PORTLAND, Ore.- Goals have been coming in bunches for the University of Portland women’s soccer team as of late. Portland blanked San Francisco, 8-0 at Merlo Field as freshman midfielder Rebecca Meierbachtol scored the game-winner in her first career start, and Lindsey Huie continued her torrid scoring pace with two goals and two assists. Five other Pilots tallied strikes as Portland (14-2-0, 3-0 WCC) extends their win streak to 10 with the victory, while San Francisco (5-10-0, 1-2 WCC) falls to 0-17 all-time against the Pilots.
“That was awesome, that was exactly what we needed,” said Pilot head coach Garrett Smith. “We got the goals and it was just a great all-around performance.”
Portland once again controlled the match from beginning to end, with the back line not giving up any good scoring opportunities for the Dons. The Pilot offense took a while to get going, not threatening until Angie Woznuk’s shot bounced off the crossbar for a near goal in the 25th minute.
From that point on, the Pilots dominated, out-shooting San Francisco 25-4 for the game and putting 15 shots on goal. The scoring came from a variety of sources as has been the case in the last four matches. Portland has out-scored their opposition 23-0 in those contests with 11 players recording goals.
On Sunday, Meierbachtol got things started with a 36th minute strike off a pass from Kristen Rogers. Jennifer Tuttle and Wanda Rozwadowska put goals in before the break, giving Portland a 3-0 lead.
“I just turned around and hit it,” said Meierbachtol of her second goal of the season. “I didn’t know it would go in, but I looked up and it did. It’s a bummer that Kari (Evans) couldn’t play, but I was excited for the opportunity to start and kind of nervous at the same time. It’s been my dream to start for UP and to make a difference is really exciting.”
Imani Dorsey tallied her fifth goal of the season as she found the net on a header off a Huie free kick in the 50th minute. Of Dorsey’s five goals this season, four have been assisted by Huie. With 13 assists this season, Huie moved into a tie for fourth on Portland’s all-time season assists list, three behind Shannon MacMillan’s record of 16 in 1995. Her 20 career assists have her two shy of cracking the career top 10 list.
After distributing to others, the sophomore got in on the action with an 83rd minute strike that she hooked to the left post after just missing her two previous attempts from almost the exact same spot a minute earlier. Huie then energized the 2,522 faithful in attendance with one of the more impressive goals of the season to close the scoring at 88:58. She took on two defenders down the left sideline for what seemed like an eternity, maintaining possession despite heavy pressure. Huie managed to split the defenders and rifled home a shot to the top right for her team-leading eighth goal of the season.
Kristen Moore and Jennifer Bosa accounted for the other two goals, Moore’s unassisted and Bosa’s a well placed rocket to the lower right past substitute keeper Elizabeth Everett. Moore and Bosa also each registered assists in the match.
Freshmen keepers Cori Alexander and Ruth Gilliam combined for Portland’s 13th shutout of the season, tops in the WCC. Alexander went over 71 minutes without having to make a save, while Gilliam stopped the only shot she faced to preserve the shutout.
Portland now prepares for WCC road matches with three ranked opponents. The Pilots will face No. 6 Pepperdine and No. 20 Loyola Marymount next weekend, then take on Santa Clara in a rematch of last season’s NCAA Championship game on Nov. 2.
“We’re off to a great start in conference and obviously we’re on a good run right now,” noted Smith. “But the road from here gets a little more difficult. We have to be up for every game. You know Pepperdine and LMU aren’t afraid of us, so we have a tough weekend ahead.”
