Earlier this afternoon Oregon (2-2, 0-0 Pac-12) took on Iowa (4-0, 0-0 Big Ten) for what would be the Ducks’ final game of their homestand before heading to Santa Barbara, California next weekend. The Ducks edged out Iowa 4-3.

Oregon claimed the doubles point, but not without effort. After splitting the first two matches, clinching the point came down to the No. 1 doubles match between Nia Rose/Alyssa Tobita and Iowa’s Annette Dohanics/Shelby Talcott. Originally the Hawkeyes duo was up 5-2 and needed only one more point, but Rose/Tobita rallied a comeback eventually winning the set 7-6.

“We had the energy,” Tobita said of their comeback. “They were starting to get a little nervous, I think. It was keeping the pressure on and it helped us play better. It was like, ‘We can win this,’ instead of, ‘We’re going to lose this.’”

In singles, Tobita’s No. 2 match with Anatasia Reimchen was the first to finish, with Tobita winning 6-2, 6-1. The No. 3 spot finished next. Nicole Long dominated Morven McCulloch in the first set before ultimately finishing 6-2, 7-5. Lina Akesson dropped her match in No. 5 singles against Dohanics 6-2, 6-3.

The fourth game to complete was between Oregon’s Marlou Kluiving and Katie Zordani for the No. 4 position and it was extremely back-and-forth the entire time. Their first set alone concluded only a few minutes before Tobita completely closed out her match. Kluiving managed to pull ahead 7-5, 6-4.

The No. 1 and No. 6 position were the final two to conclude as both had gone into a third set. Allie Hueffner  dropped the point 6-4, 4-6, 3-6 in what was also a back-and-forth game. Rose had a rematch with Talcott. Rose dropped the point 2-6, 6-4, 2-6.

“I knew that by how she played in doubles, she was going to go after me in singles,” Rose said. “I just knew she had the mentality. It was going to be a tough match.”

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In the Pac-8 Championship, No. 3 Oregon hockey fell to No. 1 Utah, 5-1. Both teams were evenly matched at 5-on-5 play, but frequent penalties cost the Ducks the opportunity to pull ahead. Of the 47 penalties in the game, 31 of them belonged to Oregon. There were 134 penalty minutes total.

Oregon (14-10, 6-4 Pac-8) entered the final round as the underdogs and with a chip on its shoulder. Utah (24-12-2, 7-1 Pac-8) was not only a team that is consistently on top, but a team that Oregon lost to in the finals two years ago. Additionally, Utah was slightly more rested for this game. It was only their second game of the tournament, but Oregon’s third.

Both teams had exceptional goaltenders in net. Utah goaltender Chris Komma was named to the first-team for the Pac-8 All Stars and Ducks goaltender Danny Cockriel was named third-team.

Cockriel made some especially remarkable saves in the game, shutting down multiple 5-on-4 and 5-on-3 Utah power plays, as well as a penalty shot in the second period.

The Ducks were outplayed in the first period, but it wasn’t by much. Utah’s Dean Wilson had the first shot on goal, followed thirty seconds later by Oregon’s Trevor Shott.

When Oregon picked up the first penalty of the game 7 minutes in, it only took 14 seconds for Utah to fire off two shots against Cockriel. As the power play ended, Cockriel also made a diving save before a Duck picked up the rebound to take it out of their zone. The entire Utah power play was spent in the Oregon zone, an indicator of what would come later in the game as penalties started rolling in.

Three minutes later, Utah scored its first goal while Oregon’s Michael Luke sat in the penalty box for a roughing infraction.

The second Utah goal happened with both teams at regular strength. The puck hit the post before popping in. Utah now had a 2-0 lead.

The second period was scoreless, but contained a penalty shot after an interference call was ruled against the Ducks after Cockriel made a huge against Utes’ Shaymus Bertagnolli on a breakaway. The Utes were unable to capitalize on the penalty shot; Cockriel knocked the puck away with his right leg.

The third period is where the Utes pulled ahead and eliminated the Ducks’ chance for a comeback. Their third goal happened during a 5-on-3 power play as two Ducks sat in the penalty box. It was a little more than 6 minutes into the period.

The fourth unanswered Utah goal in a row happened with 7:17 left in the game. Before the goal, the referee had his hand raised to call a delayed penalty on Luke, but before the whistle was blown and after the goal was scored a skirmish broke out in front of the Oregon net. The net was sent toppling sideways, jerseys were grabbed and Luke was ejected from the game. Leaving the Ducks down a defenseman and still needing someone to serve the penalty from before the fight.

After the ejection, Oregon had a little luck. Alex Sulitzer put Oregon on the board and denied Komma the shutout. Sulitzer blazed up the ice toward the Utah net and fired of a laser of a shot. The puck didn’t go behind Komma, but instead crossed the goal line because Komma had retreated backward too far into his crease while attempting to make the save.

The final goal of the game went to Utah’s Josh Dangel with 3:05 left on the clock. The game ended 5-1 with Utah as the Pac-8 Champions.

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In the second round of the Pac-8 tournament, No. 3 Oregon (13-10, 6-4 Pac-8) faced off against No. 2 USC (13-9-1, 10-5 Pac-8) for a spot in tomorrow’s Pac-8 finals. Even though USC had the higher seed, Oregon got the win and eliminated the Trojans, 4-1. While it was only USC’s first game of the tournament, it was Oregon’s second. The previous night, the Ducks eliminated Cal after a 6-1 victory.

Oregon’s Chris Campbell had the lone goal of the first period – a period in which both teams collected a large amount of penalty minutes. Three and a half minutes into the game, Ellis Gould committed a cross-checking penalty. Oregon’s Joe Hoover picked up an interference call later in the period, which was followed a few minutes later by matching roughing calls between Ducks captain Patrick Sgarlata and Trojans’Evan Greenberg.

Early in the second period, Alex Sulitzer upped Oregon’s score by one with help from Trevor Shott and Will Daniels. However, the goal was answered by USC’s David Begert and Oregon’s lead was back to just one. For Oregon, a large part of the period was played a man down. The Ducks had four penalties in the 2nd, two of them for too many men on the ice. USC only had one penalty, which was for high-sticking.

While the third period was where Oregon pulled ahead — both Campbell and Sulitzer scored another goal apiece — it was  the period that Ducks’ goaltender Danny Cockriel shined. Of the 11 penalties in the period, six belonged to Oregon, leaving Cockriel to face more shots than he typically sees. He even defended the onslaught during USC’s 5-on-3 power play.

The championship game between Oregon and No. 1 Utah (21-12-2, 7-1 Pac-8) will happen tomorrow at 12pm PST.

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Engulfed in a snowsuit and padded with his helmet and gloves, a three-year-old, purple-cheeked Danny Cockriel waddled onto ice for the first time at his local rink in Englewood, Colorado. Cockriel was a member of the Learn to Skate program and he, like the other members, fell. A lot.

Every time he hit the ice, he’d look up at his mom and she’d run to the glass shouting, “Danny! Danny! Do you want to sit out?” Every time, his response was to shake his head ‘no.’ Every time, he’d continue on.

“He wouldn’t leave the ice,” said his mother, Tracy. “It was so funny. He’d just love it.”

Even though Danny remembers the moment a little differently — “I absolutely hated it,” he said — he remembers begging to go back the next week.

Danny has come a long way since being in the Learn to Skate program. Now 22-years-old and a senior at the University of Oregon, he’ll be graduating at the end of the year with a degree in business administration. He’ll also end his tenure as Oregon hockey’s starting goaltender, a role he’s played since his freshman year. With the Ducks, he’s gone to the Pac-8 playoffs for four consecutive years, won two I-5 Cups and played on the Pac-8 All Star team. The team even had a run at the championship his sophomore year, before ultimately losing to Utah in the finals.

“Especially two years ago, I don’t think we would’ve gotten as far as we did without Danny,” said defenseman Terran Donnelly. “We needed a rock in net to really propel us to as far as we did.”

Although Danny’s time with Oregon hockey will be done at the end of this season, the lessons he’s learned and the memories he’s gained from playing with the Ducks will always remain. His favorite is one that he shares with his mom: beating Utah in a shootout in an arena packed with Utes fans. At the time, Utah was No. 1 and Oregon was No. 2 in the Pac-8.

“I basically stood on my head the entire game,” Danny said. “They outplayed us the whole time, but I snuck us the win somehow. All of their fans were going crazy after we beat them. They were throwing tampons at us on the ice. It was wild.”

“You would’ve thought he had just won the Stanley Cup,” Tracy said. “The whole thing was surreal. I think he felt the same. I was so excited. No one beats Utah, they are just a step above (everyone).”

Just as the memories will linger for years long after this one, the relationships he’s made are here to stay too.

“I love all the guys I’ve played with,” Danny said. “I’ve made a ton of friendships that will last for a lifetime, or for a while at least. Found some good connections, tons of memories, tons of stories. I love them all and I hope they continue to work hard. I see a bright future for the program.

“I’m blessed to have the opportunity to play hockey here,” he continued. “It’s been a ton of fun.”

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In its first dual meet of the season, the Oregon women’s tennis team traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada to play the UNLV Lady Rebels. The Ducks dominated the Lady Rebels with a 6-1 win at the Fertitta Tennis Complex, an improvement over their 4-1 loss to them last season.

Three doubles matches occurred at the meet. Freshman pair Alyssa Tobita/Nia Rose defeated UNLV’s Santa Shumilina/Anett Ferenczi-Bako 6-4 for the No. 1 doubles position. The win pushed Tobita/Rose’s double’s record to 13-4 this season.

The No. 2 doubles spot was the second doubles victory for the Ducks after Marlou Kluiving/Nicole Long pushed out Paola Artiga/Mercedes Lopez Valez, 7-5.

Oregon’s Lina Akesson/Kadie Hueffner dropped the third match 6-4 against Iren Kotseva/Alexis Garrett.

In singles, the Ducks dropped only their No. 6 spot out of their six matches of the day.

Akesson was the first to complete her match after a 6-3, 6-3 win over UNLV’s Bojana Petrovic. Afterward, Long finished up her No. 2 doubles match with a similar 6-2, 6-3 victory over Ferenczi-Bako. Both Kluiving and Tobita won their matches in three sets—Kluiving 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 and Tobita 6-0, 2-6, 6-3.

The No. 1 singles spot between Rose and Shumilina went into extra sets before Rose pulled ahead for the victory. It ended 7-6, 4-6, 1-0 (10-8).

Lopez Valez was the only Lady Rebel to win in singles. She beat out Oregon’s Allie Hueffner 6-4, 7-5.

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– A person familiar with the Philadelphia Eagles’ offseason plans says the team “is going to try” to move up in the NFL Draft to select Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, according to NJ.com. The Eagles have the No. 20 pick and Mariota is projected to go as high as No. 1.

– Oregon football will also be losing a few players to transfers. Stephen Amoako will be transferring to Illinois State, a process that’s nearly complete. Wide receiver Chance Allen will also be leaving the school to return home to take care of his mother. He’s reportedly in the process of trying to enroll at University of Houston. Defensive back Dominique Harrison is also said to be transferring, but not much more is known at the moment.

– Oregon baseball was ranked No. 15 in Perfect Game’s preseason top 25 list after the Ducks went 44-20 last year. The top three schools were Vanderbilt, Virginia and Texas Christian respectively. Only four Pac-12 schools appeared the list. UCLA was ranked No. 5 after their 25-30-1 record last year. Arizona State came in after Oregon at No. 20 and Stanford appeared at No. 22 to round out the list.

– After leading Oregon to a Rose Bowl Championship and a chance at the national title this year, a petition has appeared online to retire Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota’s number 8 jersey. During his time as a Duck, he was a part of Alamo Bowl and Fiesta Bowl wins. His Heisman Trophy win was the first in Oregon football history although other players have been nominated in the past. The petition has over 1,636 signatures, exceeding it’s 1,000 signature goal.

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In their first games of the winter quarter, Oregon club hockey took on the UCLA Bruins in what would prove to be two intensely physical games. Oregon came away with both wins (4-3, 5-3) and effectively broke their five-game losing streak from games prior to winter break.

Friday:

At the beginning of Friday night’s game both teams were playing fast, physical, clean hockey, but things quickly became chippy after a UCLA tripping penalty in the second half of the first period led to an Oregon power-play goal by Will Daniels. The goal was followed a minute later with another Oregon goal by Alex Sulitzer.

The second period started off with a Bruin in the box serving the final 23 seconds of a tripping penalty committed at the end of the first. UCLA used the period to take the lead by scoring three unanswered goals, their second one being shorthanded. There were also seven minor penalties committed in the second period, four by the Bruins and three by the Ducks, including a roughing call simultaneously given to both teams.

The third period had more of the same roughness, but Oregon was able to recover their initial lead after a goal from Nick Sciabarra in the first three minutes of the third to tie the game, and the game-winning goal from Trevor Shott a little under five minutes later. Shots on goal for the game were 29-28, Oregon.

The clashing between the two teams didn’t stop after whistle blew and the clock hit zero. In the handshake line a small scuffle broke out between the two teams and the Bruins were awarded a 10-minute game misconduct for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Saturday:

The bad blood between the two teams ran even deeper than before on Saturday. The Bruins took the first penalty of the game only 3:12 after the puck dropped. Daniels entered the Oregon box for roughing a few minutes after. The penalties only continued from there. While nearly all of them were roughing calls, the Bruins also picked up a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.

With no goals in the first period, the majority of the action happened in the second period. Shott picked up the first goal of the game with an assist from Patrick Sgarlata, and two minutes later a fight broke out. In accordance with ACHA rules, Cody Drees, Joe Hoover, and a UCLA Bruin all received DQs and were ejected for the fight, and Hoover picked up an additional match penalty for the Ducks.

Soon after the fight, Oregon nearly extended its lead to two after a shot by Chris Campbell, but the goal was disallowed due to a player in the crease. Then UCLA took advantage of the momentum they were garnering, scored a short handed goal, followed it up with a power-play goal and ended the period leading 2-1.

With four goals and only one Oregon penalty, the third period went in the Ducks’ favor. Despite a brief rally by UCLA to bring the score up to 4-3 and only be trailing by one, Patrick Taylor scored an empty-net goal with three seconds remaining on the clock after UCLA pulled their goalie. The game ended with 5-3 in favor of the Ducks with shots between the two teams being 50-39, Oregon.

Instead of a fight after the whistle, Saturday ended in a more pleasant way. After the game ended, ‘Skate with the Ducks’ began. Anyone in the attendance was given free skate rentals and could join the players on the ice for free skate.

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The first half of the Oregon club hockey season was tough, and the team’s 5-8 record shows it. With a schedule loaded with skilled teams, the Ducks came out of the gate facing some of their toughest opponents. However the Ducks are excited and optimistic heading into the second half of the season.

One reason for their optimism is that of their eight losses, six of them were by two or fewer points.

More importantly, two of those close games were played in Tempe, Arizona against the current Pac-8 champs, Arizona State. In the first game, Oregon held a lead going into the third period before ultimately losing 3-2. After ending that first night with a few injuries, the Ducks still held off ASU in their second game before eventually losing 2-0.

“The games that we lost, none of them were blowouts and we didn’t get killed,” said team coordinator Terran Donnelly. “They were all winnable games and it all came down to one or two mental errors… or that we only played as well as we should’ve for two periods.”

The Ducks will be playing their first two games of January at home against UCLA this weekend. As Oregon rarely plays the same teams as UCLA, the Bruins will be a gauge to see how the Ducks stack up against the southern Pac-8 teams. The last time the two played was in the playoffs last year.

“They’re pretty good,” captain Patrick Sgarlata said. “They’re solid. For the most part I think they can beat any team in the league if they come out and play their best game, at least from the past. Last year we played them and it was a pretty close game.”

Although the Bruins are not a team to write-off, Oregon still believes that they can go 8-0 this quarter. That record would include winning two notable away games against Washington for the last half of the I-5 Cup series and taking back the I-5 Cup. Oregon won the first half of the series 9-5 and 7-2, which is atypical for what are usually close games.

“I don’t (think we are guaranteed a win),” Sgarlata said. “It’s always different going to play them (UW) and play on their Olympic-sized ice. They have a home ice advantage there. And I don’t know if you can ever expect to beat a team like that.”

Sgarlata may be hesitant about those two games, but for the most part people are cautiously expecting a win. “Cautiously” because in the last six seasons, Oregon has only won the I-5 Cup twice.

“I, as well as other people in the broadcast and other people on the team, were let down with UW’s performance,” said Dylan Lee, executive producer of the Oregon hockey broadcast. “Directly after those games it was dissatisfying… I think for those two (away games) there’s going to be a chance that they (UW) make it an actual game, but I don’t see it really going that way.”

No matter how future games pan out, right now the Ducks are ready to get back out there.

“We’re more excited than worried (by our record).” Sgarlata said. “We’re excited to go out and play some hockey.”

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Last year, the Oregon women’s tennis team ended the season with a disappointing 7-15 record (1-9 in the Pac-12 Conference), but with a new coach and promising performances in the fall, this year the Ducks’ future looks brighter.

The coaching change is one of the biggest differences between this year and last. In May, Alison Silverio was named the team’s new head coach after Paul Reber stepped down from the position in April. Reber served as head coach for eight seasons and amassed an overall won-loss record of 77-101.

Silverio will be coming from Georgia Tech, her alma mater, where she served as an assistant coach for four years after winning a national championship and being the NCAA tournament MVP as a player there. The Yellow Jackets also made two NCAA Sweet 16 appearances (2012 and 2013) during her time as coach.

“Alison did an amazing job helping to build our women’s tennis program,” said Georgia Tech head coach Rodney Harmon in a press release. “She did great things as a player, helping to lead Georgia Tech to the NCAA title in 2007. As an assistant coach, she helped bring in top 10 recruiting classes and develop all the players on the team. She will build a very successful program at the University of Oregon.”

Silverio’s recruiting skills are already being shown this season as she’s recently landed two five-star recruits for the Ducks: one a three-time District 10 champion in both doubles and singles, and the other being ranked No. 13 in California and No. 62 nationally.

“I think this year is a lot different with the new coaches,” said sophomore Marlou Kluiving. “It’s really exciting. They give a lot of energy. It’s really intense. It was intense last year as well, but I think it’s more this year. The entire atmosphere was really positive and it creates a good atmosphere.”

Perhaps the higher intensity is paying off, because the team’s fall season was full of strong tournament play at the Riviera/ITA Women’s All-American Championships, WSU Invitational and Bulldog Classic. Although performance was generally good all-around — Oregon finished the Bulldog Classic 21-8 — freshmen Nia Rose and Alyssa Tobita emerged as two new players to watch. The two consistently dominated their matches and even went undefeated in the WSU Invitational, which won them the No. 1 Doubles Division of the tournament.

Regular season games will pick up January 16 with the Indiana Winter Invitational, a four-day tournament hosted at the IU Tennis Center in Bloomington, Indiana. Whether or not momentum from fall will directly translate into their upcoming games remains to be known, but fall did provide the girls with one important thing: confidence.

“I think that due to the tournaments we have more confidence,” said Kluiving. “I think that’s important because you need confidence in order to play good matches.”

Five days after the invitational, Oregon will head to Las Vegas, Nevada to play UNLV for their first individual meet of the season. The last time the two teams played was in late March, and Oregon’s Sofia Hager picked up the only point in what was a 4-1 loss that continued the Ducks’ road-game losing streak. UNLV will be one of the first tests for Oregon to see how they compare to last year.

After UNLV, the Ducks will return back to the Student Tennis Center for a six-game home stand that will go into mid-February before the team regularly switches between home and away until the Pac-12 Championships.

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