Aggie soccer to miss out on postseason play

By Kalen Taylor

For the first time since at least the 2005-2006 season, Utah State women’s soccer won’t be playing in a post-season tournament.

The Aggies battled to a 1-1 draw against the Boise State Broncos on Friday afternoon. Both UNLV and Colorado College won later that day to claim the final two spots — the fifth and sixth seeds — in the tournament.

“This whole game came down to us needing to score,” said senior goalkeeper Jeannie Woller after the game. “I know we wanted this win — it hurts we didn’t get it — but none of us can hold onto that. We did everything in our ability to fight to the end.”

Utah State finished the season with a 10-8-2 record overall while recording a 5-5-1 record in MW play.

“I thought we played a really good match,” said head coach Heather Cairns after the BSU game. “We probably deserved a second goal there, but it didn’t come. That’s the hardest part of soccer. In that respect it’s really disappointing.”

USU outshot Boise State 22-13 in the game, however, the Broncos struck first on a Kelsey Nicassio header in the 49th minute.

Under thirty seconds later, the Aggies equalized as Jessica Brooksby found the back of the net off a Katie Flynn cross.

“We came back after they scored on us,” Woller said. “It’s unfortunate but I’m proud. I’m always going to be proud … I’m sad I can’t be a part of the teams in the coming years.”

It was goal number 12 for Brooksby this season, but it wasn’t enough to get USU a win.

“We thought it was there for the taking but we didn’t quite get it done,” Cairns said. “We feel like we played well enough to put another goal in the back of the net and just didn’t. It’s disappointing with so much on the line today.”

For the top half of the MW teams the tournament kicks off in San Diego on Tuesday and finish up crowning a champion on Saturday.

— kalen.s.taylor@gmail.com

Twitter: @kalen_taylor