Arizona falls to Oregon in OT, setting up crucial match at ASU next Friday

Bayley Bruner scored in the 95th minute to lift the Oregon Ducks to a 1-0 overtime win against the Arizona Wildcats on Sunday in Eugene.

Oregon (8-9-1, 2-8) snapped UA’s three-game winning streak, setting up a critical regular-season finale at Arizona State next Friday.

The Wildcats (11-5-2, 4-4-2) may need a win — or at least a draw — against the Sun Devils to host the first round of the NCAA Tournament. (The top 32 teams host and Arizona was 24th in RPI before the loss to Oregon, which will knock them back a few spots.)

Meanwhile, ASU, a bubble team, won their fourth straight Sunday and would likely clinch a postseason berth with a win over the Wildcats.

Bruner’s goal — a rocket from well inside the 18 — ended a defensive struggle, as scoring chances were at a premium throughout the day.

HIGHLIGHT | Bayley Bruner sends a rocket into the net to defeat Arizona in overtime! #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/Az4SBF0V7O

— Oregon Ducks Soccer (@OregonSoccer) October 28, 2018

Arizona outshot Oregon 12-10, but hardly challenged UO keeper Halla Hinriksdottir, who tied a career-high with seven saves, all of which required minimum effort.

Oregon’s Zoe Hasenauer had a game-high five shots and nearly scored twice in the first half. In the 14th minute, she sent an arching shot on frame, but it was punched over the ball by UA keeper Lainey Burdett. Two minutes later a close, angled shot by Hasenauer went just wide of the far post.

Arizona’s 12 shots were their fewest against a non-California Pac-12 school this season. It was also the first time Arizona has been shut out by a non-California Pac-12 school this year.

Brynn Moga and Jada Talley, who missed Thursday’s win at Oregon State with a concussion, both had three shots and two on goal, but none were threatening.

Arizona’s most dangerous chance transpired in the third minute when a shot by Oregon native Hannah Clifford was barely off the mark.

The Wildcats generated six corner kicks to Oregon’s two, but to no avail.

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