Sweeney, Mansfield Score Goals in Oregon Soccer's 2-0 Win Over PSU‏

Oregon (7-1-1) returns to action next weekend with road matches against BYU and Weber State. The Ducks will battle the Cougars on Thursday, Oct. 1, before closing the weekend with a Saturday morning match against the Wildcats.

Courtesy: Wikipedia

EUGENE, Ore. - Senior defender Danielle Sweeney and junior forward Rianna Mansfield scored goals to lead the University of Oregon soccer team to its sixth straight victory on Friday night, a 2-0 home win over Portland State. The win improved the Ducks' record to 7-1-1 overall, while PSU dropped to 4-5-1.

"I thought we played good soccer tonight," head coach Tara Erickson said. "I liked our mentality to keep the ball and to solve pressure (from PSU). I thought our attack was very dynamic."

Sweeney, from Pleasanton, Calif., scored the game-winner in the 38th minute with her second goal of the season. The Ducks ran a set-piece off a corner kick playing a ball to junior forward Jen Stoltenberg, who fired a shot from 18 yards away which ricocheted off the cross bar. Sweeney charged the loose ball at the 6-yard box and put the rebound past PSU goalkeeper Cris Lewis.

"It was a great initial shot by Stoltenberg off the set piece. But that’s not a goal if Sweeney’s not there to clean it up," Erickson said of the match's first goal. “That’s typical Sweeney-type work, a mentality to be in the right place and do what it takes to finish the goal."

Mansfield, from Eugene, Ore., gave the Ducks a two-goal advantage in the 65th minute, her second score of the season. The play developed when Mansfield touched it out to Stoltenberg, who played a centering pass back to Mansfield, who then one-timed a low shot past PSU’s Lewis. The assist was Stoltenberg's second of the game and fourth of the season.

"That is my favorite goal that we’ve scored this season," Erickson said of Mansfield's second-half goal. "The communication and the chemistry between Stolt and Rianna was what allowed that goal to happen."

Sophomore goalkeeper Cody Miles registered her fourth shutout of the season (10th shutout of career) in playing the full 90 minutes. Miles matched a season-high with five saves in seeing 10 total shots. Three of Oregon’s defenders also played the duration of the match, with Sweeney, fellow senior Dani Oster and junior Mercedes Walters assisting in the shutout.

"The team is really taking pride in earning the shutouts," Erickson said. "I think now, everyone is buying into the shutout and its importance.”

Junior midfielder Kirstie Kuhns and freshman midfielder Scout Libke also played the full 90 minutes.

Oregon held a 12-10 shot advantage in the contest, while both teams had five corners each. UO was whistled for 12 fouls to PSU's eight.

The Vikings were led statistically by Michelle Hlasnik who had a pair of shots, both on goal. Esty Geiger, Dolly Enneking and Frankie Ross each added two shots apiece. Lewis had six saves and two goals allowed in playing the entire match.

Oregon (7-1-1) returns to action next weekend with road matches against BYU and Weber State. The Ducks will battle the Cougars on Thursday, Oct. 1, before closing the weekend with a Saturday morning match against the Wildcats.

Notes: Stoltenberg extended her matches with a point streak to eight, registering her third and fourth assists of the season. UO’s 3-0 season-opening loss to No. 4 Portland is the only contest in which Stoltenberg has failed to record a point. Miles remains third in school history with her 10th career shutout Friday. She also remains third all-time in goalkeeper wins (16), while holding at fifth in career saves (103).

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