Oregon women’s soccer fell to the North Carolina State Wolfpack by a score of 4-1 in the first match of the 2017 season on Friday night at Pape field.

NC State came out strong in the first half. Midfielder Paige Griffiths scored in the seventh minute to give the Wolfpack an early 1-0 lead. Kristina Schuster added to her team’s lead in the 26th minute with a second goal. The Ducks had several chances to knot up the game, but failed to convert. NC State’s defense seemed to have Oregon’s number and stifled every attempt from the Ducks in the first half.

After halftime, the two teams battled to a stalemate for 15 minutes, neither side able to break the other. In the 61st minute, though, NC State struck again. Kia Rankin delivered a strike to make it 3-0 in favor of the Wolfpack.

The Ducks battled back in the 67th minute, however. Mia Costa sent a low cross into the box, where Marissa Everett let the ball pass by her. Brianne Parsons was right there and sent the ball into the back of the net for the Ducks’ first goal of the season. The score was also Parsons’ first goal as a member of the Ducks.

“I was just fortunate enough to get on the end of Mia Costa’s ball,” Parsons said. “It was a great cross, and I think Marissa dummied it which was just the most selfless thing. I just got lucky and tapped it in.”

Despite the second-half strike, the Ducks were unable to cut into the Wolfpack’s lead any further and went on to concede a fourth and final goal in the 85th minute. For Oregon head coach Kat Mertz, it was clear that the Ducks’ struggles on their back line were to blame for the loss.

“They had three shots in the first half, and two goals,” Mertz said. “We’re not gonna win if we give up those soft goals.”

She also identified the rushed tempo of her team’s possessions as a key area for improvement. Despite the loss, Mertz remained positive looking forward.

“The good news is, it’s not where you start, it’s where you finish,” Mertz said. “I’ve seen plenty of teams go back to work, which we’re gonna have to do. We’re gonna focus, regroup, and get our confidence back up.”

The Ducks will look to rebound on at Papé field on Sunday when they face the Kansas State Wildcats at 1 p.m.

Follow Aaron Alter on Twitter @aaronalter95

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Oregon’s women’s soccer team ended the 2016 season one game short of an NCAA tournament berth. With returning veterans and new freshmen talent, the Ducks are hoping to rebound and make their first tournament. Head coach Kat Mertz and senior defender Caitlyn Wong spoke about the team’s upcoming season on Monday as part of media day.

Here are the major takeaways:

The seniors have been instrumental in changing the team’s culture for the better

Kat Mertz: “We’ve got four great captains. We have Miranda Schulz, Sofia Chambers, Caitlyn Wong, and Halla Hinriksdottir. I think there’s a really great balance with our leadership. They know how to play, and they know what the expectations are. It’s been really fun for me to see how the upperclassmen have helped create this really safe environment for the freshmen and newcomers to be themselves. When you see a team that’s welcoming and not judgmental, and that’s playing for each other, I think you see some special things on the field.”

Caitlyn Wong: “We’ve been working for four years to change the culture and build a program that’s going to be successful. A lot of it is behind the scenes and off the field. Becoming a family, having each other’s backs. … It’s really rewarding now to see in my fifth year that we’ve made so many strides in terms of team culture.”

The Pac-12 is as tough as ever

Mertz: “We always say that the Pac-12 is a conference of championships. Every game is a championship game. We don’t have a Pac-12 tournament at the end, so every game matters. We open on the road down at Arizona, and that’s a tough place to play in. Then we’re on the road again against USC and UCLA. But as far as the Pac-12, there’s very little that separates the top from the bottom, and that’s what makes this special.”

Wong: “Coach always says that if you’re competing for a Pac-12 championship, you’re competing for a national championship. We send at least six teams to the tournament every year, so you’re really playing against the best. USC won a national championship, UCLA won a national championship. …You’re playing against teams in the regular season that are going to go that far, so why not challenge yourself now?”

Controlling the end of the game and minimizing set pieces are priorities

Mertz: “We need to win the last ten minutes of the game. We talk about one goal differences, and unfortunately, those one goal differences happen a lot at the end of the game. So we need to be fitter, we need to be mentally tougher, and we need to be focused. We gave up too many of those goals on set pieces last year. If we can cut that down, we’re in the top half of the Pac-12.”

Wong: “There are a lot of things you can do in terms of decision making in the last minute. Things like trying to get a throw-in as opposed to a corner and eliminating silly fouls, we just have to try and eliminate the number of chances they’re going to have. You’re going to give up set pieces, so when it comes down to it we’ve just been working to have a relentless mentality; to get the ball out of the box and really take pride this being our house.”

Depth off the bench is crucial

Mertz: “We’ve got 31 players on the team, and only 11 play. So we need to win off the bench. When you look at the sideline, you need to see them being supportive. It’s going to take all of us to be successful.”

Staying focused on the goal

Mertz: “In the Pac-12, you just need to put your blinders on. You focus on yourself. You can’t worry about what’s going on outside, you can’t worry about what team’s doing what. …We all know it comes down to the final weekend. If we’re in the hunt, that’s all we can ask for.”

The Ducks will play the first game of the season Friday at 5 p.m. against N.C. State in Pape Field.

Follow Aaron Alter on Twitter @aaronalter95

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In 2016, the Oregon Ducks might have been the most talented 4-8 team in the country. The athletic potential of the Ducks was, and still is, tantalizing. Willie Taggart has some talented players to work with this season.

Here are four players to watch in 2017.

Taj Griffin:
Griffin was impressive in his debut season with the Ducks in 2015. A combination of speed and lateral quickness led to three rushing touchdowns and an average of 7.9 yards per carry. Due to injury, however, he only played in eight games last season. Despite the shortened season, Griffin still found pay dirt, scoring three rushing touchdowns. Now that he’s recovered from his injury, watch for Griffin to contribute in a big way this season. He possesses the versatility to contribute as both a receiver and rusher. When he’s firing on all cylinders, there are few defenders that can match Griffin’s sheer speed.

Royce Freeman:
This one might seem obvious, but it’s difficult to overstate the impact Freeman has on the Ducks. In his first two seasons, Freeman rushed for a combined 3,201 yards and 35 touchdowns. An early season injury against Nebraska put a dent in his production last season. Freeman still rushed for 945 yards and nine touchdowns. The prospect of a healthy season for Freeman should frighten the Pac-12. He is a physical runner able to break tackles and finish runs with consistency. He also possesses the speed and vision to hit holes and extend runs to the second level. That combination of skills will likely make Freeman the centerpiece of Oregon’s offense this season.

Thomas Graham Jr.:
Graham was one of the Ducks’ most touted recruits, and he’s been showing why in practice. Despite his status as a true freshman and the relative depth of the cornerback position, Graham has consistently spent time with the first team defense. He possesses solid speed (4.52 40-yard dash) and a strong technical foundation. In practice, he’s flashed terrific awareness. Namely, he knows when not to make a play on the ball, and lock up a receiver before they can do more damage. For an Oregon team that struggled to contain pass-heavy offenses, Graham’s discipline and speed will be a welcome asset.

Troy Dye:
On a defense that struggled  in 2016, Troy Dye was one of the few bright spots. As a true freshman, the inside linebacker recorded 91 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and six sacks. All three of those statistics led the team. Dye’s vision and speed led to him flying around the field, displaying an ability to disrupt a wide array of plays. While his freshman season was spent mostly stopping the run, Dye has the instincts and physical tools to be a threat in coverage as well. While the defense as a whole will be much improved this season, Dye will without a doubt still be its focal piece.

Follow Aaron Alter on Twitter @aaronalter95

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In an exhibition match, the Oregon Ducks played to a 1-1 draw with the Portland Pilots in Portland this weekend.

The Ducks were the first on the board, with their strike coming in the 51st minute from freshman Eden Hardy. After a corner kick from senior Abby Morrow, Hardy scored from a shot from the top of the box.

“I didn’t know where I was supposed to be so I just found an open spot outside the box,” Hardy said. “When the ball came to me, I knew I had an open shot on goal so I just looked down and hit it.”

Freshman goalkeeper Sarah Preston denied Portland’s bid to knot the match up with a pair of saves in the following two minutes. Portland went on to score the tying goal in the 65th minute. There was no extra time as the game finished 1-1.

In 2016, the team was leading or tied in 17 games, but only produced eight wins, losing seven more and drawing the remaining two. The Ducks lost to Portland 1-0 during the 2016 season, and have lost all 16 games against the Pilots in regular season play.

“I was really pleased with the effort because I thought we just kept fighting and playing hard,” head coach Kat Mertz said. “Obviously there are plenty of things we will take a look at and need to clean up before Friday, but there were a lot of good things too.”

Oregon will officially open its season this Friday when they face North Carolina State at Papé Field at 5 p.m. PT.

Follow Aaron Alter on Twitter @aaronalter95

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Going into the 2017 season, Darren Carrington was supposed to be the Ducks’ star receiver. The athletic wideout led the Ducks in 2016 with 606 yards and built a reputation for incredible catches.

Unfortunately, he also had become known for his frequent run-ins with law enforcement, which culminated in his dismissal from the Ducks following a DUI.

Now, Oregon’s remaining crop of young receivers are preparing to take the reigns for themselves.

The Ducks’ wideouts enter 2017 led by senior Charles Nelson. Nelson was the team’s second leading receiver in 2016, racking up 554 yards and five touchdowns. While Carrington’s departure makes him the top receiver on the team, Nelson seems unfazed by the role.

“It hasn’t changed my approach at all,” Nelson said. “It’s business; it’s the game. I was excited for the season no matter what. I was excited last year, and the year before that. It’s nothing new.”

Beyond Nelson, however, the Ducks are largely untested.

Sophomore Dillon Mitchell pencils in as the likely number two option, and that’s with only two receptions to his name. However, Mitchell performed well in his two spring games, recording 75 and 104 yards.

Looking forward, Mitchell believes the key to his success lies in his head.

“I took a lot of time to think, and I rushed myself a lot last year,” Mitchell said. “It started to really frustrate me, and I had to get my mind right.”

His solution? Adopt a new persona.

“I took on a Conor McGregor personality,” Mitchell said. “I’m willing to go to combat for any of my teammates, and I know that this year is gonna be a special year for me.”

Behind Mitchell, nothing is certain.

Freshman Johnny Johnson III (80); ranked the second best wide receiver recruit from Arizona; stands among defensive teammates. (Theo Mechain/Emerald)

Freshmen Johnny Johnson III, Daewood Davis and Jaylon Redd will all have chances to become impact players. In particular, Johnson is making a splash in practice. Sophomore Brenden Schooler has also converted from safety to receiver, and hopes to be a fixture in his new role.  

“We’ve got a good group of young wide receivers,” wide receivers coach Michael Johnson said. “We got veterans like Charles Nelson. We got Dillon Mitchell. … Johnny Johnson’s done a great job in the first couple of days.”

The common characteristic all of the above players share, at least according to Johnson, is their work ethic.

“We’ve got a good group of guys that are working hard and trying to get better each and every day,” Johnson said.

The respect Johnson has for his young players is mutual. Mitchell said that he made a point to understand what they had learned prior to this year, but also established a new status quo. He’s tough, but also encouraging.

“He lets us know that we’re gonna do everything correctly, and we’re gonna clean up all the stuff that we don’t do correctly,” Mitchell said. “Even if we don’t have guys like [Carrington], he just put in our minds that we can do it if we believe in ourselves.”

Follow Aaron Alter on Twitter @aaronalter95

The post With Carrington gone, it’s next man up for Oregon’s young receivers appeared first on Emerald Media.

Going into the 2017 season, Darren Carrington was supposed to be the Ducks’ star receiver. The athletic wideout led the Ducks in 2016 with 606 yards and built a reputation for incredible catches.

Unfortunately, he also had become known for his frequent run-ins with law enforcement, which culminated in his dismissal from the Ducks following a DUI.

Now, Oregon’s remaining crop of young receivers are preparing to take the reigns for themselves.

The Ducks’ wideouts enter 2017 led by senior Charles Nelson. Nelson was the team’s second leading receiver in 2016, racking up 554 yards and five touchdowns. While Carrington’s departure makes him the top receiver on the team, Nelson seems unfazed by the role.

“It hasn’t changed my approach at all,” Nelson said. “It’s business; it’s the game. I was excited for the season no matter what. I was excited last year, and the year before that. It’s nothing new.”

Beyond Nelson, however, the Ducks are largely untested.

Sophomore Dillon Mitchell pencils in as the likely number two option, and that’s with only two receptions to his name. However, Mitchell performed well in his two spring games, recording 75 and 104 yards.

Looking forward, Mitchell believes the key to his success lies in his head.

“I took a lot of time to think, and I rushed myself a lot last year,” Mitchell said. “It started to really frustrate me, and I had to get my mind right.”

His solution? Adopt a new persona.

“I took on a Conor McGregor personality,” Mitchell said. “I’m willing to go to combat for any of my teammates, and I know that this year is gonna be a special year for me.”

Behind Mitchell, nothing is certain.

Freshman Johnny Johnson III (80); ranked the second best wide receiver recruit from Arizona; stands among defensive teammates. (Theo Mechain/Emerald)

Freshmen Johnny Johnson III, Daewood Davis and Jaylon Redd will all have chances to become impact players. In particular, Johnson is making a splash in practice. Sophomore Brenden Schooler has also converted from safety to receiver, and hopes to be a fixture in his new role.  

“We’ve got a good group of young wide receivers,” wide receivers coach Michael Johnson said. “We got veterans like Charles Nelson. We got Dillon Mitchell. … Johnny Johnson’s done a great job in the first couple of days.”

The common characteristic all of the above players share, at least according to Johnson, is their work ethic.

“We’ve got a good group of guys that are working hard and trying to get better each and every day,” Johnson said.

The respect Johnson has for his young players is mutual. Mitchell said that he made a point to understand what they had learned prior to this year, but also established a new status quo. He’s tough, but also encouraging.

“He lets us know that we’re gonna do everything correctly, and we’re gonna clean up all the stuff that we don’t do correctly,” Mitchell said. “Even if we don’t have guys like [Carrington], he just put in our minds that we can do it if we believe in ourselves.”

Follow Aaron Alter on Twitter @aaronalter95

The post With Carrington gone, it’s next man up for Oregon’s young receivers appeared first on Emerald Media.

During the 2016 season, Oregon’s defense struggled. The Ducks ranked 126 in the nation in total defense, and allowed an average of 518.4 yards per game.

In particular, the play of the Oregon secondary was erratic. The team often seemed unable to defend the pass, which in the pass-happy Pac-12 often proved catastrophic.

This season, the Ducks return a number of key veterans in Arrion Springs, Tyree Robinson, Ugo Amadi, Khalil Oliver and Brenden Schooler.

Schooler, a safety, will look to follow up a strong debut season in which he posted a 74 tackles and a team leading four interceptions. The rest of the returning secondary has all shown promise, but had trouble forcing turnovers. Watch for Robinson to move between safety and corner, a trend likely to continue from last year.

The most notable of the Ducks’ new talent comes in the forms of Deommodore Lenoir and Thomas Graham Jr. Both are four-star recruits and expected to have an immediate impact on the field. After the spring game, Springs noted that the freshmen talent boosted the depth of the team, and that he expects them to contend for playing time.

Looking to forge both sides of the secondary into a cohesive force will be new defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt. Leavitt has experience in remaking a defense; in his one season with Colorado, he took the team from 85 in the nation in total defense to 15. Regarded as one of the best defensive minds in college football, Leavitt certainly has his work cut out for him. One of the biggest changes he’ll make is shifting the defense back to a 3-4 scheme, a decision that head coach Willie Taggart expects to pay dividends.

“I think going back to the 3-4 is going to help a lot of these guys because a lot of them were recruited to play in a 3-4 system, so hopefully that helps,” Taggart said. “Hopefully with Coach Leavitt and our defensive staff, they’ll do the things we know they’re capable of doing and get our guys to play at a high level.”

Projected Depth Chart:

CB: Ugo Amadi, Jr., Thomas Graham, Fr., Jihree Stewart, So.

S: Brenden Schooler, So., Brady Breeze, R-Fr., Billy Gibson, Fr.

S: Tyree Robinson, Sr., Khalil Oliver, Jr., Juwaan Williams, Sr.

CB: Arrion Springs, Sr., Deommodore Lenoir, Fr., Ty Griffin, Sr.

Follow Aaron Alter on Twitter @aaronalter95

The post DB Preview: Ducks need contributions from young and old to play well in pass happy Pac-12 appeared first on Emerald Media.

During the 2016 season, Oregon’s defense struggled. The Ducks ranked 126 in the nation in total defense, and allowed an average of 518.4 yards per game.

In particular, the play of the Oregon secondary was erratic. The team often seemed unable to defend the pass, which in the pass-happy Pac-12 often proved catastrophic.

This season, the Ducks return a number of key veterans in Arrion Springs, Tyree Robinson, Ugo Amadi, Khalil Oliver and Brenden Schooler.

Schooler, a safety, will look to follow up a strong debut season in which he posted a 74 tackles and a team leading four interceptions. The rest of the returning secondary has all shown promise, but had trouble forcing turnovers. Watch for Robinson to move between safety and corner, a trend likely to continue from last year.

The most notable of the Ducks’ new talent comes in the forms of Deommodore Lenoir and Thomas Graham Jr. Both are four-star recruits and expected to have an immediate impact on the field. After the spring game, Springs noted that the freshmen talent boosted the depth of the team, and that he expects them to contend for playing time.

Looking to forge both sides of the secondary into a cohesive force will be new defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt. Leavitt has experience in remaking a defense; in his one season with Colorado, he took the team from 85 in the nation in total defense to 15. Regarded as one of the best defensive minds in college football, Leavitt certainly has his work cut out for him. One of the biggest changes he’ll make is shifting the defense back to a 3-4 scheme, a decision that head coach Willie Taggart expects to pay dividends.

“I think going back to the 3-4 is going to help a lot of these guys because a lot of them were recruited to play in a 3-4 system, so hopefully that helps,” Taggart said. “Hopefully with Coach Leavitt and our defensive staff, they’ll do the things we know they’re capable of doing and get our guys to play at a high level.”

Projected Depth Chart:

CB: Ugo Amadi, Jr., Thomas Graham, Fr., Jihree Stewart, So.

S: Brenden Schooler, So., Brady Breeze, R-Fr., Billy Gibson, Fr.

S: Tyree Robinson, Sr., Khalil Oliver, Jr., Juwaan Williams, Sr.

CB: Arrion Springs, Sr., Deommodore Lenoir, Fr., Ty Griffin, Sr.

Follow Aaron Alter on Twitter @aaronalter95

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The Eugene Emeralds (22-19, 1-2) fell to the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (18-23, 2-1) 6-1 in a one-sided affair what was dominated by the Volcanoes offense. Despite a 2-0 record, Emeralds pitcher Enrique De Los Rios never seemed to find his groove, and as a result suffered his first loss of the season.

The Volcanoes got on the board in the fourth inning, with a double to left field from Orlando Garcia sending Logan Baldwin home. Garcia himself scored on the following at-bat, courtesy of an RBI single from Manuel Geraldo.

The Volcanoes would go on to tack an additional four runs on to their lead in the fifth inning, with one of those runs coming on an RBI single from Malique Ziegler. The three other runs were added on after Ryan Kirby crushed a three-run home run over the roof of the Emeralds’ practice facility in right field.

The Ems had a chance to open up a lead in the second inning. With the bases loaded and no outs, Chris Carrier came to the plate but struck out. Zach Davis followed that up by hitting into a double play, dashing the chance to break the game open.

The Emeralds wouldn’t get another base hit until the sixth inning. It was Austin Filiere who broke the drought, sending a hard line drive into left field for a single. However, the team was again unable to capitalize on the chance and left him stranded at first.

The Emeralds appeared to have a glimmer of hope in the ninth, when poor pitching from the Volcanoes loaded the bases. Jose Gonzalez scored on a wild pitch, but one run was all the team could muster.

“You know, we had a chance with the bases loaded and no one out,” said Emeralds manager Jesus Feliciano. “I have a quote I like to say a lot for baseball: ‘If you don’t score, then the other team will.’ We couldn’t get it done, so they were able to win.”

The Emeralds will look to rebound against the Volcanoes tomorrow at 7:05 p.m at PK Park.

Follow Aaron Alter on Twitter @aaronalter95

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The Eugene Emeralds (22-19, 1-2) fell to the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (18-23, 2-1) 6-1 in a one-sided affair what was dominated by the Volcanoes offense. Despite a 2-0 record, Emeralds pitcher Enrique De Los Rios never seemed to find his groove, and as a result suffered his first loss of the season.

The Volcanoes got on the board in the fourth inning, with a double to left field from Orlando Garcia sending Logan Baldwin home. Garcia himself scored on the following at-bat, courtesy of an RBI single from Manuel Geraldo.

The Volcanoes would go on to tack an additional four runs on to their lead in the fifth inning, with one of those runs coming on an RBI single from Malique Ziegler. The three other runs were added on after Ryan Kirby crushed a three-run home run over the roof of the Emeralds’ practice facility in right field.

The Ems had a chance to open up a lead in the second inning. With the bases loaded and no outs, Chris Carrier came to the plate but struck out. Zach Davis followed that up by hitting into a double play, dashing the chance to break the game open.

The Emeralds wouldn’t get another base hit until the sixth inning. It was Austin Filiere who broke the drought, sending a hard line drive into left field for a single. However, the team was again unable to capitalize on the chance and left him stranded at first.

The Emeralds appeared to have a glimmer of hope in the ninth, when poor pitching from the Volcanoes loaded the bases. Jose Gonzalez scored on a wild pitch, but one run was all the team could muster.

“You know, we had a chance with the bases loaded and no one out,” said Emeralds manager Jesus Feliciano. “I have a quote I like to say a lot for baseball: ‘If you don’t score, then the other team will.’ We couldn’t get it done, so they were able to win.”

The Emeralds will look to rebound against the Volcanoes tomorrow at 7:05 p.m at PK Park.

Follow Aaron Alter on Twitter @aaronalter95

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