USU soccer splits weekend bill
Utah State 2, San Jose State 0
The Utah State women’s soccer team defeated the Spartans in San Jose on Sunday. Kylie Dibb and Jennifer Flynn each scored for the Aggies, with both goals coming in the second half to lift the Aggies to their third Mountain West Conference win and improve their record to 7-5-2 on the season.
After a scoreless first half, the Aggies came out firing.
Dibb found the back of the net in the 55th minute on an assist by Lauren Roundy. The goal was the third of the season for Dibb. Flynn added another goal – her fourth of the season – in the 82nd minute. The goal was assisted by Jayne Robinson, but Flynn beat a couple of defenders and the goalie to ultimately score from five yards out.
“We did a nice job to grind a win out on the road,” said head coach Heather Cairns. “In the second half, we were able to posses a little more and have the ball in the attacking third.”
With the win, USU recorded their sixth shutout of the season. The Aggie defense held the Spartans to just two shots on goal.
“They were very direct and pinned a lot of crosses in,” Cairns said of the Spartan attack. “We stayed strong in the air against them though.”
The win has the Aggies tied for fourth in the Mountain West with four more games scheduled. Their next game is on the road, followed by three straight home games. The Aggies are 3-2-1 at home and have not lost a MWC game at Chuck and Gloria Bell Field.
“We love Chuck and Gloria Bell Field, we love the fans and the atmosphere. We’re just comfortable at home,” Cairns said.
The Aggies still have a full week before they get to play another home game. They play at Colorado State Friday in Fort Collins. CSU is 1-5 in MWC play.
Fresno State 1, Utah State 0 (OT)
The USU soccer team lost in Fresno to the Bulldogs Friday. The game was scoreless after regulation, but Fresno State’s Shonice Myers scored in the fourth minute of overtime to end the game. It was the second loss in conference for the Aggies.
The game stayed even throughout, with both teams racking up shots. The Aggies’ 10 shots were not enough to net a goal, while the Bulldogs scored on their 16th shot of the game.
“It was a really back and forth game,” Cairns said. “We thought we could tuck it away, but we just couldn’t score.”
Sophomore goalkeeper Jeannie Woller had a valiant effort to keep Fresno State off the board as she collected seven saves. The fatal goal that snuck past her was a header off a throw-in during the first overtime.
“They had a good throw in to the box, but we just didn’t clear it,” Cairns said.
The loss was the fifth time the Aggies have been shut out this season. However, Cairns said the team won’t dwell on a loss.
“It puts more emphasis on Sunday’s game,” Coach Cairns said. “We have to get three points this weekend.”
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