Soccer team looks to end drought in final homestand
This week’s motivation for the Utah State University women’s soccer team: A winning season overall and in the Big West Conference is still attainable.
In other words, they are playing for pride.
This is how USU has to look at the remainder of this season, including this weekend’s final home games, said USU Head Coach Jen Kennedy Croft. Not because it wants to, but because with only five games left and an 0-4 record in Big West action, it is forced to.
“We are playing for pride, and we’re also playing to win some games,” Croft said. “We could still have a winning season, which is a pretty large feat in and of itself for Utah State soccer. It’s still within our grasp right now. I don’t think it’s that hard to be motivated.”
Motivation shouldn’t be a factor for USU.
After all, the Aggies (6-7-2, 0-4) have never had a winning season in their six-plus years as a Divison I program. Compound that with the fact they come into Friday’s 3 p.m. home match against the University of California Santa Barbara with five straight losses, USU is more than ready to play, Croft said.
The Aggies have been struggling because the past five matches they haven’t been playing their best game, said senior forward Brigid Turner.
“We seem to drop down to the level of whoever we’re playing,” she said. “We seem to play different every game.”
USU hasn’t beaten the Gauchos since 1998.
The Aggies final home game of the season will come Sunday at noon against Cal Poly (8-5, 2-0). Sunday’s game will mark the last home game for seven USU seniors, including for Turner, who ranks second on the USU career goals list.
As if the Aggies needed any more motivation.
“As a senior, this is my last year, [and there is only] five games left, so why not give everything I’ve got every single minute I’m on the field,” Turner said. “I can’t believe that [it’s almost over]. It’s gone by really fast.”
-samhis@cc.usu.edu