EUGENE, Ore. — Santa Clara took an early lead and kept up the pressure as the 2020 NCAA women’s soccer champions beat Oregon, 4-1, on Thursday at Papé Field.
The Broncos got on the board in the third minute and scored twice more in the first half to lead 3-0 at the break. Lexi Romero’s first career goal as a Duck got the UO women back within two, but Santa Clara matched it later in the half to get back in front by three.
The injury depleted Ducks (1-2-3) dropped their second straight and play their next two matches on the road, beginning Sunday at Hofstra.
How It Happened: With eight players unavailable Thursday due to injury, the UO coaching staff opted for a defensive posture to open the game. Head coach Graeme Abel was second-guessing that approach after Santa Clara took the lead with a goal at the 2:38 mark of the match.
“We tried to sit a little lower on them, trying to save our legs a little bit, just numbers-wise,” Abel said. “Looking back now we should have pressed them right away and then see what we get out of the first half, and then hang on. We take that fully as a coaching staff. We gotta do a better job with that piece.”
The Broncos made it 2-0 in the 16th minute, and made it 3-0 in the 35th minute as they finished the first half with four shots on goal. Oregon didn’t have any to that point.
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