Ag defender nabs golden goal

It’s been six years since USU defender Alyssa Lowry last scored a goal. Thursday afternoon she ended that drought.

Fourteen minutes into the second half, Lowry scored what would be the game-winning goal for her first career goal as an Aggie, beating the Montana Grizzlies, 1-0 at the Chuck and Gloria Bell Soccer Field.

The goal was well-deserved as Lowry has played every minute so far this season.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” Lowry said of her goal. “I haven’t scored a goal since I was 14 because I play defense, so to get my next goal, the first of my career, is a really good feeling.”

With the win USU improves to 4-6 on the season.

Lowry’s goal was the result of second opportunities, being in the right place at the right time and a well-placed corner kick put in play by sophomore defender Lindsey Smart, whose kick landed the ball in prime striking position for senior forward Dana Peart, who took a shot but had it deflected.

The Montana defensive line struggled to clear the ball as USU attackers edged in, creating confusion in the six-yard box. Following a deflection off a Grizzly defender, Lowry took a slide kick to firmly pound the ball in for the score.

“What I loved about that play was they made two or three stops and we just kept milling around the ball and kept trying to shoot and no joke, they had those three people that cleared one of their shots and I was like, ‘Oh no,’ and then (Lowry) swooped in and it was pure tenacity,” USU Head Coach Heather Cairns said. “We are putting that ball in the back of the net. We are not wasting that opportunities.”

Cairns said the score was due in part to a change up in a corner kick set play.

Before this game, Lowry came off the far post but had a difficult time seeing the ball, so she was moved in to the near post and it paid off, Cairns said.

“We know what (Lowry’s) capable of,” she said. “Just because she plays defender doesn’t mean she’s not good with the ball at her feet. She’s crafty – I’d call her a crafty little bugger. She’s tenacious. Defenders tend to be the most tenacious because they have to be. That really paid off for us as a team. Lucky us, we have Alyssa.”

Though it was a defender who scored the goal, the Aggie attack was plenty active in a game that saw 19 USU shots. Peart had multiple opportunities from a variety of angles but all were scooped up by 5-foot-11-inch Montana goalkeeper Grace Harris, who snagged eight saves on the day. Peart finished the game with nine shots, five of which were on goal.

Freshman forward Lauren Hansen, who has two goals this season, had five shots with two on goal.

Hansen was a threat throughout the game, utilizing her quick turnarounds and hard shots to keep Montana’s Harris on her toes.

“I think Lauren is a freshman and is still learning our system and she’s starting to get it,” Cairns said of Hansen’s hustle. “I think we just had more hustle all around as well. Certainly the forwards, it was key to get forward and get to the ball. Our team just picked it up, which was really what we needed to get the win.”

While USU maintained possession of the ball for the majority of the game, the Grizzlies had a few dangerous shots, especially in the first half. The Aggies controlled the pace of the game early in the half but midway through the first half Montana took over control, repeatedly penetrating the Aggie defensive line, keeping USU defenders busy clearing the ball.

Sophomore defender Sydne Porter was crucial to the Aggie defense, using her powerful foot to place the ball well downfield, changing a defensive stance into an attacking opportunity. Porter’s ability to play the ball long set up the Aggies’ goal.

“I think even though I know it’s in our scouting reports that (Porter) can kick the ball really far and hard, I think as a defender you don’t think those balls are going over that she knocks, and they do,” Cairns said. “Certainly her ability to clear the ball and get it out of pressure for us is really important.”

Cairns said she felt her team has made some progress, improving their crosses, being more aggressive in the attack and learning to play as a team, something that will benefit the team down the road.

“Our whole mentality this season has been to be an attacking team and to finally get the goal that won the game in the attack is a great feeling,” Lowry said. “We’ve had our ups and downs and today has definitely been an up for whole team going into WAC play. This is a big win for us going in to play (Brigham Young University).”

The win came at a crucial time for the Aggies as their nonconference season winds down.

“I think it definitely gave us more confidence,” sophomore defender Sydne Porter said. “This was kind of the game to set the tone for our road games. I think we have a lot of confidence to take into our conference play and when we go down south.”

The Aggies get a week of rest before heading to Provo to challenge BYU, Thursday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m.

-seth.h@aggiemail.usu.edu