Hansen’s hat-trick leads Aggies in dominant win
With a hat-trick in the first half of Sunday’s game against the Hawaii Rainbow Wahine (3-14-3, 1-5-2), senior striker Lauren Hansen became Utah State’s all-time leading goal scorer in the Aggies to a 4-0 shutout win.
The match marked the end of regular-season play for the Aggies (9-6-5, 5-2-1) as well as the last home match for this year’s senior class.
In the second minute of play, on assists from Mari Miyashiro and Heather Pond, Hansen made a clear shot from the 18-yard line to tie the USU career goal record that had been set by Jayme Gordy from 1997 to 2000.
Just 14 minutes later, midfielder Stefani Shiozaki sent a corner kick directly to Hansen, who headed it into the goal breaking Gordy’s record, and giving Hansen a total of 37 career goals.
“It was so fitting to get that assist from Shio(zaki),” Hansen said. “She’s my best friend, I couldn’t have asked for a better person to help me to get the record.”
“It was so great,” Shiozaki said. “She scored that second goal and we just looked at each other and almost started crying. It was a very emotional game for all of us.”
Pond, also a midfielder, said, “Our main goal was to win of course, but we really wanted to help Lo (Hansen) get her record. For me to help her get the tie, and Shio(zaki) to help her beat it, was absolutely amazing.”
Heather Cairns, Aggie head coach, said it was great for Hansen to make her mark among players like Gordy.
“Jayme is the elite of our program,” she said. “It is a fitting tribute for Lauren to take her place with her.”
Five minutes later, Hansen followed her record-breaking goal with another 18-yard goal on an assist from fellow striker, Shantel Flanary.
This class of seniors is the winningest class in Utah State soccer history. They are also the only class to come away with winning seasons all four years of their careers.
“The whole team came together for us to accomplish that,” Hansen said. “That’s why we have been so successful.”
All three seniors ended their last regular season with stats on the score sheet.
Cairns said the girls have taken pride in every aspect of their experience here.
“They are all good at seizing their opportunities,” she said.
The Aggies held Hawaii to a shutout, though they did come close to scoring a few times.
Hawaii had the first scoring opportunity in the first minute of the game, but the shot was blocked by goalkeeper Molli Merrill. Hawaii had three other shots on goal, all stopped by Merrill.
In the first half, both teams took eight shots, but in the second half, USU out-shot the Wahine 15-1.
“It’s always tough when you’re on your way to shutting a team out. You don’t want to lose motivation,” Pond said. “We did a good job the keeping up our determination in the second half and maintaining the shutout.”
Sunday’s win puts the Aggies as the Western Athletic Conference’s co-champions heading into post-season play, marking the fifth time in the last six years the Aggies have finished in first or second in the conference.
“The post-season is do or die,” Cairns said. “The prize is within reach, everyone just needs to step up, compete, and go for it. It’s another opportunity for us to seize.”
Hansen, Pond, and Shiozaki all said they were thrilled with the way Sunday went.
“I honestly don’t think you could have planned it this way,” Hansen said. “Our families are here, the three of us really helped each other out, and the weather is great.”
Shiozaki said,”What a good way to end our senior year.”
“It was perfect,” Hansen said.
– megan.allen@aggiemail.usu.edu