Jenna Peterson cuts through the Mountaineers Friday.
LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University women’s soccer team dropped a 2-0 match to the nation’s No. 1 team Friday, Concordia University.
The Cavaliers (9-0-1) (1-0) added a goal to their 1-0 halftime lead in the first minute of the second half to continue their scoreless season. Concordia has played 10 matched this season without allowing a goal, and Cavaliers’ goalkeeper Tori Talbutt has an 860 minute shutout streak. The Red Lion Cascade Collegiate Conference Defensive Player of the Week made a save Friday.
“I thought we came out and played very well,” Eastern defender Kami Hernandez said. “In a way it does not feel like a loss for us. That was the nation’s No. 1 team we just hung around with. I think a game like that gives us a great boost in our confidence, and I see us turning a new page in our season.”
Alex Blalock found the back of the net for the Cavaliers in the 42nd minute with an assist Tahlia O’Loughlin. Concordia returned to the field and quickly scored in the 46th minute when Kaitlyn Tebbs found Sami Andrews for the second goal.
Concordia had 10 shots on goal while Eastern put one on the net. The Cavaliers had 24 shots to the Mountaineers (0-4-1) (0-1) lone shot from Star Swan in the 20th minute. Alex Thomas, Kaylynn Winwood, Blalock, and Tebbs each had three shots in the contest for Concordia.
Chantal Schefers made seven saves for the Mountaineers. The junior has now made 16 saves in four appearances this season.
“They scored a great first goal. We were a few minutes away from getting to the break all even,” EOU head coach Keith Scarlett said. “We knew they were going to try and roll over us to start the second, but we worked with great energy and enthusiasm to limit their opportunities. I was very proud of the work we put in through the whole day. Concordia has not given up goal this year and with the scoreline still within reach, one goal was all we needed to change the whole outlook of the game.
“We forced them to make plays, and they responded. They are very athletic and organized. Within our team, we have been stressing that we want to be better today than we were yesterday. I think we took some steps forward today. We started seven newcomers today and we had to call on everyone to step-up all afternoon and I thought they really fought. We are looking forward to bringing the kind of effort and intensity we had today into tomorrow.”
Eastern Oregon hosts Warner Pacific College tomorrow in La Grande at 2 p.m. There will be live stats available on EOUSports.com. The Cavaliers will travel to The College of Idaho Saturday.