Golden goal; Soccer gets first home-conference win

Junior+defender+Mariah+Powers+passes+the+ball+up-field+against+Oregon%2C+Sunday%2C+Oct.+19%2C+2014.+Powers+scored+the+Cougs+only+goal+in+double+overtime+to+help+defeat+the+Ducks+1-0.

Junior defender Mariah Powers passes the ball up-field against Oregon, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014. Powers scored the Cougs only goal in double overtime to help defeat the Ducks 1-0.

From staff reports

On a warm October afternoon, the Cougars continued to struggle finishing chances, but finally found a way to land a game-winning goal in double overtime.

Washington State women’s soccer (8-2-3, 3-2-1) came into Sunday’s contest looking for its first home win of the Pac-12 season, and did just that against the Oregon Ducks, picking up at 1-0 win.

The Ducks (6-3-2, 2-3-1) found themselves with an early scoring opportunity when an Oregon corner kick bounced behind WSU’s redshirt senior goalkeeper Gurveen Clair. The ball was just inches from crossing the goal line when it spun back and was cleared by a Cougar defender.

Washington State saw their best chance of the first half slip away when junior Kourtney Guetlein booted a ball high over the crossbar. Guetlein was alone in the box after a pass from junior Cara Wegner.

The Cougars first shot did not come until 20 minutes into the game. From there it was a dog fight until the end, which featured two of the faster, more athletic teams in the Pac-12.

Oregon had their best chance at scoring in the 71st minute when junior Brooke Strawn dribbled the ball laterally across the box and shot the ball off the corner of the crossbar.

After a scoreless first period of overtime, the Cougs were still looking for the goal that would get them three points and qualify them for post season play.

At the start of the double overtime period, Head Coach Steve Nugent moved junior Mariah Powers in an attacking position and sent senior Nicole Setterlund back into a defensive position.

“Mariah (Powers) just gives us a total different dimension,” Nugent said. “Her pace and her quickness is top level Pac-12 quality. When we put her up there, because (Setterlund) was on thin ice with the referee, that forced Mariah higher up the field. I know throughout the game Oregon did not face quickness like that, in the front.”

Powers answered the call. The former Oregon Duck found a way to put the ball in the back of the net past Oregon’s sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Holden. Powers deflected the ball low and to the opposite side of the diving Holden. The Lower Soccer Field erupted and the Cougar bench spilled out on to the field to pile on top of Powers.

“I saw that Beau (Bremer) had the ball on the outside,” Powers said. “I saw the opportunity, and saw the slot, so I ran as hard as I could into the box. Beau shot the ball, it hit off me and an Oregon defender, then it went in. There are not words to explain that feeling, especially against the team I used to play for. It was emotional.”

The win on Sunday was the Cougars’ first home win since Aug. 31 when they beat Montana 2-0.

“We have outshot numerous opponents. We have had double digit corners, and created great chances,” Nugent said, when asked if Powers’ goal would open up the flood gates for scoring the rest of the season. “Anytime you can score a goal against a good team like Oregon it builds confidence.”

The Cougars travel to Boulder on Friday to take on Colorado in their last conference road match of the season.

Reporting by Ian Korzeniecki