A young Pilot squad had a rough go in their home opener against OSU Friday night. After coming off a rocky season, the Pilots fell 2-1 in double overtime.
“These guys work way too hard,” Coach Garrett Smith said. “They commit their summers to being here. They come together as a team to be together, to be fit, and to let a result like that slip by…they want to win games and it’s unfortunate.”
The Pilots carried the momentum for the majority of the game, outshooting the Beavers 15-4. The two starting freshman, Sarah Jones and Hanna Armendariz added urgency to the team by putting up shots early in the first half.
Jones took the Pilot’s first shot of the season off a set piece in the sixth minute of the game. Although the shot went high, it set the tone for Portland’s dominant first half.
Armendariz followed with a shortly after with an attempt of her own.
The Beavers were the first on the board as Allison Pantuso scores off an assist from Emma Jones in minute 52.
With less than a minute left in regulation and Portland trailing Oregon State 1-0, the game looked over. As the clock ticked down, senior Haylee DeGrood capitalized off of a Portland corner. DeGrood’s header soared past the goalie with 38 seconds left, tying the game at one.
This is DeGrood’s first career goal.
The momentum stayed with the Pilots heading into the first overtime. Fans sat in anticipation through the first ten-minute overtime and the majority of the second.
With 21 seconds left, Oregon State’s Pantuso knocked in her second shot of the night and ended the game.
Girls exited the field wiping tears from their face. Smith was disappointed with the result and says this game is ‘one that got away’ and too many opportunities were left on the field.
The Pilots take on Marquette in Milwaukee, Wisc. Friday night at 5:30 p.m. (Pacific).
