PRESCOTT, Ariz. – In the third game of her collegiate career, Ashlyn Fuss put on a show unmatched by any Southern Oregon goalkeeper since 2002 to pull out a result against the No. 3-ranked team in the NAIA.
Fuss amassed 18 saves, the third highest single-game total ever for a Raider, as SOU survived a 0-0 draw with Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) and a barrage of strikes on Thursday night at Varsity Field.
Thanks to the redshirt-freshman's efforts, the scoreboard was laughably incongruous with the stat sheet: The Eagles mounted a 43-8 advantage in total shots, forcing Fuss to make 12 stops in the first half and six more in the second. ERAU keeper Maile Kahele needed three saves to preserve her shutout.
Of the seven positive results the Raiders (1-0-2 overall) have gotten against nationally-ranked opponents this decade, two have come this week. On Monday, they equalized late in a 1-1 tie at No. 23 Westcliff (Calif.). They're unbeaten in 14 of their last 15 regular-season games dating back to last fall.
The Eagles (2-0-1), who advanced to last year's NAIA semifinal round, had not been blanked in 17 regular-season games going back to last year.
They were similarly victimized by SOU in 2023, when they had a 9-2 edge in shots on goal and lost 1-0.
Fuss, a product of Boise, Idaho, was three saves short of matching the school record Emily Schifferling established in 2001. She has now made 23 saves and allowed one goal on the season.
Brycelin Endrikat, Ava Johnson and Macie Yannoni had SOU's on-target attempts. Jamie Brandon came up empty on eight for ERAU.
The Raiders play their fourth straight road game at 6 p.m. Saturday against Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.). They're home for the first time Sept. 11 to play Simpson (Calif.) in their final non-conference outing.