Soccer dominates with two weekend victories
The USU women’s soccer team is still undefeated in WAC play with striker Lauren Hansen scoring two goals in the team’s 3-1 victory Friday over the Nevada Wolf Pack. Hansen continued her ascent up the Utah State record book on Sunday, scoring two more goals in the Aggies’ 3-0 win over Houston Baptist. With the latter of the two contests, Hansen tied Jayme Gordy for most career points scored in Utah State history.
Hansen scored her first goal of the weekend in the 18th minute against Nevada, after freshman midfielder Kendra Pemberton crossed the ball to senior Stefani Shiozaki. Shiozaki headed the ball, causing Nevada keeper Dana Moreno to take herself out of position which cleared the way for Hansen to shoot into the empty net.
Later, in the 23rd minute, Hansen struck again. A corner kick was hit into the box and bounced around, finally deflecting off of sophomore defender Natalie Norris towards Hansen’s boot, and was driven into the net by the two-time second-team all-WAC selection from three yards out.
“It is very exciting,” Hansen said of the goals, which put her just one behind the all-time goal record. “Both those goals, I was just there at the right time.”
The two goals notch Hansen’s career total to 34, one behind Jayme Gordy (1997-2000), with 35.
“It’s nice for the pressure to be off my back,” Hansen said. “From the beginning of the season, I knew how many goals it was going to take to get here.”
Wolf Pack keeper Dana Moreno, after saving three shots and allowing two goals in the first half, was replaced by senior Marie Cove. Cove would play the entire second half, saving 5 shots and allowing 1 goal.
Having a 2-0 lead, the Aggies faced a scare as junior midfielder Annabelle Allen of Nevada buried a free kick from about 30 yards out to early in the second half to pull within one.
Despite the goal, USU head coach Heather Cairns said she felt that her team weathered the Nevada opportunities.
“That free kick was a blast,” Cairns said of Allen’s shot. “We knew they were very good on set pieces and corner kicks.”
Utah State junior forward Shantel Flanary put the final nail in the coffin late in the 87th minute, taking the score to 3-1, which would eventually become the final score. Flanary’s seven-yard goal came after a cross from freshman Libby Lundquist out of Jordan High School in Sandy, Utah. The assist was Lundquist’s first point in her collegiate career.
“Lauren (Hansen) and Shantel (Flanary) are one of the better one-two punches in the WAC,” Cairns said of the talented tandem. “I’m happy with our overall play today. When they are both clicking we are good team, offensively.”
The Aggies outshot Nevada 18-8, and 11-4 with shots on goal. The corner kick battle was also won by the home team, earning eight, compared to two for the Pack. Junior keeper Molli Merrill had three saves for Utah State, allowing only one goal.
Junior Chandra Salmon, known as “Fish” to her teammates, said the win was really satisfying for the Aggies.
“We dug it out and ground it out, coming out hard right off kickoff,” the two-time first-team all-WAC midfielder said. “I think we controlled the midfield. When the midfield is clicking, everything else is clicking.”
Following the match against Nevada, the Aggies took on the Huskies of Houston Baptist University. The Huskies had just come off a devastating Great West Conference loss in Orem on Friday night against Utah Valley University, as the Wolverines scored four second-half goals to win 4-0. Houston Baptist’s struggles only continued against the Aggies, with Hansen once again taking over the game. With Hansen leading the way, USU out-shot the Huskies 21-2, and received solid goal play by goalkeepers Molli Merrill and Ashlyn Mulford, who helped the Aggies record their sixth shutout of the year.
The loss drops Houston Baptist to 3-10-1 overall on the season, while the two wins help USU improve to 7-4-4. The Aggies are among the hottest teams in the WAC, having now won four straight after a slow start to the season.
The Aggies will next host Boise State on Oct. 15 at 3 p.m. and Idaho two days later at 1 p.m.
– tavin.stucki@aggiemail.usu.edu