No. 8 Portland Blanks Oregon, 4-0

Sophie Schmidt recorded two second half goals, one off of a corner kick.

Photo courtesy: UP Athletics

EUGENE, Ore. - The No. 8 University of Portland women’s soccer team got a much needed boost by World Cup veterans Stephanie Lopez and Sophie Schmidt in a 4-0 shutout of Oregon Friday night at Pape Field.

Lopez, a starting defender for the U.S. National Team, made her season debut for the Pilots and recorded an assist, while Schmidt scored two goals in her first appearance as a forward at the collegiate level.

Schmidt, a defender/holding midfielder throughout her career with the Canadian National Team, came off the bench late in the first half and played up top.

She recorded two second half goals, one off of a corner kick taken by Lopez, and looked very comfortable in her new position.

“It was like when a coach lets a goalkeeper play the field,” Schmidt joked, regarding head coach Garrett Smith’s decision to play her at forward. “I was so excited because I haven’t played up there since I was a little kid.”

The decision paid immediate dividends for a Pilots team that has struggled offensively since the loss of sisters Rachael and Megan Rapinoe to season-ending knee injuries.

Schmidt scored her first collegiate goal in the 61st minute, taking a through ball from senior Angie Woznuk and beating Oregon goalie Jessie Chatfield to the low right. She struck again in the 65th minute, heading home a corner kick from Lopez.

Woznuk started the scoring for Portland (8-3-0) in the 20th minute, catching Chatfield by surprise with a looping shot attempt from the corner of the penalty box to the upper left of the goal. The ball snuck just inside the crossbar and post for a 1-0 Pilots lead.

Sophomore Janelle Jacka capped the scoring in the 89th minute, running onto a ball sent by freshman Elli Reed and deftly finishing to the right post after sneaking past two defenders.

UP goalkeepers Kelsey Davis and Hailee DeYoung played a half each to record the team’s fifth shutout of the season. DeYoung made Portland’s only save of the game midway through the second period.

The Pilots held a 16-7 shot advantage and 7-5 edge in corner kicks over the Ducks (6-4-0).

The Pilots will now get a full week off before opening West Coast Conference play by hosting Gonzaga on Saturday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m.

Source: UP Athletics

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