USU to start conference tournament
The Utah State women’s soccer team starts the Mountain West Conference tournament Tuesday in San Diego. Utah State finished fifth in the conference.
The Aggies will take on Colorado College, who finished fourth at 6 p.m. USU tied Colorado College in Colorado Springs on Sept. 26. Freshman Wesley Hamblin scored the Aggies lone goal in the match off of an assist from Senior Ambryn McCallson. The Aggies were outshot in the match 16 to 11, however both teams had five shots on goal. Junior goalkeeper Jeannie Woller had four saves.
Colorado College’s Sarah Schweiss has nine goals on the season, which is the second highest total in the Mountain West. Jennifer Stoot scored against the Aggies in the seventh minute of the two teams contest in September.
Six out of the 12 teams in the conference make the tournament. The top two seeds earn a bye. Should USU beat Colorado College they would face top-seed and tournament host San Diego State. The Aggies lost at San Diego State on Oct. 17 by a score of 2-1. They also lost in the semi-finals of last years conference tournament to the Aztecs 3-2. The Aggies led on two separate occasions in that game and the Aztecs would go on to win the conference tournament.
The other first round matchup will feature No. 3 New Mexico against No. 6 Boise State and the winner of that match will play No. 2 Wyoming. The Aggies defeated both Wyoming and New Mexico this season while they lost at Boise State in their regular season finale.
The winner of the conference tournament earns a berth in the NCAA tournament which starts on Nov. 14.
Woller is one of three keepers in the Mountain West with under a goal against per game and she is tied for first in shutouts.
Senior Lexi Morgan and sophomore Jessica Brooksby led the team in goals with four apiece. The Aggies outscored their opponents on the season 27-18. Hamblin lead the team in assists with four.
Utah State is also lead by senior defenders Taryn Rose and Brooke Larsen-Leavitt. The Aggies were 10th in the conference in saves yet tied for first in least goals against.
Utah State finished the season with a 10-7-2 record and 6-4-1 in conference. They were 2-2-1 against the other five teams in conference.