Ags looking for rebound
Sometimes losing teaches a lesson.
The USU women’s soccer team is still trying to learn that lesson, said USU Head Coach Heather Cairns. After going on a three-game losing streak earlier this season, Cairns said her team needed to learn to take control of the game and not let other teams determine the tempo. Two weeks later it’s the same message she’s sticking to.
“I think it’s kind of the same lesson but we haven’t been able to make it stick,” Cairns said. “When we play our style of play we do well. When we let the other teams dictate the style of play they win. We’re still struggling to do that style consistently.”
Coming off a two-game losing skid in Washington, the Aggies fell 2-1 to Gonazaga on Friday and 2-1 to Eastern Washington on Sunday, bringing their record to 3-6.
USU had a chance at taking down the Eastern Washington Eagles, going into halftime with a 1-0 lead while controlling the shooting and corner kicks in that half. The second half was a different story. The Eagles bested the Aggies 12-8 in shooting and scored two goals, the first of which was tallied in the first five minutes of the half.
“No doubt we were disappointed because we had a 1-0 lead at half,” Cairns said. “We can’t keep looking back.”
Cairns said her focus is on the games in front of her, especially as the season edges ever closer to the critical Western Athletic Conference games that will determine if USU makes it to the NCAA tournament. Only three games remain before the start of the WAC season, but these games will be no picnic.
Thursday the Aggies take on Montana and then head south to Provo on Oct. 4 to challenge Brigham Young University, and then back home on Oct. 6 to finish off the nonconference season against the University of Utah.
The Montana Grizzlies come off a 2-0 loss to WAC foe Boise State on Sunday, bringing their season record to 2-6. As part of the Big Sky Conference, Cairns said the Grizzlies play a style similar to other Big Sky opponents USU has played so far this season, in Weber State and Northern Arizona.
“Against Big Sky teams it’s going to be a battle,” Cairns said of the upcoming match. “We’re going to have to work hard for the win and work smart for the win.”
Last season the Grizzlies’ record looked much like USU’s, as they went 10-8-2 on the year and 4-2-1 in the Big Sky Conference.
Montana is led in scoring by midfielder Mahlleace Tomsin who leads the team with three points off one goal, one of which was a game winner, and one assist. She is second on the team in shooting with eight and posts a .500 shots on goal percentage. The Grizzlies don’t rely on one player to carry the team as three other players – Kaitlyn Heinsohn, Sara Aspinwall and Meghan Chambers – have all posted a goal.
In the net, Grace Harris, who was named Big Sky Newcomer of the Year in 2006, has played every minute for the Grizzlies this season, posting a .750 save percentage, snagging 45 saves. She has allowed 15 goals resulting in a 1.88 goals against average.
Montana is a second half team, shooting and scoring more in the second half than in the first. All four goals on the season were scored in the second half. While they may be shoot better in the second half, so do their opponents.
Cairns said to counter Montana’s attack, her team will have to finally learn the lesson of controlling the game.
“(We will win) by not letting them do it, we do what we want to do,” Cairns said. “We execute our patterns, our style, our tactics. We’re going to have to take time to do that and we’re going to have to do it the majority of the game.”
Controlling the pace of the game is something the Aggies should be able to do with multiple threats in the attack. Senior forward Dana Peart leads the team in scoring with 11 points off five goals and one assist. Freshman forward Lauren Hansen scored her second goal of the season against Eastern Washington and is second in scoring on the team. Midfielder Abby Hunt also has two goals.
Cairns said one of the strengths of her team this season has been the variety of shooting options available. Following some recovery from injuries, the Aggies have a combination of experience and fresh blood in the attack.
“Having Candice (Clark) back has been wonderful,” Cairns said. “She’s added a lot to our attack. As well as having Jessica Williams back. Alysa (Adams) got on the board with an assist. Lauren (Hansen), she had one goal and she had probably three or four more opportunities to score (against Eastern Washington). We’re starting to get more opportunities to attack than just Dana (Peart).”
While USU has multiple threats, few are as dangerous as Peart, who dominates the shooting game for the Aggies with 29 shots on the season. She leads the WAC in shooting, is third in the conference in points and is tied for first in game-winning goals.
I’ve been thrilled with her performance,” Cairns said of her team captain. “I think her legacy is going to be defined in how she does in WAC play. What she’s been doing has been great and builds confidence for her. She’s got to continue doing that when games become more important. Certainly she’s been leading our attack.”
Receiving a little less credit, but no less important, is junior goalkeeper Ali Griffin, who is second in the WAC in saves with 34. She is also tied for third in shutouts in the conference with two.
“(Griffin has) really made some saves that have kept us in the games,” Cairns said. “I feel like she’s really starting to hit her stride. Hopefully the team can feed off of that and we can continue to get stronger and more people can start to hit their stride. Right now she’s definitely a bright spot.”
The Aggies face off against the Grizzlies, Thursday, Sept. 27 at 4 p.m. at the Chuck and Gloria Bell Soccer Field, located next to the Stan Laub Center.
-seth.h@aggiemail.usu.edu