Soccer team nets title with first shot By JIM VITTT Of th« Emerald Winning the season-ending, league championship-deciding game by default wasn’t exactly what the Oregon women’s soccer team had in mind. But they’ll take it. The soccer team, in its first season as an intercollegiate sport, is this year’s Northwest Collegiate Soccer Confer ence champion The Ducks finished with a 10-1-3 league record as a result of Washington State University forfeit ing Saturday’s game. Cougar officials felt driving condi tions were too hazardous as a result of last week’s snowstorm, and phoned Oregon to call off the contest. "The team was really disappointed,’’ said Oregon coach John Feeney. “They were really pumped for the game, and then they didn't get to play. "But we would have beat them any way.” Earlier this season, the Ducks defeated the Cougars 5-2 in Pullman. On Sunday, Oregon lost an exhibition match, 1-0, against Team Adidas, a high school all-star club from the Seat tle-Tacoma area. The team is a national junior title contender. The astroturf field was icy before the sun came out in the second half, but that didn’t seem to bother the players much, says Feeney. ‘This was the best soccer ever to be played at Autzen Stadium,” he said. "Both teams are very talented and both played exceptionally well.” The winning goal for Team Adidas came in the first half off their only shot of the half. Right wing Colleen Clancy scored three minutes into the contest with an assist from left halfback Cindy Gordon. At that point in the game, Oregon had outshot the all-stars 7-1. But, as Feeney said, “It’s hard to make up a goal against a team that good," and the Ducks found them selves shut out for the first time this season. When the dust had settled, Oregon had been outshot 12-10 by the visitors. Since the game was an exhibition match, it didn’t affect the Ducks’ overall season record of 14-1-3. But despite the loss, Feeney still had something to smile about. “About seven of the seniors (on Team Adidas) have indicated that they may be interested in playing for Oregon,” he said. "One of the problems we’ve had this year was our lack of height,” Feeney said, “but some of these women can provide the height we need. They have a couple of six-footers.” The tallest Duck, Patti Scarci, is 5-9. Additionally, said Feeney, new comers from Team Adidas should be easy to coach. "Some of these women have been playing soccer together for nine years,” he said. "Most of our women have only been playing a few years.” That, said Feeney, will be an aid to coaching. “They’re skilled enough that we will be able to concentrate on other things, at a more advanced level of soccer. “The Seattle-Tacoma area might be the strongest area for women’s soccer in the nation," Feeney said. ‘‘(Team Adidas coach) Dan Swain has a lot to do with that. He’s been there over ten years and has a lot to do with promoting soccer in that area.” And all that, Feeney believes, should help the Ducks at nationals next year. Next year? “This year’s nationals were already held without us,” Feeney said. (Cort land State of New York defeated UCLA 5-1 for the title.) "The Northwest schedule is a little different from the rest of the country. Everyone else fin ished in early November, so we missed out.” Feeney said he thinks the local schedules will be adjusted by next year, but the Ducks will still get to go to nationals as the NCSC representative. Those games will be held in November in North Carolina. But before next fall, the Ducks will Emerald photo Michele Potestio led Oregon's league champ soccer team in scoring with 22 goals. compete in several tournaments as part of their spring schedule. In February, Oregon and three other teams will compete in a tournament at Humboldt State College in Areata, Calif. In April, the Ducks have two tour naments scheduled. Six teams will square off at Stanford University (Palo Alto, Calif.) and 10 teams will seek the Westmont Tournament title in the lar gest tournament on the West Coast, held in Santa Barbara, Calif. Feeney said the Ducks are also trying to schedule some games with Port land-area schools. “They’ll be good for us because we haven’t played anyone except North west teams. This will give us a better look at how we can compete national ly.” Feeney feels Oregon would fare pretty well on the national level. “Some of our players are of interna tional caliber,” he said. The athletes apparently agree. “A lot of people are going to notice us this spring,” says goalie Pat Wasp. "You're going to be hearing about women’s soccer at Oregon a lot.” ' Presented by GREENPEACE WHALES and DOLPHINS EMU Ballroom Monday Dec. 8 7:30 pm $1.00 a slide show by international whale photographer Bob Pittman Come & Find Us Sale. 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