Goals from Tawny App in the 38th and Kaitlin Jabonek in the 79th gave Eugene the win Friday evening, though the Shine threatened to score on a few occasions. Maggie Schrader nearly equalized with a header off the post in the 70th minute and Julissa Rodriguez (Kennewick, Wash.) had a breakaway opportunity with five minutes remaining.
The result from Friday helped the club perform better the following evening in Bend, Ore. “It’s people trusting each other a lot more and communicating better,” said Head Coach Jason Quintero in a team release.
Saturday’s match was quite an affair as the two clubs exchanged goals. Alyshia Madison (Cheney, Wash.) scored a pair of go-ahead goals for the Shine in the 21st and 35th minutes for a 2-1 halftime lead. Chelsie Breen (Cheney, Wash.) of University of Idaho set up the first goal in the 21st.
Maryn Beutler equalized for the Rush in the 50th, and nearly took the lead for the first time seven minutes later with a one-on-one breakaway that was denied by goalkeeper Stephanie Busch. The Shine answered the breakaway with immediacy as Rodriguez tallied in the 57th.
There was no answer from Oregon from that point as the Shine controlled things from that point, adding two more unanswered strikes in the final few minutes through Lisa Robertson in the 88th and another from Rodriguez in the second minute of stoppage time.
The Shine face Issaquah in the home opener Friday evening at Joe Albi Stadium at 7:05 pm PT. Tickets are available through TicketsWest - ticketswest.rdln.com
Spokane Shine 0:2 Eugene Metro FC
EUG: Tawny App 28
EUG: Kaitlin Jabonek 79
Spokane Shine 5:2 Oregon Rush
SPO: Alyshia Madison (Chelsie Breen) 21
OR: Kristen Parr 25
SPO: Alyshia Madison 35
OR: Maryn Beutler 50
SPO: Julissa Rodriguez (Darci Smith) 57
SPO: Lisa Robertson 88
SPO: Julissa Rodriguez (Alyssa Saucedo) 92
