Sept. 5, 2008
Box Score
Photo Gallery
SEATTLE, Wash. - The No. 9 Portland Pilots used a 3-0 first half lead to defeat the Owls 8-0 in the first match of the Husky/Nike Invitational on Friday afternoon at the Husky Soccer Field.
Portland (3-1-0) got on the board first with a goal from All-American Michelle Enyeart off a long kick from Danielle Foxhoven which found the bottom right corner in the fifth minute of play.
Less than two minutes later Foxhoven scored her second goal of the season with a shot from the top of the box into the lower right corner, putting the Pilots up 2-0 and pushing the Owls into a hole.
"We could have played better in the first half," said head coach Rob King. "We were a little naïve in our defense at times, but in many cases in was just a mismatch."
Soon after the Pilots second goal the Owls (3-1-1) got their first shot of the game from Kristin Kranick. Her blast was blocked, but it was followed by a Lauren Ruffini attempt that sailed high.
Portland's offense struck once again, this time coming from the right foot of Charney Burke. Her first goal of the season came from 15 yards out on the right side and finished the first half scoring.
Kennesaw State had another chance in the first half to score when Caroline Austin sailed a corner kick to the right side that landed between two Owls, but Portland's aggressive defense quickly knocked batted it away.
Beginning the second half, Austin, who played a solid match, made a huge block right in front of the left side of the KSU goal, however the Portland offense was too much as Janelle Jacka gave the Pilots a 4-0 lead with a shot to the bottom right corner of the goal in the 49th minute.
Up 6-0 after a pair of Portland goals from Enyeart and Foxhoven, the Owls missed on a chance to get on the board after a free-kick from Austin landed next to Rachel Baer, but was stolen away by Portland's Kristen Kelly.
The KSU defense answered several attempts by the Pilots in final minutes of the match as Pugh blocked a shot from Enyeart that was quickly kicked out by Beth Meadors.
Pugh came up big again with two diving saves, one off a header from Foxhoven and the second from Chandhoke 15 yards out. Pugh ended the game with
Portland's 7th goal came from Chandhoke on a penalty kick that sailed past Pugh to the left side after a KSU foul in the 73rd minute and finished the scoring when Keelin Winters scored off a shot from inside the box from an Elli Reed cross in the 79th minute.
"We're have a young squad and we are still learning and playing Portland helped us figure out what we need to work on," said Austin.
Pugh ended the match with seven saves, six in the second half, while Portland out-shot the Owls 25-2.
"Portland is one of the best teams in the country," said King. "And if we can learn from this game then it is a worth while experience."
Kennesaw State resumes play in the Husky/Nike Invitational on Sunday, September 7th when they take on host University of Washington at 12:30 p.m. local time.
