Column: By the Books
This has been a season of firsts for the women’s soccer team.
This is the first time the Ags are playing in a post season tournament. This is the first time the Ags finished top two in the conference.
On Thursday at noon the Ags will take on Fresno State in Boise, Idaho in the quarterfinals of the Western Athletic Conference tournament.
It will be the Ags first post season game since the program was started nine years ago.
Earlier in the season the Bulldogs and Aggies played to a 0-0 draw after two overtime periods couldn’t determine a winner. On Thursday that won’t be the case as a shootout will be used if the game remains tied after two overtime periods.
In the past three games the Ags haven’t allowed a goal as their defense has stepped up. The Fresno State game saw three starting defenders either not start or have to be taken out of the game, yet the replacements filled in admirably as they were able to force a tie which was the difference between second and fifth place.
Defender Liz Masson has anchored the defense throughout the season after shoring things up after her unfortunate misplay against Southern Utah which led to a tie in a game the Aggies could have won.
In addition, Masson scored her first goal of her college career on Sunday as she scored off a corner kick against the University of Idaho.
For her efforts this past week, Masson was named WAC Defensive Player of the Week.
The defense’s surge of late can be attributed to a healthy Kelli Allred in goal. After having troubles with a concussion through the middle part of the season, Allred has regained her form.
Utah State’s three straight shutouts ties a team record which was set in 2003 when the Aggies beat Northern Colorado, Northern Arizona and Cal State Northridge without allowing a goal.
The Ags defense will have a good chance to keep their shutout streak alive as defender Rachelle Dixon returns from her knee injury which she suffered against the University of Nevada.
Jessie Malaska and Shannon Ross have seen most of the playing time since Dixon has been on the bench with her injury.
Playing the subs has given the Ags a lot of momentum going into the tournament.
As Utah State Head Coach Heather Cairns said “you can’t win the tournament with 11 players.”
Aside from the defenders, Abby Hunt, Andra Hansen, Lindsay Lauro and KD Keller have been playing better in the front. The 4-0 victory over Boise State and the extra time afforded the players after Charity Weston didn’t return to the game after she received a yellow card.
As for their prospects in the tournament, the Ags will play Fresno and, if they win, will play the number one seed Hawai’i.
Both the Ags and Bulldogs beat Hawai’i in the regular season. They were the only losses suffered by the Wahine during the conference season.
The Aggies will have to play three days consecutively if they are to win the conference tournament. The sub’s play will be important to Utah State’s success this weekend but they should be up to the task.
Kevin is a senior majoring
in print journalism.
Comments can be sent to
krn@cc.usu.edu.