No. 13 USC Nips Oregon, 1-0

The Trojans moved to 9-1-1 (1-0 Pac-10) on the season, while Oregon fell to 7-5 (0-1).

Nicole Dobrzynski and the Oregon defense played well in a 1-0 loss at No. 13 USC. Photo courtesy: goducks.com

EUGENE, Ore. - Oregon found its defense, but could not muster much offensively as No. 13 USC’s fourth-minute goal stood up for a 1-0 Trojan win Friday at McAlister Field in the Pac-10 opener for both teams.

Janessa Currier scored the only goal of the match 3:11 into the first period off a USC throw-in in the Ducks’ end of the field. Megan Ohai and Kasey Johnson assisted on the play.

"The defense played well today, but we did not attack well," said Oregon coach Tara Erickson. "I was pleased that we didn’t let down after giving up an early goal; that we kept fighting to the end."

The Trojans moved to 9-1-1 (1-0 Pac-10) on the season, while Oregon fell to 7-5 (0-1).

After the Currier goal, Jessie Chatfield and the Duck defenders kept the high-powered USC attack at bay the rest of the game. USC came into the contest fourth in the Pac-10 in scoring, averaging 2.0 goals per game.

Chatfield, a junior from Eugene, Ore., made a season-high six saves.

"Jessie made some really good stops," said Erickson. "And our defense stepped up. It’s great to limit a team like USC to one goal. (Defenders) Dylann (Tharp) and Nicole Dobrzynski kept us in the game. It was good to see the defenders get a little of their swagger back."

The Ducks managed only four shots, compared to 14 for the Trojans. Barbara Blocker, Teresa Bowns, Jessica Goodell and Allison Newton each attempted one shot for Oregon.

"We just couldn’t string enough passes together to get the offense going," said Erickson. "We’ll need to do a better job on the offensive side of the ball, because it won’t get any easier on Sunday."

The Ducks play at top-ranked UCLA Sunday at noon.

Adding comments to these stories has been disabled. View the current sports stories Salem-News Sports