The Arizona soccer team shut out the University of Oregon on Friday, Sept. 22, at home at Murphey Field at Mulcahy Soccer Stadium in their first conference game. The Wildcats beat the Ducks 3-0 over the weekend, officially winning their first Pac-12 home opener since 2018. Arizona took advantage of Oregon‘s lax defense in the second half of the game. 

The Wildcats’ starting lineup consisted of Megan Chelf, Sarah Rice, Aranda Hurge, Ella Hatteberg, Hope Hisey, Cameron Valladares, Nicole Dallin, Savannah Holley, Trinity Dorsey, Nyota Katembo and Sami Baytosh.

After a whistle in the first half, the ball went out of bounds, resulting in a throw in for Oregon. Valladares then gained possession of the ball in front of the Ducks’ net and ripped a shot on goal, but the shot was deflected by Oregon goalkeeper Maddy Goldberg.

Arizona was all over Oregon’s goal. In the first 11 minutes Chelf, Valladares and Holley all had taken a shot on goal. 

Hatteberg launched a ball into Oregon‘s box where Baytosh immediately took a shot towards the bottom left corner of the net with her left foot in the 13th minute. The ball got past Goldberg to make the score 1-0 Wildcats.

The Ducks, however, didn’t take their first shot on Hisey until the 25th minute of the game. Even then, the shot was off target to the left. Oregon then had another opportunity on goal that forced Hisey to make a save. 

Arizona made two substitutions in the 29th minute. Oregon’s Livvy Moore then took a shot on Arizona’s goal in the top left of the net just a few minutes later. Hisey once again made the save. Arizona’s Desiree Foster took four consecutive shots – all misses – to end the half.

The half ended 1-0 Arizona. 

In the first 30 seconds of the second half, Baytosh scored a goal in the bottom left corner after Dallin beat multiple defenders and took a shot of her own. Arizona led 2-0.

Oregon tried to come back but wasn’t able to after Dallin scored another goal in the 60th minute for her seventh goal of the season. With the Wildcats pulling ahead with the score at 3-0, Arizona just needed to keep possession the rest of the game to secure the win. 

By the end of the game, Arizona took 25 shots compared to Oregon’s eight. The Arizona offense dominated the field and took advantage of what they could. 

The Wildcats will play the University of California Berkeley next on Thursday, Sept. 28, at 3 p.m. on the road in Berkeley, California. The game can be streamed on the Pac-12 network.

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