Beavers Wrap Up Successful Spring Slate
May 03, 2016 | Women's Soccer
The Oregon State women's soccer team got exactly what it wanted out of its spring season: confidence and momentum.
The six-game exhibition slate began with three games against competition from the National Women's Soccer League, and wrapped up with a win over Oregon, as the Beavers competed hard against some stiff competition.
“The spring was very productive for us,” said head coach Linus Rhode. “We started out in the Portland Thorns' Tournament, which was an awesome experience. That was an event that our players will never forget, and I was proud of the way we competed.”
Oregon State played three games over the course of the week-long tournament, taking on the Seattle Reign, Portland Thorns and Houston Dash at Providence Park. The team showed consistent improvement as the tournament progressed, and picked up some confidence along the way.
“Knowing we can compete on a high level is crucial,” said senior-to-be Helene Haavik after the event, ”because in the Pac-12 we have so many teams that are very good.”
For more on the Portland Thorns Tournament, click here.
The Beavers followed up their three games against pro competition up with a road game at Gonzaga, heading up to Spokane just a week after playing those three matches in Portland. Oregon State came away victorious from the hard-fought match, earning a 1-0 result on a goal from midfielder Kayla Latham.
“The game against Gonzaga was a test of character for us,” Rhode said. “Dealing with long travel and coming off a tournament like the one we played in Portland, it was impressive to see the way our team was able to rise up. They did a really good job to get a positive result up there.”
Oregon State wrapped up its spring campaign with back-to-back home games, beginning with a 1-1 draw against Trinity Western. Emma Jones found the net for the Beavers in that game.
“Trinity Western posed a different challenge for us, because they came in looking to sit back defensively and strike on the counter,” Rhode said. “We generated a lot of chances in that game, which was good to see, because we had to work to break them down, and had been focusing our training on offense.”
OSU wrapped up their spring with dramatic 3-2 win over Oregon, coming from behind twice to notch a Civil War win. Jones netted the game winner, tucking a shot into the corner off a pass from midfielder Sabrina Santarossa.
“That was a very good game of soccer, and our team played very well,” Rhode said. “The biggest thing for me was the way we were able to come back from behind, that showed a lot of grit.”
The Beavers played every player on the roster over the course of the spring schedule, and gained some valuable experience along the way.
“Our players feel confident not only in their own abilities, but as a team as well,” Rhode said. “They have already faced the toughest opponents they will see this year, and I think the team grew a lot from these experiences.”
Oregon State now looks forward to the fall campaign. For the first time in the last few seasons the Beavers bring a large group of upperclassmen into the upcoming campaign.
“We have a good balance of players with a lot of experience,” Rhode said. “Our juniors especially have gotten a lot of experience since their freshman year, and they've grown along the way. We will meet in August to discuss the goals of our team, and I think we will have a very good squad next year.”
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