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PORTLAND, Ore. --- After a scoreless first half, Portland’s Amanda Frisbie delighted the crowd of 4,402 with the only goal of the game in the 65th minute as the fourth-ranked Pilots topped northwest rival Washington State 1-0 on a warm Friday evening at Merlo Field. Frisbie’s goal was her first of the season and the first game-winner of her career.
The win allows the Pilots to open the 2011 campaign with a 2-0-0 record, while the Cougars drop to 1-1-0.
The game was tale of two halves as neither team was able to find much of a rhythm during the match’s first 45 minutes. The second half was a different story as Portland applied constant pressure on the WSU side of the field until the final buzzer.
The goal came when Micaela Capelle was able to dispossess a Wazzu player near the half-way line. Capelle then took a couple of touches before slotting a perfect pass to a streaking Frisbie, who had a break-away opportunity. The sophomore forward avoided three chasing defenders, stayed composed and finished just inside the left post, giving the Pilots a 1-0 lead that would stand.
Portland had several good looks in the second half, with Capelle leading the attack with four shots. After attempting just one shot in the first half, UP finished with a 13-6 advantage in shots for the game. The Cougars had five corner kicks to Portland’s one.
Portland senior goalkeeper Hailee DeYoung made two saves to earn her first shutout on the year. Washington State’s Gurveen Clair countered with six saves, all in the second half.
The Pilots’ only shot in the first half came when Danielle Foxhoven rattled the crossbar with a strike in the fourth minute.
Portland next hits the road for a game against the San Diego State Aztecs on Sunday in San Diego, Calif. Kick-off is set for 12 p.m. at the SDSU Sports Deck.
