The Evergreen women’s soccer team was on a high going into their weekend match-up against the Southern Oregon Raiders. They were on a two match win streak, which saw them pick up their first league win since 2008 against the Warner Pacific Knights by a score of 2-1. Junior #10 Deirdre Dornay, who scored twice, gave the Geoducks the win.
Things got better for the women two days later when they played #3-ranked Concordia Cavaliers. In the 17 minutes of the match, #8 Brianna Speed was able to pick out #10 Dornay, who was able to apply the finishing touch and claim her third goal in two matches.
After taking the lead, Evergreen sat back and defended against a bombardment of shots from the Cavaliers. When the match ended, the Cavaliers had a massive advantage in total shots, out-shooting the Geoducks 20-3.
Things were going well for the Geoducks when Southern Oregon came to visit.
The Geoducks' high spirits were short-lived on this cloudy afternoon.
The Raiders wasted no time in proving that they were the better team from start to finish. In the opening 14 minutes, the Raiders were unable to take advantage of some defensive mishaps, but their consistent pressure paid off a minute later. Racing down the left side of the pitch, # 28 Danielle Stave crossed the ball and found #3 Kennedy Roteman who headed past the Geoduck goalkeeper #1 Lauren Davidson.
Two minutes later, the Raiders added another when #15 Stephanie Carr was able to get past the Geoduck backline and fired past the diving Davidson to double the Raiders' lead.
Evergreen was able to pull one back with three seconds left in the first when #13 Katie Mendoza picked out #20 Sophie Krauza, who turned and shot over the out position the Raiders goalkeeper. Decreasing the lead to one goal was a major moral boost for the Geoducks going into the break.
However, at the restart, Evergreen found itself once again down by two goals after five minutes, courtesy of #17 Denise Powell. The Raiders did not stop there. Ten minutes later, during another Raiders move forward, a cross was fed into the box and Evergreen’s #23 Haley Lightfoot cleared it, but in the back of her own net.
The scoreboard stayed at 4-1 for the remaining 30 minutes of the match. Evergreen had a chance to get a point, but those hopes were quickly dashed when they conceded early in the second half.
After being outclassed by the Raiders that weekend, the Geoducks faced Oregon Tech in their final match of the 2011 season.
Before the match started, there was a short announcement to thank #17 Anastasia Daniels and #8 Brianna Speed, two seniors on Evergreen.
On Halloween, things got off a scary start when Evergreen's goalkeeper, #1 Lauren Davidson, was unable to gather up the ball and left the net wide open for the Owls to take advantage. Luckily for her and for Evergreen, the Owls wasted a perfect chance to grab the lead when #4 Rachel Torron cleared the ball away from Evergreen's goal. After this chilling start, Evergreen settled down and then started to dominate the match.
Evergreen offered up chance after chance, but they just could not find the back of the net. The inability to score did not phaze the Geoducks, who retained possession with ease.
With Evergreen controlling the match going forward, they also showed their strength on the defensive side of the pitch. With each attempt the Owls made going foreward, the Geoducks sniffed them out and then ever-so-quickly attacked the Owls' goal.
After almost suffering an embarrassing episode in goal, #1 Davidson produce a sensational save, diving to her right and pushing the ball away for the onrushing Owls players, who looked to score from the rebound.
With the offense creating opportunities and defense keeping the Owls at bay, it looked like it was going to be an easy affair if Evergreen scored goals. Unfortunately, Evergreen held the score less in the first half and it was hard to believe that they were not in the lead.
When play resumed, it took Evergreen three minutes to take the lead. # 8 Speed benefited from an Owls defensive miscue and was able to score, putting Evergreen into the lead.
Evergreen experienced smooth sailing until the 60th minute, when out of nowhere Brooke Cole, finding herself near the corner flag, was able to shoot towards the goal, and somehow the ball drifted into the back of the net-- much to the amazement of Evergreen's players and fans.
Unphazed, Evergreen did not let this fluke goal get them down.
Fourteen minutes later, Evergreen was back on top. #8 Speed curled in a free kick from the right, which found its way to #9 Shani Ramento, who headed the ball into the net.
A few minutes later, Ramento almost grabbed her second goal of the match, with a free kick from 25 yards out, destined for the back of net, missed, bouncing of the cross the bar.
After reclaiming the lead, Evergreen was put under immence pressure by the Owls. However, Evergreen showed its grit and kept the Owls from getting the equalizer.
The match was over in the 87th minute, when #16 Erin Hardy picked out #17 Daniels, who coolly slotted past the helpless goalkeeper to pick up her seventh goal of the season.
The match ended with score 3-1. Evergreen finished the season by winning three out of their last four matches, which put them in a three way tie of sixth places.