Salem-News.com
September 8, 2007
No. 1 Pilots Hold Off Cal State Fullerton
Rachael Rapinoe finished with a game-high nine shots for the match.
Salem-News.com
SEATTLE - Portland freshman Elli Reed scored her first collegiate goal and sophomore Michelle Enyeart recorded another assist as the top-ranked Pilots defeated the Cal State Fullerton Titans 2-1 at the Nike Husky Invitational on Friday.
The assist gives Enyeart a team-high five this season, as the Pilots improve to 3-0.
UP senior forward Rachael Rapinoe also scored, giving her a team-high four strikes this season.
Rachel’s sister Megan Rapinoe made her 2007 debut, playing about 15 minutes off the bench. Megan tore her ACL 11 games into the 2006 season.
“It was not a clean game by any standard and we definitely made it harder on ourselves, especially in the first half,” said head coach Garrett Smith. “I thought at halftime we got everyone on the same page and we played much better defensively in the second half.”
The Pilots struck early in the game to take a 1-nil advantage.
Enyeart fed Rachael Rapinoe with a nifty pass right in front of the goal mouth. Rachael was then able to slide the shot just past UW keeper Shayla Sabin in the third minute.
Fullerton (0-2-1) wasted little time to respond. Off a cross from the right wing, Gibbens sent the equalizer into the back of the net to make it a 1-1 game in the sixth minute.
The match remained tied until the 36th minute when Reed cracked what proved to be the game-winner.
Reed, in just her third collegiate contest, blasted a shot by the keeper from 15 yards out. The goal went unassisted.
“It was good to get Elli on the board with her first career goal,” Smith said. “It was a quality finish and hopefully the first of many.”
Portland goalkeeper Kelsey Davis made five saves on the night to nail down the victory. The Pilots outshot the Titans 20-10.
The Pilots also held an 8-6 advantage in shots on goal and a 6-2 edge in corner kicks.
Rachael Rapinoe finished with a game-high nine shots for the match.
Portland next plays Purdue on Sunday, the final day of the Nike Husky Invitational.
The Pilots and Boilermakers are slated to start at 11:00 a.m. at Husky Soccer Stadium