Soccer heads out on 2011 season
In 2009, the Utah State soccer team started off the season with a win streak of three games. The Aggies rolled over Northern Arizona (2-0), an impressive Texas Tech team (3-2), and overcame a deficit to beat Stephan F. Austin University (3-2). After the first three games, the USU side had a record of 3-0-0.
That was best start in program history, until this year. After the first four games of the season, the team is undefeated. They’ve already notched victories over Weber State, a 1-0 nail-bitter at Rio Tinto Stadium, and beat Portland State, Colorado College and Northern Colorado each by scores of 2-1.
“I think the exciting thing is that we’re winning some games but we also see some areas that we need to work on,” Head Coach Heather Cairns said.
Aggie forward Shantal Flanary echoed her coaches sentiments.
“We’ve done really well, but there’s defiantly a lot we need to work on,” she said.
Included in the Aggies improvement agenda, Transistioning the ball in the mid-field and keeping possession something the Aggies have stuggled with this year.
“Possesing and transitioning, that will evolve as the season goes and we will re-evaluate after each game but those things right now are what we are focusing on,” Cairns said.
The transistion of the ball from offense to defense is something the Aggies spent time on in practice this week.
“It’s what we work on today. Defending and attacking as a team,” said Natalie Norris.
This year, they are on a quest to win their third Western Athletic Conference title in four years, impressive numbers for a team that only entered the conference in 2005. In the 2011 WAC preseason poll, the Aggies tied with the San Jose State Spartans for first place. The two WAC powerhouses won’t face off until USU hosts the Spartans on October 28th.
USU is returning 8 starters from last year’s team including 4 players who were named to the all-WAC team in 2010. Flanary, Mid-fielder Chandra Salmon-Christenson and Defenders Norris and Summer Tillotson are all expected to make some noise for the Aggies.
Cairns said the team has been forced to make some difficult adjustments in preparation.
“Once you change a couple of the moving parts, things just change. Were just finding out what this team’s strengths are and building on those.” Cairns said.
Flanary has started her season off on a high note earning WAC player of the week for her three goal performance during Utah States road trip this past weekend. The striker scored three of the four Aggie goals on the trip.
“This was something I had hoped for but not necessarily something I would expect,” Flanary said.
The senior has 12 assists in her career at USU putting her just three behind Lindsey Smart’s record of 15. Flanary also is currently sitting at fourth in the record books with 29 goals. She is just eight away from the top spot in that category as well.
“I think (my success) is a reflection on the team as a whole not just me personally,” Flanary said.
Utah State Sophomore forward Kendra Pemberton is one of the players finding success on the team. Last year Pemberton was third on the team with 9 points. As a freshman she started in 18 of the 21 games. In her second season with the Aggies Pemberton has two assists.
So far this season the Aggies have made use of efficient scoring and strong defensive outings to achieve success. USU’s defensive side has been solid throughout the first four games.
“It really takes our whole team to defend and we’re doing well together,” said Norris
Norris is part of a solid defensive staff backing up the Aggies victories. Norris was named WAC defensive player of the year for the 2010 season.
“We playing well together as a defensive line with our keeper Molli,” Norris said.
Along with Norris, leading the backline is Tillotson. The senior defender started for the Aggies in every game last season. Tillotson has already added an assist to her stats sheet for the 2011 season. During the Portland State University game, Tillotson set up Flanary with a pass that ended in a goal. That goal ended up being the game winner.
Yesterday, August 30, the Aggies earned their first ever regional ranking. USU is ranked ninth in the West region. They take on the University of Utah Friday September 2nd at Chuck and Gloria Bell field.
– meredith.kinney@aggiemail.usu.edu