Washington at Colorado
To open up the second week of Pac-12 play, the Washington Huskies travelled to Boulder, Colorado to face the Buffaloes. After each earning a draw over the weekend, both teams entered the game with a 0-0-1 record in conference play so far.
Colorado took an early lead, scoring inside the first 10 minutes for a second consecutive game, with senior Hannah Sharts
scoring a header in the 7th minute after Shanade Hopcroft sent in a long corner. This was her only shot on target throughout the game, but her second goal of the season. UW quickly responded in the 19th minute, when redshirt senior Ameera Hussen fed the ball to Vanessa Millsaps at the top of the box, who struck the ball over Colorado goalkeeper Dani Hansen’s reach. The tie didn't last for long as CU took the lead back just over 10 minutes later, after a Huskies handball in the box allowed Shanade Hopcroft to net the ball from the penalty spot. It looked as though Washington might tie it again in the 88th minute when a strike from Olivia Van der Jagt hit the back of the net but was called offside moments later.
Washington had 10 total shots throughout the match, with CU having 14. "We held on," Hopcroft said. "It was a little bit scary, but we were strong back there and we made it."
The Huskies head to Salt Lake City to face Utah on Sunday, with an 11am kick-off, while the Buffaloes host Washington State at 12pm, with both games being available to watch on the Pac-12 Networks.
Oregon at California
Oregon came into the game with the week’s top Defensive Player in senior Chai Cortez and the Goalkeeper of the Week in sophomore Leah Freeman, and unbeaten on the season, after a draw against UCLA last weekend. California also entered the game having drawn their previous game. After going winless in their first 11 trips to Cal, the Oregon Ducks have now won two straight on the road against the Golden Bears.
Oregon took the lead in the 27th minute off a corner kick; Chai Cortez sent the ball in towards the near post, with fifth-year forward Eden Hardy getting her head on it and a deflection attempt by Cal defender Karlie Lema sent it into the back of the net. The Ducks added a second goal off a corner kick soon into the second half. Cortez played a short corner to junior Caitlin Shaw who sent a cross towards the far post of the Cal goal, with freshman defender Anna Phillips heading the ball into the back of the net. "The only opportunities I get to score is off set pieces, so I try and make the most of it," Phillips said. Cal fought back in the second half, with 7 shots in the 45 minutes, but were unable to test Leah Freeman, who recorded her sixth shutout this season.
The Bears return to action against the Oregon State Beavers on Sunday with a 1pm kick-off, which will be broadcast on Cal’s live stream channel. Meanwhile, the Ducks take on Stanford at the same time, with that game being broadcast on the Pac-12 Network.
Oregon State at Stanford
For their first road win against Stanford in program history, the Oregon State Beavers took a 2-1 win against the Cardinal on Thursday at Cagan Stadium, despite Stanford outshooting the Beavers 24-5.
Just before the half, Beavers frshman Aaliyah Bluett intercepted a pass near midfield and sprinted to a one-on-one chance against Stanford goalkeeper Katie
Meyer, putting it past her and putting the Beavers up 1-0. That was Bluett’s first collegiate goal. Stanford had a great opportunity in the 60th minute through freshman Andrea Kitahata, but the shot was saved by Beaver goalkeeper Bridgette Skiba. The score remained until the 74th minute, in which junior forward Sophie Conrad scored off Laura Galceran’s corner kick, taking the OSU lead up to 2-0. A minute later, Stanford captain Sierra Enge took a shot from over 20 yards out that skipped straight past Skiba and into the back of the net, drawing the Cardinal back within one. In the final 12 minutes of place, Stanford managed four more shots on target, but Oregon State’s defense held strong and the Cardinal could not find an equaliser.
This means that after losing 16 straight games to the Cardinal headed into last season, the Beavers have now won two of the last three, with this being their first win at Stanford.
The Beavers remain in California this weekend as they travel north to Berkeley to play the Golden Bears on October 3 at 1pm. Stanford close their six-match home stand on Sunday against the Oregon Ducks, also at 1pm.
USC at Arizona State
Despite taking the lead in the first half, Arizona State ultimately fell 2-1 to the Trojans, following 44th and 61st-minute goals from USC. This was No. 21 USC’s seventh straight victory.
The Sun Devils scored in the 31st-minute through All-Pac-12 striker Nicole Douglas, who scored her team-high 12th goal of the season, following passes from Alexia Delgado and Cori Sullivan to set her up for the finish in the penalty area. The Trojans fired back just before the break when junior Hannah White found freshman forward Simone Jackson in the box for the tying goal. The teams stayed even until the 61st minute when freshman Simi Awujo found Offensive Player of the Week Croix Bethune, who fired a shot on goal from near the top of the area that was saved by a diving Birta Gudlaugs. Savannah DeMelo was right on top of the rebound, hitting home the game-winning goal with one touch. The USC defence settled in the second half, allowing ASU to make just three shots on goal as the Trojans were able to hold on to the lead for the remainder of the game.
The Sun Devils square off with the UCLA Bruins at 3pm on Sunday in Tempe, while the Trojans head to Tucson to face Arizona at 1pm. Both games will be available to view on the Pac-12 Networks.
Washington State at Utah
With 20 shots throughout the game, Washington State laid the pressure on thick against the Utah Utes to come away with a 1-0 win on the road. Utah had seven shots against the Cougars, with several high quality looks coming in the second half. Utes sophomore goalkeeper Chelsea Peterson picked up seven saves in the game, taking her up to 44 on the season.
Both teams had multiple shots on goal throughout the game, but it was the Cougars’ 77th-minute rocket that secured the shutout. Drawing the attention of the back line, sophomore forward Margie Detrizio slotted the ball through to an unmarked Grayson Lynch who took one touch and fired the laser into the back of the net from the top of the box. The goal was Lynch’s sixth of the season and this was the fight straight road shutout for the Cougars - although the first Pac-12 road win since March 27, 2021 against Colorado. Freshman goalkeeper Nadia Cooper has not conceded a goal in her six appearances and 405 minutes. The Utes had a shot in the 89th minute that almost tied the game as they took a corner kick; freshman defender Maryn Granger headed the ball just wide of the goal.
The Utes return to action on Sunday against Washington at home with a 12pm kick off, with the Cougs facing Colorado in Boulder at 11am. Both games are shown on the Pac-12 Networks.
UCLA at Arizona
The Wildcats and Bruins were neck and neck for a majority of the match, both offensively and defensively. No 3 UCLA scored from two set pieces to topple Arizona 2-1.
Junior forward Mia Fishel headed in the ball off a Marley Canales corner kick to give UCLA an early lead in the 20th minute for her team-leading eighth goal of the season. The Bruins took the one-goal advantage into halftime, but it didn’t last long, as Arizona equalised in the 52nd minute through redshirt senior Jill Aguilera’s left-footed shot from the top of the box. It was only the second allowed goal by UCLA this season and ended Lauren Brzykcy’s shutout streak at 849 scoreless minutes. While the shutout streak ended, the Bruins 16-unbeaten streak remained. On their 11th corner kick of the night, Marley Canales sent a ball into the box, with freshman Lexi Wright heading it onward to Maricarmen Reyes, who hit it top shelf for her third goal of the season.
Hope Hinsey picked up 11 saves during the match, for her third double-digit save game. She now sits with 62 saves on the season, leading the Pac-12 for the third week in a row.
UCLA will face Arizona State in Tempe on October 3rd with the game being televised on Pac-12 Los Angeles at 3pm. The Wildcats return home to face USC at 1pm MST.