Ags pick up first road win

minute later, their first win on the road.

The Aggies beat UVSC 2-1 thanks to goals by two midfielders, Rachelle Dixon and Christenson. The win was the third for the Ags this season and first on the road since last October against Idaho.

Christenson received a pass a little way out of the box and dribbled in before firing a shot that found the top corner of the net to give the Ags a late 2-1 lead.

UVSC struck first on a goal just nine minutes into the game. The Ags struck back three minutes later when Dixon fired a shot off a corner kick that tied the game at 1-1.

Going into the game, Utah State Head Coach Heather Cairns said she felt it would come down to big plays, so she said she focused the players more on offense and making the big play.

“Offensively, we talked about using 11 players,” she said. “That was evidenced by the two midfielders scoring.”

Dixon and Christenson scored from their midfield spots but Cairns said she didn’t see the best game from the Aggie forwards. She said they were just a little bit off.

Dana Peart didn’t manage to get a shot off before she was kneed in the quad and had to leave the game, but the offense did have its chances.

Trisha Cardon took three shots, all of them on goal, including a one-on-one with UVSC’s goalie, which she couldn’t put away.

While Cairns said the defense was average, the game showed what playing a complete game can do.

“We put a complete game together and were rewarded with a road win,” she said.

Aggie goalie Lisa Willardson made her second career start and recorded her first win thanks to her three saves.

The win was “big time” Cairns said. With the conference season starting this weekend, a win on the road will help since three of the next five games will be played away from Logan.

The Aggies open up Western Athletic Conference play on Sunday at noon against Louisiana Tech.

-krn@cc.usu.edu