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Ags, Utes looking similar

By Seth R. Hawkins

As much as a USU team may hate to be compared to any University of Utah squad, the Aggie soccer team shares some striking similarities with the Utes.

Both teams sport losing records, USU at 2-3-1 and Utah at 1-5-0. Both teams have faced Oregon and Oregon State and come out on the losing end of the stick. In every loss this season, both USU and Utah have been denied victory by a margin of one goal.

Both teams boast tough early season schedules. Both teams’ rosters are dominated by players from the state of Utah. And both squads have sophomore forwards that can score at a moments notice.

The similarities only intensify this rivalry in which the Aggies have historically been dominated by the Utes, winning only once in the last 10 meetings.

Despite the similarities, the Aggies have one thing USU head coach Heather Cairns said will likely make a difference in Friday’s match: momentum. The Aggies will visit Salt Lake with a 3-0 win over Northern Colorado, which gave the team a much-needed confidence boost, Cairns said.

“It’s a big rivalry game for us,” Cairns said. “I think we’re just ready. We’re going in with the confidence that we can beat them for sure.”

The Utes will come into Friday’s match on a losing slump, which at first glance might spell a potentially easy victory for the Aggies. But Utah’s record is deceiving, Cairns said.

Besides playing Oregon State and Oregon, the Utes have also faced nationally ranked Wake Forest (17), Georgia (22) and Pac-10 team Arizona – all losses.

“They’ve played great teams,” Cairns said. “It’s not like we can say they’re down this year. Their schedule is even tougher than ours.”

A rivalry in the truest sense of the word, past games have been characterized by narrow margins of victory, physical matchups and limited scoring opportunities. Both squads have potent attacks dominated by veteran forwards and the outcome will be decided by which side takes advantage of the few scoring opportunities available, Cairns said.

“We’re going to need someone to step up big in the attack,” Cairns said. “It can’t be another Texas State where we don’t get it done. We’re going to have to capitalize on our opportunities. You never get that many opportunities in an in-state rivalry game.”

In addition to the constant team goal of scoring goals and providing staunch defense, Cairns said the Aggies will have to shut down Ute forwards Kelly Isleib, who leads Utah in scoring with three goals, and Lauren Hair. But even if USU can limit their scoring opportunities, Utah has three other players who have goals on the season.

The Aggies are led in scoring by freshman forward Shantel Flanary, who has two goals and one assist, and sophomore forward Lauren Hansen, who has also tallied two goals. Two other forwards have scored for the Aggies, as well as junior defender Lindsey Smart.

After playing Utah on Friday, the Aggies will return to the Chuck and Gloria Bell Soccer Field Sunday to host former WAC opponent UTEP for a 1 p.m. match. As if Utah weren’t a big enough challenge for USU, UTEP has an undefeated record (5-0).

“They’re going to be another tough team to play,” Cairns said. “We’re going to have look one game ahead. We’re going to have to really not put all our focus just on Utah. We’ve got two games to win, not just one.”

The UTEP Miners are led by Tameka Sumter, who has four goals on the year, and Cortney Casey, with two goals and an assist. The Miners score early and boast a tight defense that has only allowed three goals all season.

Cairns said while UTEP will be tough, she is glad she is facing them at home, where the Aggies have claimed both their wins this season.

–seth.h@aggiemail.usu.edu