Exhibition Games
August 14, 2014
Arkansas 2-1 Creighton
Arkansas kicked off the launch of the brand new SEC Network with its exhibition game against Creighton. Lindsey Mayo started the scoring for the Razorbacks, and Creighton equalized when Emily Roll’s cross found Kirstyn Corder wide open in the box. Tyler Allen provided the SportsCenter Top Ten game-winning goal, number six on the countdown, sending her 40-yard free kick into the goal.
August 15, 2014
Missouri 2-1 North Carolina
Although it was only a preseason exhibition match, it’s still impressive when an unranked team records a win over North Carolina, much less in Chapel Hill. Goals scored by Mizzou’s Rachel Hignett and Taylor Grant, and UNC’s Alex Kimball. North Carolina opens the season on Friday at home against Stanford, and Missouri opens against Syracuse at the Penn State Invitational.
UCLA 3-1 Texas A&M
One of the high-profile preseason friendlies saw defending national champions UCLA host Texas A&M last week and the Bruins continued the form they left off from last season with a strong result. In a game that consisted of three 30-minute periods, UCLA’s goals came from Megan Oyster and Kodi Lavrusky in the second period, and after a Shea Groom goal for the Aggies in the third period. UCLA senior Sam Mewis buried home a penalty kick to secure the victory for the hosts.
August 16, 2014
Portland 1-3 Kentucky
In a exhibition match between these two squads expecting a successful 2014 campaign, the Wildcats took the win with goals from Zoe Swift, freshman Kelly Novak, and an own goal by Portland. Madeline Dieker scored the lone Pilots’ goal. Senior Arin Gilliland notched an assist for the Wildcats and would have had a goal of her own if it had not been marked as an own goal.
St. John’s 1-2 Rider University
One of the more surprising results of the preseason was the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference representative Rider University traveling up to St. John’s and walking out with a 2-1 victory. St. John’s, an honorable mention in OGM’s college preseason rankings, fell behind early in the first half with the goal coming from Michelle Iacono and the visiting Broncs went up 2-0 on an own goal in the second half. St. John’s scored a late consolation goal in the 87th minute from Jen Gibbons, but it wasn’t enough to get a result.
Injury Report
Oklahoma State GK Michela Ongaro will miss the entire 2014 season with a knee injury. Last season, Ongaro started and played in 14 games for the Cowgirls, including their first round NCAA tournament game. The freshman was named to the all Big 12 newcomer team of the year at the end of the 2013 season. Oklahoma State has three other keepers on the roster, including senior Rosa Medina, who featured in nine matches last season and started the team’s preseason exhibition game at SMU.
News
Two players from the University of New Mexico women’s soccer team quit the team and withdrew from the university earlier this week after an incident that ended with the hospitalization of two players. In an Associated Press report, Paul Krebs, the University of New Mexico’s Athletic Director, said hazing occurred and involved alcohol. In response, the university has cancelled the team’s season opener and players will be required to attend a hazing-education class and complete community service. The investigation is still ongoing.
Games of Note
Today marks the opening day of the college season. Several big games are schedule for today, including Stanford visiting North Carolina at home. The game will be aired live on ESPN3 at 7p ET. Other matchups from OGM‘s Preseason Top 25 to note include
- No. 22 Illinois vs. No. 10 Notre Dame
- No. 3 Florida State vs. No. 16 Portland
- No. 11 Santa Clara vs. California
- Penn State vs. No. 12 West Virginia
Rachael Caldwell, JJ Duke, Ruth Moore, and Brandi Ortega all contributed to this report.