EUGENE -- One of the more tumultuous careers at Oregon appears to be over, as senior kicker Alejandro Maldonado has been replaced by true freshman Matt Wogan, coach Mark Helfrich confirmed on Tuesday.

The two kickers had platooned this season, but Helfrich said Wogan is “our kicker moving forward” as the Ducks enter their final three regular season games.

“It comes down to nothing more, nothing less, than we think he gives us the best chance to make a kick,’’ Helfrich said. “He’s done a better job.’’

Maldonado, who missed pressure kicks in 2011 and 2012 that contributed to key losses to USC and Stanford,

after missing a 37-yard field goal before halftime of the Oct. 26 game against UCLA. In the halftime locker room, Maldonado said he considered quitting.

Helfrich would not say if Maldonado’s mindset played a role in his decision.

“There’s a lot of factors that go into depth (chart) situations that I think are best kept behind closed doors,’’ Helfrich said. “But Matt is our kicker going forward. I think that is the best way to put that.’’

Wogan, who was ranked the No. 2 kicker in the nation coming out of Porter Ridge High in Indian Trail, N.C., has made his only field goal attempt of the season -- a 38-yarder against Tennessee. He is 30-of-31 on extra points.

Maldonado was 3-for-5 on field goals this season, making two from 29 yards and one from 34 and missing both of his attempts from 37 yards. He made 29-of-30 extra points.

Helfrich said the decision was made before the Stanford game, when he used Wogan for both of the team’s extra points. On the team’s second drive of the game, Helfrich went for it on 4th-and-goal, turning down an opportunity to attempt a 21-yard field goal. He later said the decision had nothing to do with his confidence in his kickers.

“My thought process on that was our defense just held them three-and-out and I thought we had a play that was dialed up in there,’’ Helfrich said of the failed pass from Marcus Mariota to Bralon Addison. “It was more confidence in that than a lack of confidence in the kicking game. And (I was) trying to seize the momentum.’’

Maldonado was used to attempt three onside kicks against Stanford, one of which was successful.

In the week leading up to Stanford, Maldonado insinuated that his job might be on the line, but he never said that he had lost his job. He said he was preparing to kick like he always had, but at the same time he said he was trying to put his struggles in perspective by focusing on family and school. He is a Family Human Service major, with hopes of becoming a high school counselor.

“It’s not the end of the world,’’ Maldonado said. “Football is not everything. I’m really focused on school ... and I want to finish the season strong.’’

Wogan and Maldonado had been neck-and-neck since fall camp, with Maldonado winning the job by being more accurate, even though Wogan had a bigger leg, including the ability to make 50-yard-plus field goals in practice. Throughout the season, Wogan has been the kickoff specialist, and the two would alternate on extra points.