-3 advantage on shots.
 
Cook looked for the game-winner in the 96th minute, bending a shot to the far post that Colorado goalkeeper Dani Hansen made a diving save on.
 
Cook again nearly scored the golden goal in the 102nd minute, when Zoe Hasenauer found Cook in the left side of the box, where she one-timed a shot that Hansen popped into the air. The ball deflected off the crossbar and Cook dove in for the header, but her try deflected off teammate Lexi Romero and drifted wide.
 
Who Stood Out: Cook's teammate were able to find her to generate a number of quality scoring opportunities. She attempted a career-high eight shots, four of which were on goal.
 
What It Means: Oregon last recorded back-to-back winning seasons in 1980 (13-1-3) and 1981 (13-2-3). The Ducks' record through 15 games is its best since the 1981 squad went 12-0-3.
 
Quotable
Head Coach Graeme Abel
"It shows how far we've come that we are disappointed in a point here in Boulder. We'll look at ourselves and the game plan to see what adjustments we want to make for Sunday."
 
Notable: Wormdahl's assist was her first this season and second career … Cook's goal was the 16th of her career (seventh on the UO career list) … Cook moved into a tie for eighth in career points (35) with Hasenauer and Sierra Marsh (1996-99) … Cook passed Marsh for eighth on the UO career shots with 125 … Chardonnay Curran started her 80th career match to tie Danielle Sweeney (2006-09) and Scout Libke (2009-12) for the UO career record … Eden Hardy appeared in her 81st match for Oregon, moving into third place all alone behind teammates Curran (88) and Mia Palmer (84)
 
 
Up Next: At Utah, Sunday, 11 a.m. PT (Pac-12 Network).
 
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