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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (June 6, 2013)
‘We’re in the midst of a wildlife recovery success story.’ against ODFW’s le- thal control of wolves due to confl icts with livestock. As a result, the state lost the abil- JOSH LAUGHLIN, ity to kill wolves in relation to livestock deaths until the matter was resolved. At the time, legislation regarding wolf control was vague. Josh Laughlin, cam- paign director for Cascadia Wildlands, says that in 2011 before the injunction, the state could resort to lethal control when a cattle owner experienced two livestock losses over an undefi ned amount of time. “Now with this new agreement, there are clear thresholds that must be met prior to lethal control,” Laughlin says. “And under this new plan, lethal control should be really rare and a last resort.” According to ODFW’s website, the new plan says that lethal control of wolves can only be used when four incidents of wolf- related livestock death occur over a con- secutive six-month period. Also, livestock producers must show that they are actively using forms of non-lethal mitiga- tion to discour- age the wolves, including remov- C A S CA D I A W I L D L A N D S ing carcasses and bone piles from their fi elds, putting up electric fencing and being present during times in which cattle are particularly vulnerable, like birthing. One wolf, OR.7, also known as Journey has ventured into western Oregon but not yet formed a pack. While this is only an agreement and the plan still needs to pass legislation, Laugh- lin says the new rules “have broad support across the political spectrum,” includ- ing Gov. John Kitzhaber’s offi ce. Having specifi c rules in place will help to smooth confl ict when wolves eventually disperse from their current habitat in northeastern Oregon. “We’re in the midst of a wildlife recov- ery success story, and with this new agree- ment in place, the story’s just gotten bet- ter,” Laughlin says. — Amy Schneider GAIA MASTROVINCENZO SCORING HER GOAL MASTROVINCENZO SHINES FOR VICTORIOUS AZUL The Eugene Metro Football Club (EMFC) Azul took on and defeated the Bend Timbers by a score of 4-1 in front of 700 patrons packed in bleachers above the South Eugene High School soccer field. In this season-opening game, fans and head coach Jürgen Ruckaberle got their first peek of Gaia Mastrovincenzo, a touted forward and midfielder from the prestigious Serie A’s Riviera di Romagna in Italy, who stood out in leading her new team to victory. Bend’s Kristen Parr benefited from an Azul turnover and a vulnerable, spread out defense to score in the 10th minute, a goal Ruckaberle attributes to “a combination of errors.” Azul didn’t make many errors after that gaffe. Taylor Housley scored on an assist from Taylor Boyer in the 31st minute to notch a 1-1 tie, and following halftime EMFC proved itself defensively with increased intensity, constant control of possession deep in Bend territory and three thumped strikes into the net for the final tally, including Mastrovincenzo’s tie- breaker in the 63rd minute. The Italian star had a hand in creating other goals, as well, and Ruckaberle was impressed. He says he thinks she has all of the tools, and he was encouraged by her aggressiveness on defense, her crisp, on-target passing and her ability to use both feet. She’s a lefty but scored her goal with her right foot. “It was a beautiful goal,” he says. “She is going to improve through the season. She is not used to the pace of the game because on turf, the game is faster than on grass, but the way I see it over two practices now and one game, she already has a running start. You can play her the ball in any way, and she knows what to do with it.” Mastrovincenzo isn’t the only one getting acclimated or turning heads. Players coming over from the UO’s women’s soccer team played well with similarly limited practice time, so Ruckaberle was right in describing this game as an “experiment” — an ultimately successful one, at that. Azul will get a chance to continue to haunt the Timbers, as they travel to Bend for their next game and stay on the road for two games each in Portland and Seattle. “If we get some results in those games,” Ruckaberle says, “we can really regroup and have four home games at the end. If we do that, we’ll have a chance to go to the next round, which is our goal.” — Nick Poust CONNECT WITH EUGENE WEEKLY facebook.com/eugeneweekly • twitter.com/eugeneweekly PHOTO NO R T HW E S T S PO R T S PIC S eugeneweekly.com • June 6, 2013 9
