Oregon Daily Emerald
TUesday, November 8, 2005
7 think we can compete with anyone in the
nation at home. We’re a little shaky on the road
sometimes, but Portland State coming in here,
Oregon State — any of them — we will win. ”
Oregon volleyball player Kelly Russell on this week’s matches.
■ In my opinion
LUKE ANDREWS
EXCESSIVE CELEBRATION
Emotional
win proves
Ducks have
character
I thought I had seen it all at Autzen Stadium.
That was until Saturday, when I witnessed a
67-year-old man gleefully storm the field after
the final pass of the game had sailed over the
head of its intended target and the Ducks had
sealed a 27-20 overtime win against California.
With his arms raised, this man began to leap
uncontrollably. Grinning ear to ear as he ran into
the arms of a 6-foot-3, 290-pound lineman who
hoisted him in the air — it appeared he’d just
won the lottery.
Of course, this man, Phil Knight — the 46th
richest man in the world — isn’t really in need
of money these days. What he and other Duck
fans desperately wanted Saturday afternoon
was a victory against No. 23 California.
It was a game that marked the fork in the road
for the Ducks as many questions were to be
answered in the 60-plus minutes of football
played on a windy and soggy day in Eugene.
How would the two new quarterbacks grasp
the system in their first big game? How would
the offense react to new quarterbacks? Can the
defense continue to make big plays to help an
offense that sometimes gets sidetracked?
The emotions of Knight following the game
told the entire story.
It wasn’t pretty. In fact, at times it was down
right ugly. But the Ducks never folded, and the
desire, determination and overall character of
this football team became quite evident.
Not too many teams can lose a three-year
starter at quarterback and still knock off a ranked
opponent as the Ducks did Saturday.
The national media and countless others
across the country doubted Oregon’s chances,
and there were a handful of opportunities for the
Ducks to pack it in against the Bears.
With just over a minute to go, Cal had a first
and 10 at Oregon’s 33-yard line with the game
tied at 20. But on their next two plays, the Bears
lost 11 yards and were out of field-goal range.
Beyond the obvious talent level and caliber of
players Oregon has, this team also possesses the
most important ingredient of all: heart.
As senior running back Terrence Whitehead
put it: “We kept fighting.”
Is this a team of destiny?
It may appear that way. If you take a trip back
in time, to the year 2001, you will recall that Joey
Harrington and company routinely came out on
top with improbable victories. It seemed as if luck
was always with the green and yellow.
I can sense the reemerging theme.
Dixon, Leaf and Oregon’s offense may not
have the fire power that the 2001 team did,
but they certainly possess the confidence to
consistently win the close games.
Oregon’s remaining schedule pits it against
two teams, Washington State and Oregon State,
with a combined conference record of 3-9.
They are two games the Ducks should win.
1 just hope, for the sake of Phil Knight’s
health, Oregon doesn’t need overtime to get the
job done.
landrews@djailyemerald. com
■ Duck soccer
Season ends with loss to Stanford
The Ducks said goodbye to seven
players, but will return a strong,
young nucleus for next season
BY SCOTT J. ADAMS
SPORTS REPORTER
The 2005 soccer season came to a close
Sunday for the Oregon women who fell 2-0 to
Stanford in front of an audience of 387 at Pape
Field. The loss may have spoiled the Ducks
chance of becoming the first team in school
history to end with a winning record, but they
did manage the program’s second .500 season
(9-9-1 overall, 1-8-0 conference).
The scene on Oregon’s sideline following
the game was typical of any season-ending
game. The players who usually speak in
post-game interviews with restrained words
and stone faces struggled to hold back tears.
It was as big of an outpouring of emotion as
one could ever see out first-year head coach
Tara Erickson’s squad, which bid farewell to
seven players.
“We played hard and finished on a posi
tive note for the seniors and had a .500
record,” Erickson said. “Not knowing what
to expect going into this season with a new
coaching staff and a lot of new players, we
have to look at this as a positive.”
The Cardinal broke the stalemate in the
30th minute when freshman midfielder
Kelley Birch came off the bench to score her
second goal in as many games, marking the
eventual game-winner. Senior forward
Martha West was credited with the assist,
but also added a goal of her own in the sec
ond half. West fired an unassisted shot from
15 yards out past Oregon goalkeeper Jessie
Chatfield in the 70th minute. It was one of
Stanford’s 16 shots taken in the game, which
was 10 more than the Ducks could muster.
Senior midfielder Andrea Valadez of Oregon
thought she and her teammates played hard
despite the loss.
“I think we left it all out on the field,”
Valadez said. “We battled as hard as we could,
but didn’t get the result we wanted.”
Despite only sue shots to its credit, the Oregon
offense was not without its fair share of scoring
opportunities. Senior forward Nicole Garbin cre
ated two scoring chances on her own resulting
in two shots lacing wide past Cardinal net-min
Nicole Garbin (17) works her way down the field Sunday against Stanford. Garbin finished the season as the
Ducks’ leading scorer with 10 goals.
der Erica Holland. Early in the first half, Garbin
fed fellow senior Caitlin Gamble with a cross for
a one-touch shot. The ball almost traded paint
with the near goalpost before heading out of
bounds. Then in the 63rd minute, Garbin sent a
cross to Tiffany Smith whose ensuing header
went wide of the goal. The near misses were a
relief for Holland who ended with two saves to
preserve Stanford’s 10th win of the season. At
10-6-3 (4-3-2 conference), the Cardinal
finished fourth in the Pacific-10 Conference.
Although being a senior, Garbin was not
honored before the game with her fellow
classmates. Garbin will petition the NCAA in
SOCCER, page 10
Kristen Bitter (12) goes against UCLA blocker Katie Carter for one of her six kills
on Friday. Bitter, Oregon’s 6-foot4 middle blocker, had six solo blocks and three
assisted blocks against USC.
■ Duck volleyball
Ducks nearly upset
the Bruins before
succumbing in five
Game one ends when a UCLA hit bounces off
Erin Little's head to score the winning point
BY JEFFREY DRANSFELDT
SPORTS REPORTER
Three points separated the
Oregon volleyball team from an
elusive win, its first victory against
a top-25 team in almost 10 years.
One night after scaring No. 16
USC, Oregon (11-13 overall, 1-12
Pacific-10 Conference) fell short in
five games to No. 21 UCLA (13-8,
6-6) Friday night in front of 859
fans at McArthur Court. Today
Oregon hosts Portland State at 7
p.m. In-state rival Oregon State
visits Thursday.
Against UCLA, Oregon started
strong, taking the initiative instead
of starting from behind. Playing
with a slightly injured ankle, Mira
Djuric powered nine kills and an
ace past UCLA’s block in game
one. Oregon trailed, but remained
within three, 26-23, and tied the
game at 26. Four times Oregon had
chances to finish and finally did at
35-33 when a UCLA hit collided
with Erin Little’s head, bounced
back across the net and fell in.
“I have never seen anything like
that in my entire life — that was
the greatest way to win a game,”
setter Heather Madison said.
Winning teams have breaks go
VOLLEYBALL, page 12