Duck Soccer Stomps No. 21 Denver, 4-1‏

Oregon (5-1-1) will play on Sunday against Dartmouth to wrap up the two-match Oregon State Nike Invitational. Match-time for that contest is slated for 11:00 a.m. at Paul Lorenz Field in Corvallis, Ore.

Salem-News.com Sports

EUGENE, Ore. - Three different players scored goals, including a pair of scores from senior midfielder Teresa Bowns, as the University of Oregon soccer team cruised to a 4-1 neutral-site win over No. 21 Denver on Friday in Corvallis, Ore.

"This is an awesome win for us," head coach Tara Erickson said. "We had great goals. We played very well at the back. The midfield battled. I think we were the more physical team today."

The Ducks (5-1-1), playing the first of two matches at the OSU Nike Invitational, improved their winning streak to four consecutive matches and have now gone five straight without a defeat. Denver dropped to 3-2-1 with the loss.

"Overall, just a great team effort and a good win over the 21st-ranked team in Denver," Erickson added.

Bowns helped the Ducks out to the early lead in the 14th minute with her first goal of the season. Freshman forward Julie Armstrong, who took a pass from junior forward Jen Stoltenberg, fired a shot at DU goalkeeper Lara Campbell. The shot spilled off the keeper and into the possession of Bowns, who tapped the ball into the empty goal.

Freshman midfielder Scout Libke registered her first collegiate goal in the 44th minute, a score that eventually became the game-winner. Libke capitalized on a failed clearance by Denver, half-volleying a shot from the top of the 18-yard box to beat DU’s Campbell.

The Ducks took a 2-0 lead into the half, out-shooting the Pioneers 8-2 during the first 45 minutes. UO also held a 3-1 corner kick advantage during the first half.

Bowns put the Ducks up 3-0 in the 54th minute, her second goal of the game and the season. Armstrong set up the score with a long cross to switch fields to the right side. The pass found Bowns, who beat the keeper one v. one with a shot to the lower far post.

Denver got on the board in the 80th minute on a goal by Alison Kenney, a shot from 30-yards out which deflected off the right post to beat UO junior goalkeeper Tori Johnson.

Armstrong, who had already recorded two assists in the contest, scored her second goal of the season in the 87th minute. The build-up began with passes by junior midfielder Bree Rowe and sophomore midfielder Taylor Jones, with the ball finding Armstrong who chipped the keeper from about 20-yards out.

Oregon finished with a 12-10 shot advantage in the match, while having a 5-2 advantage in corner kick opportunities. UO was whistled for nine fouls, while Denver was called for three.

Sophomore goalkeeper Cody Miles had two saves while playing the first 78 minutes of the match. Junior goalkeeper Tori Johnson relieved Miles late in the match, finishing with one save and one goal allowed in 12 minutes of work.

Eight different Oregon players recorded a shot in the contest, led by Bowns who tallied three total shots and two on goal. Rowe and Stoltenberg each added two shots apiece.

DU’s Kaitlin Bast recorded a team-high three shots. Campbell had four saves and three goals allowed in 62 minutes of action. Fellow goalkeeper Maria Khan had one save and one goal allowed in 28 minutes off the bench.

Oregon (5-1-1) will play on Sunday against Dartmouth to wrap up the two-match Oregon State Nike Invitational. Match-time for that contest is slated for 11 a.m. at Paul Lorenz Field in Corvallis, Ore.

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