Saturday, August 26
College Station, Texas
6:00 PM
University of Oregon
at
Texas A&M
Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com
First Road Trip Takes Ducks To Texas A&M
08/24/17 | Women's Soccer
After splitting two games on the opening weekend, Oregon plays Saturday at Texas A&M (6 p.m. PT, SEC Network).
Oregon soccer makes its first road trip of the season this week, to play No. 16 Texas A&M on Saturday (6 p.m. PT, SEC Network Plus).
The Ducks (1-1) have already played one ranked foe in their 2017 opener, North Carolina State, which is ranked 25th this week. Oregon dropped that game before bouncing back and earning its first win against Kansas State, 2-0, just two days later.
"Texas A&M is a beast," UO coach Kat Mertz said. "It's their home opener and they usually draw about 7,000 fans. They make it a real intimate atmosphere, so if we take away that environment and really play, I think we are going to be all right. I think playing N.C. State is just what we needed for our season."
With the season having just begun, Oregon is focused on overall improvement as a team, according to junior forward Marissa Everett.
"We still have a lot of things to fix and work out over the next week," said Everett. "It will be a great game Saturday so we are excited."
Among the challenges the Ducks faced in their opener was being about 70 percent healthy, Mertz said. With that said, Oregon has 31 players suiting up, allowing many newcomers to showcase their talent for the coaching staff and creating good competition within the team.
"For us, (the opening) weekend was about seeing different players in new positions. Emily Kaestner came in and did a really good job for us," said Mertz. "It was nice to get film on multiple players and figure out what's going to be our best 11."
Canadian international Hannah Taylor also caught the eye of Mertz, in her debut for the Ducks against Kansas State.
"Hannah Taylor makes it look easy," Mertz said. "That's really the first time we've seen her play in a game so I was happy to see that. She just got back from the Canada Under-20 national team so obviously she's in form."
The presence of newcomers like Kaestner, and Taylor – along with midfielder Chardonnay Curran and defender Mia Palmer, both two-game starters already – was particularly welcome given the fact Oregon's leading scorer in 2016, Kyra Fawcett, did not play against Kansas State.
The Ducks will play just once this weekend, but their road trip continues in Idaho against Oklahoma on Sept. 1 and Cal Poly Mustangs on Sept. 3, in a tournament hosted by Boise State.
The Ducks (1-1) have already played one ranked foe in their 2017 opener, North Carolina State, which is ranked 25th this week. Oregon dropped that game before bouncing back and earning its first win against Kansas State, 2-0, just two days later.
"Texas A&M is a beast," UO coach Kat Mertz said. "It's their home opener and they usually draw about 7,000 fans. They make it a real intimate atmosphere, so if we take away that environment and really play, I think we are going to be all right. I think playing N.C. State is just what we needed for our season."
With the season having just begun, Oregon is focused on overall improvement as a team, according to junior forward Marissa Everett.
"We still have a lot of things to fix and work out over the next week," said Everett. "It will be a great game Saturday so we are excited."
Among the challenges the Ducks faced in their opener was being about 70 percent healthy, Mertz said. With that said, Oregon has 31 players suiting up, allowing many newcomers to showcase their talent for the coaching staff and creating good competition within the team.
"For us, (the opening) weekend was about seeing different players in new positions. Emily Kaestner came in and did a really good job for us," said Mertz. "It was nice to get film on multiple players and figure out what's going to be our best 11."
Canadian international Hannah Taylor also caught the eye of Mertz, in her debut for the Ducks against Kansas State.
"Hannah Taylor makes it look easy," Mertz said. "That's really the first time we've seen her play in a game so I was happy to see that. She just got back from the Canada Under-20 national team so obviously she's in form."
The presence of newcomers like Kaestner, and Taylor – along with midfielder Chardonnay Curran and defender Mia Palmer, both two-game starters already – was particularly welcome given the fact Oregon's leading scorer in 2016, Kyra Fawcett, did not play against Kansas State.
The Ducks will play just once this weekend, but their road trip continues in Idaho against Oklahoma on Sept. 1 and Cal Poly Mustangs on Sept. 3, in a tournament hosted by Boise State.
Players Mentioned
MF
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's SoccerCarly Cormack | Postgame vs. Washington
Sunday, October 26
Lauren Kenny | Postgame vs. Washington
Sunday, October 26
Tracy Joyner | Postgame vs. Washington
Sunday, October 26
Tracy Joyner: "I'm so grateful to be here."
Friday, October 24
