No. 1 UCLA Scores Late Goal To Top Oregon State

Bruins net late goal to win first conference game of season

Oct. 12, 2007

From Oregon State Athletics

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (www.osubeavers.com)- The Oregon State women's soccer team held No. 1 UCLA scoreless for 81 minutes; however, a late Bruins goal allowed the top-ranked team in the nation to escape with a 1-0 victory over the Beavers in the conference opener for both schools on Friday.

With the loss, Oregon State falls to 7-4-1 on the year, 0-1-0 in conference play, while UCLA improves to 8-1-2, 1-0-0 in conference play, on the season with the win.

"We played well, stuck with our game plan and took the top-ranked team in the country down to the very end," head coach Steve Fennah said. "Overall, we did a good job. UCLA is an outstanding team and very deserving of its ranking. The team is very disappointed that we did not come away with a win and I think that shows the type of mentality the team has right now. They wanted to come away with a good result."

Making her first start in goal on the season and only the second appearance of her career, Caitlin Seeley made six saves in net as the Oregon State defense held the top-ranked Bruins to their second-lowest goal total of the year.

The sophomore made several stops before UCLA finally broke through for the only goal of the match in the 82nd minute. On a pass from Caitlin Mac Kechnie, Christina DiMartino found the far post for her fourth goal of the season as the Bruins grabbed the lead.

The Beavers were unable to respond; however, as UCLA managed to hold on for the one-goal victory.

Oregon State's best opportunity to score came in the 57th minute as Jodie Taylor put a shot on goal that was saved just off the line by Bruins keeper Valerie Henderson as the game remained scoreless.

A solid defensive effort held the Bruins to 17 shots as UCLA held a 6-0 edge in corner kicks.

Oregon State will return to action on Sunday, Oct. 14, as the Beavers will continue Pac-10 Conference action against No. 6 USC at 1:00 p.m.