LA GRANDE, Ore. — Eastern Oregon University's (RV) Women's Soccer used an early goal and a strong defensive effort to earn a 1-0 victory over Warner Pacific University on Sunday at Community Stadium to continue their hot start to the conference season.
Eastern Oregon controlled much of the opening half, putting 11 shots toward the Warner Pacific goal while limiting the Knights to just two. The Mountaineers nearly broke through in the 13th minute when
Cassidy Harding forced a save from Warner Pacific goalkeeper Evelyn Montiel, and
Samantha Jones struck the crossbar less than four minutes later. The pressure finally paid off in the 19th minute as
Calie Hitt set up Jones, who found the back of the net for her first goal of the season and gave EOU a 1-0 lead. The Knights had a chance to respond late in the opening period, but Eastern Oregon goalkeeper
Elysa Morse turned aside Kasia Lopez's attempt in the 22nd minute. Payton Jacaway and
Samantha Gjersvold each nearly doubled Eastern's lead, but Knights goalkeeper Evelyn Montiel kept the Mounties out of the net to keep WPU within striking distance. EOU carried its 1-0 advantage into halftime.
Eastern Oregon continued to generate opportunities after the break. Jones hit the post in the 57th minute, while Montiel made additional saves on
Ava Henkemeyer,
Kardyn Martinez, Gjersvold and
Ava Nelson as the Mountaineers continued to apply pressure. Warner Pacific pushed forward in the closing minutes, creating its best sustained pressure of the half. Katya Tercek forced a save from Morse in the 89th minute, followed by two corners kicks. Warner Pacific's Lopez then put another shot on frame, but Morse made the save to preserve the shutout.
Morse finished the afternoon with three saves for her clean sheet, while EOU finished with an 22-7 advantage in shots and a 6-2 edge in corner kicks. The Mountaineers put eight shots on target compared with three for Warner Pacific. Jones led Eastern Oregon with four shots and scored the game's only goal. Harding, Jacaway and Gjersvold added three shots apiece, while Hitt recorded the assist on the deciding goal.
The Mountaineers improved to 6-1-1 overall and 2-0-0 in Cascade Collegiate Conference play with the victory, giving Eastern Oregon their second consecutive conference shutout win to open CCC play. The Mountaineers will return to action Friday, Sept. 25, when they travel to Salem to face Corban University at 4:30 p.m. PT.
