Slow Start Too Much to Overcome

EUGENE, Ore. – Washington scored twice in the first 15 minutes and went on to defeat Oregon 3-1 in front of 555 Sunday at Pape' Field
 
Eden Hardy, one of six seniors recognized before the match on Senior Day, got the Ducks (9-4-5, 4-4-2) on the board in the 74th minute, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Huskies (6-7-4, 4-3-3).
 
How It Happened: Washington outshot the Ducks 7-5 in the first half and converted two of those attempts into goals in the fourth minute and the 15th minute to take a 2-0 lead at halftime.
 
The Huskies added a third goal in the 58th minute. The three-goal deficit was the largest the Ducks have faced this season.
 
Hardy finally broke through against the UW defense when she dribbled in from the right side, found a lane between two defenders and hit a low strike from the top of the box inside the right post for her fourth goal of the season.
 
For the game, the Ducks outshot the Huskies 17-15, including a 12-8 edge in the second half. Ally Cook led Oregon with seven shots, four of which were on goal.
 
What It Means: Oregon has one more chance to impress the NCAA Tournament selection committee with a quality road game Friday at Oregon State.
 
Quotable
Head Coach Graeme Abel
"Congratulations to Washington. At the end of the day we can't be upset, because we did not compete very well today. We did not start competing until the 70th minute. We need to look at why that happened and we can move forward from there."
 
Notable: Hardy's goal was the seventh of her career … Mia Palmer started her 75th career match Sunday to move into a tie for sixth on the UO career list … Oregon recognized seniors Chardonnay Curran, True Dydasco, Hannah Taylor, Jordan Wormdahl, Palmer and Hardy during a pregame Senior Day ceremony. Taylor is not on the 2021 roster after medically retiring from the team following the spring season, but returned to be honored with her classmates on Sunday … Oregon's other three seniors – Chai Cortez, Kess Elmore and Zoe Hasenauer – have all announced their intentions to take advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA due to the Covid-19 pandemic and return to the Ducks next fall.
 
Up Next: At Oregon State, Friday, 7 p.m. (Pac-12 Network).
 
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