[PORTLAND-OREGON STATE] For the first time in 15 meetings at Merlo Field and only second time ever, Oregon State beat Portland. Brandi Dawson scored on a header off a corner kick in the 25th minute to give the Beavers a 1-0 win over the No. 11 Pilots Monday night and a measure of revenge for their loss to UP in last year's NCAA Tournament.

“Playing Portland is always a big game for us," OSU coach Linus Rhode said. "We were knocked out by them in the playoffs last year and we had never beaten them here. It’s always been a huge challenge, so to do it is a big moment for the program.”

The victory improved OSU to 2-0-0 on the season, while the loss dropped the Pilots, who had upset North Carolina, 1-0, on Friday. to an even 1-1-0.
 
While Dawson’s goal gave Oregon State the lead they needed, keeper Audrey Bernier-Larose came up big with five saves, including clutch stops in the both the 39th and 40th minutes as the Beavers headed into the locker room with the lead.
 
The Beavers put on a strong defensive effort in the second half, allowing only one shot in Bernie-Larose’s direction.

"We knew that when they’re here at home, they attack and then they use the full width," Rhode added, "so we knew that set plays were going to important. We also knew that as the game progressed they were going to push for a goal so we needed to make sure that we had good balance between the defense and the attack.”
 
Oregon State is now 2-23-1 all-time against Portland and 1-14-0 at Merlo Field.

Aug. 20 in Portland, Ore.
Portland 0 Oregon State 1. Goal: Dawson (Miller) 25.
Portland -- Dees, Johnson, McCluskie, DeGrood, Bridges, Kurle, Cruz, Parker, LaProvette, Capelle, Frisbie. Sub: Jeter.
Oregon State -- Bernier-Larose, Kovac, Gibb, Niewoehner, Drobney, L.Meiggs, Oljar, Miller, Lovell, Kennedy, Dawson. Subs: Uchacz, Bieck, Freid, N.Meiggs, Shaw.
Att.: 2,407.
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