ASHLAND –
Adrian Villegas put an abrupt end to Southern Oregon's brief scoring drought and made the Raiders 1-0 winners over Menlo (Calif.) on Saturday afternoon at Raider Stadium in the team's home debut.
In the 67th minute, Villegas lined up for a free kick 20 yards deep and just wide of the left post, and sent a dart that flew over the outstretched arms of Oaks goalkeeper Jo Krumsvik and into the right pocket for the lone goal.
The moment helped the Raiders wrap up non-conference play at 3-2. They rebounded from a 1-0 loss in their last outing to San Diego Christian, against which they'd generated 17 shots and seven on goal without anything to show for them.
They fired 10 more shots against the Oaks, and Villegas' snapped their scoreless streak at 171 minutes. The goal was his 15th in 44 career outings and first of the season. The junior from Hood River didn't make his 2022 debut until the Raiders' third game due to injury.
Menlo dropped to 3-2. The Oaks were making their first-ever trip to Ashland but fell to the Raiders for the second year in a row.
SOU keeper
Casey Ruvolo, a freshman, kept them scoreless with three saves in his first career shutout. The Raiders controlled possession for a majority of the day, holding Menlo to seven total shots.
The Oaks had a chance to tie in the 88th minute, when Oliver Mayer's shot was blocked by the Raider back line and Ruvolo corralled Ian Brusewitz's rebound attempt.
The Raiders are 7-1 all-time in non-conference home games.
They'll open Cascade Conference play on the road next week, visiting Northwest (Wash.) on Friday and Evergreen (Wash.) on Saturday.
