Ags lose to Utes in soccer
The Utah State Aggies (3-3-3) remain win-less on the road this season, 0-3-3, as they fell to in-state rival University of Utah 2-1 on Thursday night. The Aggies are also win-less against the Utes since the Aggie soccer program started. Senior forward Lauren Hair led the Utes (2-9-0), scoring and assisting on a goal in the Utes second win and first home win of the season.
The Utes dominated the Aggies in the first half, with 11 shots and five corner-kick attempts. The Utes had a goal disallowed midway through the first half on an offsides call, but in the 44th minute junior Chelsea Forbes found Hair on a cross from the right side and Hair headed the goal in.
The Aggies took only five shots in the first half, but turned things around in the start of the second half. In the 53rd minute, freshman midfielder Kendra Pemberton found senior forward Lauren Hansen on a cross from the left side for a one-timer from five yards out. Hansen’s game tying goal was her fourth of the season.
The Aggies continued to play aggressively with five more shots on goal before a series of unfortunate events played out for the Aggies, leaving them with the loss. Hair attempted a goal that deflected out to senior defender Morgan Skeen who then scored from 22 yards out. The go-ahead goal in the 78th minute deflected off of the Aggies Hansen and into the back of the net.
Freshman goalkeeper Cheyanne Mulcock came up strong for the Utes with three saves in ninety minutes of play. The Utes finished the night with 14 shots and five shots on goal while the Aggies finished with only 12 shots and four shots on goal.
The Aggies will now face their final in-state rival of the season as they host No. 9 Brigham Young University at Chuck and Gloria Bell Field on Saturday at 4 p.m. Despite the loss to the Utes, the Aggies are 2-1 against in-state opponents, but they will be in for a huge challenge as they have never defeated BYU at home or on the road.
– ty.d.hus@aggiemail.usu.edu