Aggie soccer is California bound
With their latest win over Idaho, the first-place women’s soccer team is looking forward to continuing their hot streak as they travel to play Fresno State and San Jose State this weekend. Fresno State and San Jose State are the only two teams who have ever beaten the Aggies during Western Athletic Conference play in Logan.
The California road trip will be an excellent opportunity for USU striker Lauren Hansen to break Jayme Gordy’s record for career goals, 35, set from 1997-2000. Hansen needs just one goal to tie the record.
Heading to Fresno to take on the Bulldogs (5-8-2, 1-3-0) on Oct. 22, Hansen and the Aggies will be facing a defense that won’t let Utah State have many good looks at goal opportunities, said USU head coach Heather Cairns.
“We’re going to have to use speed of play to break them down,” Cairns said. “Fresno State has one of – if not the – best keepers in the league.”
Fresno goalkeeper Kaitlyn Revel led the WAC in saves and shutouts in 2008. The 5’10” senior also broke Fresno State’s all-time shutout record last season.
The last meeting between the two teams was last year, ending in a 1-0 victory for the Aggies, with Lauren Hansen scoring the game’s only goal.
Because of their position on top of the standings table, the Aggies have a target on their back as the team to beat. Cairns said her team has learned to deal with that sort of pressure, being picked in the preseason as the favorite to win the league.
“Our girls played with a little chip on their shoulder against Idaho,” Cairns said of the Oct. 17 match against the then-first place Vandals. She said she expected the same kind of games from Fresno State and San Jose State this weekend.
On Sunday, the Aggies will bus to San Jose to battle the Spartans (8-6-1, 2-1-1). The last match between the two schools ended in a 1-1 double overtime draw in Logan, due to an 88th minute game-saving goal from Shantel Flanary.
San Jose State is led offensively by Kelsey Lord, who has taken twice as many shots as any other player on the team and has seven goals this season. The 5’6″ sophomore will be an adequate challenge for USU goalkeeper Molli Merril, who was named both the America First Credit Union Utah State Student-Athlete of the Week and the WAC Defensive Player of the Week this Monday.
The Spartans are “more aggressive and more direct,” Cairns said, and “stingy defensively.”
What to watch for:
Fresno State
Lauren Hansen is in prime position to break the career goals scored record this weekend. She will be eager to play well in front of her family, who will be attending the match in their home state.
The Bulldogs are looking to continue to begin what would be their first conference win streak this season, coming fresh off of their only conference win of the season, a 2-0 victory over Louisiana Tech in Ruston on Oct 17.
Fresno State has been outscored in the second half 13-6. Look for the Utah State offense to attack especially hard after halftime.
San Jose State
Don’t be surprised if Kelsey Lord controls the Spartan offense. Last year San Jose State was 6-0 in games where she scored a goal. Lord will play anywhere on the field from the back line to striker, so watch for the adjustments from Utah State to keep tabs on her.
San Jose State probably won’t give up many goals, causing Aggie forwards Lauren Hansen and Shantel Flanary to work hard for any chances at a shot. The Spartans have only allowed more than two goals in a match once, in a heartbreaking 5-4 overtime loss to La-Tech.
– tavin.stucki@aggiemail.usu.edu