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Ags, Bobcats battle to draw

By Seth R. Hawkins

Despite outpossessing and outshooting Texas State, the USU soccer team couldn’t land a ball in the back of the net Thursday afternoon at the Chuck and Gloria Bell Soccer Field, and tallied their first draw of the season.

“Soccer is a cruel game,” said USU Head Coach Heather Cairns. “It doesn’t matter how much possession you have, it doesn’t matter how many shots you have, it matters how many goals you have.”

The Aggies outshot the Bobcats 21-9 and had eight shots on goal, including a few shots that missed the net by inches. USU also had eight corner kicks, providing opportunities for set plays the Aggies have so often scored on in the past. But nothing was getting past Texas State goalkeeper Mandi Mawyer with the exception of her language.

With fewer than two minutes remaining in regulation, Mawyer received a red card for using offensive language after a particularly dangerous shot by the Aggies. The Bobcats secondary goalkeeper was just as staunch in protecting the net, making three saves in the two overtimes.

“It was frustrating because we outpossessed and outplayed them and we’re a better team,” junior defender Lindsey Smart said. “Sometimes it comes down to one mistake, one thing that doesn’t get the ball in the back of the net.”

Smart would know, too. Personally accounting for three shots and a number of corner kicks, she had plenty of scoring opportunities but tight Texas State defense and a couple of team blunders kept the Aggies at 0.

Newcomer Andrea Seledee, a junior transfer from Texas State, took a dangerously close shot near the end of regulation, barely missing an opportunity to beat her former team. The Aggies are 1-3-1 on the season.

While the Bobcats didn’t have the Aggies’ firepower, when they did take shots, they were dangerously close, with two shots clinking off the crossbar. Midway through the second half, Texas State had one of the most opportune scoring chances of the game as Bobcat forward Britney Curry dribbled into the box, drawing USU goalkeeper Ali Griffin toward her.

The ball slipped past Griffin, but she turned around and managed to get in front of another Texas State defender in an ensuing scrum. A foul called on Texas State ended the foray, but Cairns said it was a close call for her team.

“(Texas State) didn’t have a lot of opportunities but almost their opportunities were more dangerous than ours,” she said.

Griffin played all 110 minutes and made five saves.

While the Aggies are still hunting for their second win of the season, Cairns said she was pleased with some improvement from her freshman players. In particular, Cairns praised defender Megan Rhoads, midfielder Allie Maduell and forward Shantel Flanary for their hustle and tenacity on the field. Cairns also started freshmen Summer Tillotson and Chandra Salmon.

“We had good production from our freshmen,” Cairns said. “I think they’re starting to fit in well.”

Cairns said she was also pleased with an improved defensive performance after the road struggles last weekend in Oregon, but said her team still has a way to go.

The Aggies next face Northern Colorado, Saturday, Sept. 6 at 1 p.m. at Bell Field. Northern Colorado is 2-2-0 on the season, coming off a big win against Wyoming. The Aggies have a 1-0 record against the Bears.

-seth.h@aggiemail.usu.edu