Al Case, Ashland Daily Photo.
Valencia, Totushek tally as SOU keeps Owls quiet in opener
SOU Sports Information
ASHLAND – Many of the names were new but the formula was a familiar one for the Southern Oregon women's soccer team in its season-opening 2-0 defeat of Oregon Tech on Thursday night at Raider Stadium.
Nine players made their Raider debuts in the non-conference win, though two veterans, juniors
Makena Totushek and
Yvonne Valencia, punched in the game's only scores.
In the 18th minute, Totushek's corner kick resulted in a loose-ball that Valencia gathered near the top of the box and fired just under the post for the go-ahead goal. And in the 57th, Totushek lined a 20-yard free kick from the left side just over the outstretched arms of keeper Jenna Stiehr and inside the right post.
SOU's usual brand of ball control and defensive physicality kept the lead secure. To earn the shutout in her debut at goalkeeper,
Hannah Ceciliani needed to make four saves, each of the routine variety.
Since the start of last season, SOU has blanked 13 of its last 17 NAIA opponents. The Owls have scored just once against the Raiders in the teams' last four meetings.
SOU totaled five shots on goal and 11 total. Totushek picked up where she left off last season, when she was the team's second-leading goal scorer. Valencia's goal was the fourth of her career.
Taylee Miyamura put two shots on goal for OIT, which allowed only Valencia's shot on goal in the first half.
The Raiders won't play another home game for 46 days. They'll play five more nonleague games, including three against NCAA Division II opponents, starting with a matchup at Stanislaus State (Calif.) on Aug. 31.