North Texas Daily

The Mean Green soccer team tied Oregon State University on Friday night 0-0 in the first match of their two-game road swing. In a defensive-driven game, North Texas (4-0-1) got up just nine shots with only three being on goal.

This is the second time this season the Mean Green had five or fewer shots on goal. Senior midfielder Marchelle Davis played every minute of the contest and explained what led to this scoreless match.

“This game our core objective was to play more defensive, and I think we did very well,” Davis said. “But we struggled [offensively] because [Oregon State] dropped so far back.”

Between the starting back four, sophomore keeper Brooke Bradley, and players like freshman defenders Madeline Guderian and Brittnye Loewen coming off the bench, this team often relies on their depth to win games.

“Coach Hedlund always preaches defense first and that’s what’s made us successful,” assistant coach Daniel Dobson said. “Brooke stepped up in goal, and the back four along with the defensive mids and the team altogether is really stepping up and playing good defense.”

Sophomore defender Carissa Sanders is another player that never came off the field while the clock was running. As a pivotal piece of what has been a stout defense, she felt at home with her fellow defenders around her throughout the game.

“The back line is communicating better and we’re learning to defend as one,” Sanders said. “I think that we’re getting better chemistry-wise.”

The teams turned up the intensity and physicality in the final 10 minutes of the game where North Texas received three yellow cards and a red. Senior forward Rachel Holden was the player dispatched with a red card after receiving two yellow cards over the duration of the game.

Neither the Beavers or the Mean Green wanted to settle for a draw.  For North Texas, however, the mission on defense was accomplished thoroughly.

“We got the shutout, so defensively we were solid,” Dobson said.

Next up: North Texas caps their Oregon road trip against the University of Oregon at 3 p.m. on Sunday.