Home season ends in a draw
All afternoon the white jerseys beat the red to the ball in the mid-field, yet in regulation and two overtimes Charity Weston and her Aggie teammates couldn’t beat Fresno State’s clingy defense for a goal, and the game ended 0-0.
The tie came against the preseason WAC favorites and was the last game seniors Sierra Smith, Charlsie Harris and Weston will ever play on Chuck and Gloria Bell Field. On paper, the non-decision could appear to be a moral victory for the 8-7-2 Aggies against the 10-5-2 Bulldogs. But that fails to account for how well USU possessed the ball and the advantage for the Ags in the shots-on-goal category.
“Obviously it’s disappointing and I looked at the kids’ faces after the game and they’re all disappointed,” USU Head Coach Heather Cairns said. “The reason they’re disappointed is because they know we had opportunities to win that game instead of just coming out with a tie. So I don’t really have to say much to them because their faces said it all.”
Harris, who conducted her post-game interview with a piece of her twenty-second birthday cake in her hand, said, “Our team did awesome, every one of our girls did great but unfortunately we couldn’t finish.”
USU pushed the ball hard in the waning minutes of the first half, challenging Fresno State’s defense and getting some great chances for Weston, Smith and Abby Hunt.
“I felt like we had just as many opportunities if not more. We’re right there; if they [Fresno] are considered the best than I would say we are too,” Harris said.
The second half was more of the same. Fresno State was able to create a few chances but couldn’t hold on to the ball and keep the pressure on. Ballwinners like Hunt, Smith and Dana Peart were active presences in the middle of the field and USU had it’s best chances yet to score a goal.
But Fresno State’s keeper, Angie Larsen, made four saves in the second half to send the teams into OT. Unfortunately, Fresno seemed to be playing conservatively and protecting the tie, and their back line was impenetrable for the remainder of the game.
Cairns made things interesting in the first overtime when she was booked with a yellow card for protesting a call forcefully.
“Both benches were unhappy and I was just the unfortunate one to get the call I guess. It’s okay, I have to say he was consistent,” Cairns said, referring to the official.
Harris said the tie was “disappointing, but also fun at the same time to start a new time in your life. I love this team, they’re the most amazing girls I’ve ever met.”
Next Friday USU will take on Boise State in an important game to keep pace with the Bulldogs and San Jose State Spartans at the top of the WAC.