Led by Hansen, Utah State makes move for title
What do the WAC player of the year, an all-time leading goal scorer, five all-WAC players and a WAC co-championship team have in common? Answer: they are all found on the Utah State soccer team this year.
On Nov. 3, sophomore defender Natalie Norris was awarded the WAC defensive player of the year. Norris was also awarded WAC defensive player of the week for the first time this season during the week ending Oct. 31. USU head coach Heather Cairns said Norris has a lot to do with how the defense has been performing this season.
“Our defense is solid, we’re limiting teams’ chances. Norris has a lot to do with that,” Cairns said of the sophomore. “She is great in the air. She is a great one-versus-one defender. She closes down seams incredibly well. She is a big reason that our back line is a strong as they are.”
This season is the first time that Norris has made an all-WAC appearance, and she is joined on the first team by forward Shantel Flanary and midfielder Chandra Salmon. Earning second-team honors for the Aggies are defender Summer Tillotson and forward Lauren Hansen.
Hansen, who has earned the second-team all-WAC honor for the third season in a row, also became Utah State’s all-time leading goal scorer with a hat trick in the match against Hawaii on Halloween, giving her a career total of 37 goals.
“(Hansen) certainly had a weekend breaking all the records,” Cairns said. “That’s really exciting. She’s one of the better forwards in the conference.”
Hansen also tied the school record for total points in one game, adding an assist to her three goals, giving her a total of seven points in the match.
“It was just a really emotional day, happy tears of course,” Hansen said. “Just having the whole family there, ‘perfect’ is really the word to describe it. It’s something that I’ll remember for the rest of my life. I never thought it would actually happen, that’s for sure.”
USU junior goalkeeper Molli Merrill said she is excited for Hansen to have broken the record.
“I’m also excited for the team because we’re scoring,” Merrill said. “When (Hansen) and Shantel (Flanary) are keeping the ball up top, we’re not getting the ball shoved down our throat. It takes pressure off of us.”
Flanary, a junior, earned her second straight first-team all-WAC award this season. She has scored four goals and four assists in WAC play, and was named the 2010 WAC offensive player of the year before the season started.
“Flanary is so dangerous because not only is she a goal-scoring threat, but also a threat to be a play maker for us to set up the people around her,” Cairns said. “She is a warrior.”
Salmon, also a junior, earned her third-straight first-team appearance, having been awarded the recognition every season she has been on campus.
“We get recognition when the team does well,” Salmon said. “It’s really a team award.”
Tillotson was awarded her first all-WAC appearance of her career. The 5-foot-8 junior out of Alta High School was a part of the back line that helped shut out opponents nine times this year.
Looking forward to tournament play in Ruston, La., the Aggies have high hopes for a WAC tournament championship. Cairns said every team in the conference is better this season compared to last.
“At this point in the year we have to expect that every opponent will give us their best game,” Cairns said. “We have to focus on us giving the best game we can. We have to take control of our own destiny.”
Having earned a bye in the first round, Utah State will play Fresno State on Friday, Nov. 5 at 11:30 p.m. local time.
Keeper Molli Merrill said that she is hopeful for a high finish.
“Obviously we hope we can come out and win. Our expectation is to win,” Merrill said. “Honestly I think it’s just who works the hardest and gets a little bit of luck.”
Hansen said she felt the team’s previous experience playing in the WAC tournament is something the players can use to their advantage.
“I really think this is the year. Any team any given day can win, and there’s no team that’s ‘out-of-the-water-can’t-beat-them,'” Hansen said.
Cairns said USU’s defense is going to be important in the tourney.
“Our back line is better than it was last year. It’s more solid, it’s more reliable, less mistakes, limiting opportunities in the 18-yard box,” Cairns said. “Our shutout numbers have improved, goals against average has improved. It gives you that many more opportunities as well.”
The winner of the match will move on to the championship game, to be played on Sunday at 1 p.m. All tournament games will be streamed online from the WAC.tv website for a fee.
– tavin.stucki@aggiemail.usu.edu