Feuz leads USU women’s soccer to tournament win
Junior Nicole Feuz led the women’s soccer team as they won the Soccer Etc.-Nike Invitational in Boise.
The Aggies were the only team to go undefeated in the two game, four team invitational. Both wins were shutouts.
With those two wins, the Aggies improve their record to 6-4.
Resulting from her play in the tournament Feuz was named as the Big West player of the week and the Utah State athlete of the week.
Feuz transferred to USU from Boise St. for this season and her hometown, Eagle, Idaho, is near Boise. She has now scored three goals this season along with one assist.
Four USU players were named to the all-tournament team. Feuz, junior goalkeeper Megan Mills, junior defender Melissa Baggaly, and sophomore defender Elizabeth Masson all received the honor.
USU’s first opponent was 3-4-1 Northern Colorado. USU won 2-0. Feuz scored the first goal of the match in the first half off of a pass from senior Amber Tracy.
Later Charity Weston scored off of a shot from 30 yards out. It was her first goal as an Aggie.
Mills made 8 saves in the match. With the shutout she becomes the USU all-time shutout leader and single season shutout leader.
Mills now has seven career shutouts, five of which have come this season. Her season goals-against average is 0.59.
“She saved our bacon in both games,” said coach Heather Cairns. “She had a
key save in Sunday’s contest.
Their second win came against now 1-5-3 Northern Arizona. The match consisted of one goal scored by Feuz.
Feuz scored late in the match and was assisted by junior Claire Schend.
“Our midfield also needs to get recognition for this win,” said Cairns. “Charity Weston played phenomenal at center mid. She won so many balls in the air. She was just a bulldog.”
Cairns also had praise for her defense. “The defense played exceptionally well and gave us a chance to win-I’ve got to give credit to Missy (Baggaly), Liz (Masson), Ashley Wilson, and Charity Weston,” she said. “We told our girls at halftime that we had to hold them and defend well. It was a battle. We’re getting the job done.”
The Aggies have done well on both sides of the field. While only allowing six goals this season, they have managed to score 15 goals.
USU will return to action at home Friday. They will host Cal State
Northridge. The match will take place at 3 p.m. on the Chuck and Gloria Bell
soccer field.
Cal State Northridge has a 2-4-3 record. Their last match ended in a 1-1 tie
against Sacramento State. Their last win came against Long Island on Sept. 14.
Their only other win came against Gonzaga, whom USU also defeated earlier this season.
Sunday the Aggies will host Pacific at noon. They are 1-7-1 on the season thus far. Their last loss came to the defending national champions, No. 8 Portland.
-chrisbarn@cc.usu.edu