CHENEY, Wash. — Eastern Washington used a fast start and a strong defensive effort to earn a 2-1 win over Oregon State on Friday afternoon at EWU Soccer Field. The Eagles generated 25 shots, placing six on goal, with
Allison Bennett and
Maya Bossenbrook providing the scoring. This was Bennett's first goal of her collegiate career and Bossenbrooks first of the season for the Eagles. Bossenbrook led Eastern with five shots and two on goal, while
Addison Stendera added four shots.
Reese Kincaid and
Mira Scarsella each recorded an assist. In goal,
Payton Hyde played all 90 minutes and made five saves.
"We've been challenged in that category the last couple games," head coach
Missy Strasburg said of Eastern's 25 shots. "The shots that we have created in the last couple games have been really, really quality chances. Credit to our women, we knew the place where we felt we could expose Oregon State."
Eastern broke through in the ninth minute. Stendera had an initial attempt blocked, but Bennett capitalized on the opportunity, burying a left-footed finish into the bottom-left corner to put the Eagles ahead 1-0.
P. Hyde kept Oregon State off the board with a save in the 11th minute before Eastern quickly doubled its advantage. In the 16th minute, Bossenbrook finished a well-worked attacking sequence with her right foot into the bottom-left corner. Scarsella and Kincaid picked up assists on the goal.
"We've trained it for several weeks, just really reinventing our mindset in the box," Strasburg said. "The service has been there, the wide play has been there, we just haven't been as aggressive in the box as we needed to be."
Oregon State responded with increased pressure and cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 29th minute.
The Eagles kept the pressure on to begin the second half. Bossenbrook forced a save in the 48th minute, while
Noelle Raczykowski and Kincaid followed with opportunities of their own. Oregon State tested Hyde in the 60th minute, but the she did not let up.
The Eagles also generated four corner kicks between the 70th and 79th minutes while keeping Oregon State under pressure.
The Beavers made a late push, but Hyde delivered another key save in the 80th minute. Eastern's defense held firm from there, including defending an Oregon State corner in the 86th, to close out the 2-1 victory.
"I think today, the weather, the condition, the field is quite wet, obviously the opponent is quite aggressive, it felt like a Big Sky game," Strasburg said. "I think that's going to pay dividends for us as we get into Big Sky play."
Up Next
The Eagles will open Big Sky play against Idaho State on Thursday, Oct. 1 at home at 3:30 p.m.
ABOUT EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Eastern Washington University Athletics sponsors 14 intercollegiate sports, six for men and eight for women, both as learning opportunities for its most athletically talented students and as an enhancement to student and community life. Eastern is affiliated with Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and is a member of the Big Sky Conference, an association of 10 regional schools with comparable enrollments and academic goals.
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