#8 Oregon Dominates #1 CSU in Season Opener 19-6

#8 Oregon Dominates #1 CSU in Season Opener 19-6

Eugene, OR – The preseason #1 Colorado State Rams were rudely introduced to the 2007 season on Friday night as the #8 Oregon Ducks jumped out to a 10-0 lead en route to an easy 19-6 victory. The game was played at the University of Oregon on a cold and rainy night as everything that could go wrong did go wrong for the visiting Rams. When all was said and done, the Ducks blew out the Rams 19-6, CSU’s worst defeat in nearly a decade. It was also Oregon’s first win over CSU in two previous attempts.

Oregon’s onslaught began early as Colorado State misfired on a clearing attempt and gave Duck attackman Clay Knope his easiest goal of the night just 1:34 in. Things did not get much better for the Rams as Oregon scored 5 more in the first quarter alone, controlling the ball all the while and never letting CSU get on track. Knope scored all three of his goals in the first quarter as miscue after miscue by the Rams kept the ball on Oregon’s side of the field.

Oregon face-off midfielder Scott Miller was credited for 17/24 wins, but it certainly seemed like more as he controlled the tempo of the game from the face-off ‘x.’ Miller’s dominance never gave the Rams a chance to get anything going on the offensive end of the field. Combined with a dangerous ride, the Rams found themselves without an answer and unable to come back once the score began to escalate in the Ducks’ favor.

With the score 11-1 at the half, Colorado State found a small bright spot in the third quarter as they outscored Oregon 3-2, but the Rams found themselves raking the ball out of their net six more times in the fourth quarter before the game mercifully ended.

Oregon was led by Knope and Bret Retallick with 5 points a piece. Attackman Julian Coffman scored four goals as well. Colorado State’s Brian Stone (Air Academy HS; Colorado Springs, CO), Stephen Lundberg (Cherry Creek HS; Denver, CO) and Pat Bird (Bishop O’Dowd HS; Oakland, CA) had two points each to pace the Rams.

Sophomore goaltender Lance Simmons (Thunder Ridge HS; Highlands Ranch, CO) struggled in his first major collegiate start, but CSU’s defensive problems were much deeper than the goaltender position. Junior Kurt Bisnette (Hinsdale Central HS; Hinsdale, IL) and freshman Alex Jacques (Bainbridge Island HS; Bainbridge, WA) saw time in the goal as well.

Colorado State (0-1) will have a day off on Saturday before taking on longtime rival Sonoma State on Sunday. The #4 Seawolves battle Oregon on Saturday afternoon in the second game of a three-part weekend.