Soccer beats Weber State
After being shut out by Boise State in its season opener, the Aggie soccer team finally found the back of the net Monday, beating Weber State 4-0.
“That first one is always a hard one,” Utah State Head Coach Heather Cairns said. “We’re sitting at .500 [winning percentage] right now and that’s a lot better than 0-2.”
Prior to Monday’s game, Cairns said her team only needed one goal to spark the offense.
Enter Weber State.
Only 7:50 minutes into the match, a shot off the foot of USU’s Tiffany Jones rattled off two Weber defenders and the Wildcat goalkeeper before finding its way into the goal. It was all Aggies after that.
“We had some adjustments to make because we’re such a new team,” Jones said. “Once we get that together, we’re awesome. It’s finally coming together.”
In the second period Jones got things going again for the Ags, beating a Wildcat defender one-on-one in the 51st minute and scoring from 12 yards out.
Two minutes after Jones’ unassisted goal, Lacy Kennington found teammate Charity Weston off a free kick for the Ags’ third goal of the game.
Forward Charlsie Harris put the final exclamation on the afternoon when she headed in a pass off the right cross from sophomore Sierra Smith.
“I didn’t even do anything,” Harris said. “Sierra dribbled down the line and crossed it. All I had to do was stay underneath. It just hit off my head and went in.”
Both Cairns and Harris said it was a relief to get things going offensively after struggling in their first two matches.
“Just to get those goals was great,” Harris said. “If you’re pounding on the door every second, eventually you’re going to get one in.”
Holding Weber to only three shots on goal all game, Cairns credited her team’s defensive effort for what she called a team win. She also said she was pleased with the progress of the new players.
“Whenever we win, it’s always a team effort,” Cairns said. “When you have six rookies playing, you usually gel better defensively before you gel in the offense. I was thrilled.”
Aggie goalkeepers Megan Mills and freshman Kelli Allred combined for three saves and the shutout.
The Ags play their next three games away from home starting with Gonzaga on Friday.
“We’re going into a bit of a rough stretch,” Cairns said. “This win is the added momentum we need going in. Three games in five days is physically challenging.”
Utah State will then travel to Easter Washington on Sunday, Sept. 5 before facing off with BYU, an Elite 8 team last season, on Tuesday, Sept. 7.
-acf@cc.usu.edu