Utah State soccer on a roll in BWC
Maybe noon games are too early. Because on Sunday when the Pacific Tigers came to Logan to play Utah State, the Aggies looked a little tired.
While the Aggies looked tired, Pacific came out of the gate playing aggressive, physical and fast.
During the first half, the majority of the action was spent on the Aggies defensive side of the field.
Despite looking tired, Utah State came away with its second Big West Conference victory with a 2-1 win at Chuck and Gloria Bell Field.
The Tigers seemed to control the first 30 minutes of the game. Pacific midfielder Kim Jones scored the first goal off a corner kick pass from forward Sadye Reishe.
The Tigers had seven corner kicks in the first half, while the Aggies only had one.
Both teams looked a little fatigued during the last 10 minutes of the first half so Utah State Head Coach Heather Cairns tried firing up her team at half time and implemented a 4-4-3 formation, something the Aggies had not done before.
The formation matched Pacific’s formation better and put Utah State in good position for coming up with loose balls.
“The Aggies love to battle,” Cairns said.
And in the beginning of the second half the Aggies showed their passion.
“They looked energetic, aggressive, and sharp,” said Aggie forward Charlsie Harris. “Everyone had to play with heart, and everyone had to contribute.”
Kami Kelley came off the bench early in the second half to give USU a boost. She said it was her job to come in with some energy, get loose balls and energize the team.
Ally Clegg scored the first goal for Utah State with 36 minutes left in the second half with a pass from Amber Tracy who was set up by Harris.
Then, with 13 minutes left in the second half, it looked as if the Tigers might get another score when Reishe had a shot on goal but was deflected by the Aggie goalie Megan Mills.
The game was still tied with five minutes left in the second half when midfielder Lacy Gustaveson tried taking matters into her own hands, having two shots in the waning moments to try and pull out a second win in BWC play.
She was unsuccessful and the game went into overtime.
In the beginning of overtime, Harris had a chance to win the game with a free kick but the goalie for Pacific stood her ground and stopped the Aggies from ending the game.
But with under six minutes to go in the game, Amber Tracy kicked the game-winning goal assisted by Nicole Feuz.
This goal gave the Aggies their second win in league.
This is the first time ever the Aggies have started off their conference play 2-0 and also the first time this season they’ve won a game when the other team has scored first.
Utah State picked up its first league win Friday as it knocked off Cal State Northridge 1-0 at home.
“It was nice to pick up a conference win in our first league game,” Cairns said. “We are a team of streaks and right now we hope to continue winning with the momentum we have.”
Tracy picked up the first goal for USU in the first half off a pass from Feuz eight yards out.
The Aggie defense did not allow a single shot in the first half. USU out shot CSN 13-0 in the first half.
Michelle Haws scored for the Aggies in the 58th minute off a pass from Sierra Smith, and Chanel Blaquiere put the game out of reach for the Matadors in the 72nd minute off an assist from Clegg and Tracy.
Mills recorded her sixth shutout of the season and has a goals-against average of .54.
Gustaveson saw action for the first time in six matches after being out with a fractured wrist.
USU continues conference play this weekend as they host Idaho on Sunday at noon.
-kcaustin@cc.usu.edu
By Kevin Austin
Staff Writer
Maybe noon games are too early. Because on Sunday when the Pacific Tigers came to Logan to play Utah State, the Aggies looked a little tired.
While the Aggies looked tired, Pacific came out of the gate playing aggressive, physical and fast.
During the first half, the majority of the action was spent on the Aggies defensive side of the field.
Despite looking tired, Utah State came away with its second Big West Conference victory with a 2-1 win at Chuck and Gloria Bell Field.
The Tigers seemed to control the first 30 minutes of the game. Pacific midfielder Kim Jones scored the first goal
off a corner kick pass from forward Sadye Reishe.
The Tigers had seven corner kicks in the first half, while the Aggies only had one.
Both teams looked a little fatigued during the last 10 minutes of the first half so Utah State Head Coach Heather Cairns tried firing up her team at half time and implemented a 4-4-3 formation, something the Aggies had not done before.
The formation matched Pacific’s formation better and put Utah State in good position for coming up with loose balls.
“The Aggies love to battle,” Cairns said.
And in the beginning of the second half the Aggies showed their passion.
“They looked energetic, aggressive, and sharp,” said Aggie forward Charlsie Harris. “Everyone had to play with heart, and everyone had to contribute.”
Kami Kelley came off the bench early in the second half to give USU a boost. She said it was her job to come in with some energy, get loose balls and energize the team.
Ally Clegg scored the first goal for Utah State with 36 minutes left in the second half with a pass from Amber Tracy who was set up by Harris.
Then, with 13 minutes left in the second half, it looked as if the Tigers might get another score when Reishe had a shot on goal but was deflected by the Aggie goalie Megan Mills.
The game was still tied with five minutes left in the second half when midfielder Lacy Gustaveson tried taking matters into her own hands, having two shots in the waning moments to try and pull out a second win in BWC play.
She was unsuccessful and the game went into overtime.
In the beginning of overtime, Harris had a chance to win the game with a free kick but the goalie for Pacific stood her ground and stopped the Aggies from ending the game.
But with under six minutes to go in the game, Amber Tracy kicked the game-winning goal assisted by Nicole Feuz.
This goal gave the Aggies their second win in league.
This is the first time ever the Aggies have started off their conference play 2-0 and also the first time this season they’ve won a game when the other team has scored first.
Utah State picked up its first league win Friday as it knocked off Cal State Northridge 1-0 at home.
“It was nice to pick up a conference win in our first league game,” Cairns said. “We are a team of streaks and right now we hope to continue winning with the momentum we have.”
Tracy picked up the first goal for USU in the first half off a pass from Feuz eight yards out.
The Aggie defense did not allow a single shot in the first half. USU out shot CSN 13-0 in the first half.
Michelle Haws scored for the Aggies in the 58th minute off a pass from Sierra Smith, and Chanel Blaquiere put the game out of reach for the Matadors in the 72nd minute off an assist from Clegg and Tracy.
Mills recorded her sixth shutout of the season and has a goals-against average of .54.
Gustaveson saw action for the first time in six matches after being out with a fractured wrist.
USU continues conference play this weekend as they host Idaho on Sunday at noon.
-kcaustin@cc.usu.edu