Soccer team starts season with exhibitin win
The Utah State University women’s soccer team opened its season with an exhibition win Saturday afternoon by beating the Dixie State College Rebels 4-2 on the new Chuck and Gloria Bell Soccer Field.
Senior forward Brigid Turner scored two goals for the Aggies. Turner is currently eight goals behind former Aggie Jayme Gordy to becoming Utah State’s all-time leading goal scorer.
“It is good to see them putting the ball in the back of the net,” said Aggie Head Coach Jen Kennedy Croft.
Two other Aggies, Lacey (Miles) Poulton and Charlsie Harris also scored, both with their first goals as a member of the team.
Poulton, a junior, checked in for Amber Tracy within the 28th minute of the first half and scored the first goal of the game less than one minute later.
Two minutes after that the Rebels answered with midfielder Nicole Smith’s goal to tie the game at 1-1.
Shortly after, Turner scored her first goal of the game in the 32nd minute.
Dixie forward Lacey Gustaveson scored the Rebel’s final goal of the game with 38 seconds remaining in the first half.
About 10 minutes into the second half the Aggies had an indirect free kick opportunity in front of Dixie’s goal. Utah State junior Ally Clegg took the kick and made a short pass to her right to Turner, who split a group of Rebel defenders to score the goal, giving the Aggies a 3-2 lead.
Harris, a freshman, booted in the first goal of her career from about 30 yards out in the 69th minute to seal the win for the Aggies.
“It’s awesome,” Harris said. “In the second half everybody played as a team, and that is why we won the game. Everyone spread the field and gave options to score.”
Clegg, who missed all but one game last season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament, said she was nervous to be back after a year off, but once the game started the butterflies left her.
“It’s so great to be back,” Clegg said. “It was hard to sit all last year and just watch. I think we are going to have a great season.”
Aggie goalkeepers Megan Mills and Amy Johnson split the time in front of the net – Mills taking the first half and Johnson taking the second.
Mills, a sophomore, allowed both Rebel goals and recorded five saves.
In the second half the Aggies turned in a solid defensive performance as Johnson, a freshman, allowed no goals on two shots.
“I think our defense will be very strong this year,” Croft said.
Utah State junior defender Shaylee Hogge, who played for Dixie the past two seasons, was happy to send her old teammates away with a loss.
“It feels good,” Hogge said. “They played well, though. It’s fun to see how much they have improved.”
The Rebels played their first game of the season on Aug. 23 at Weber State, losing 2-1.
Utah State’s next match is Friday as they open the regular season visiting the defending Big Sky champion Idaho State Bengals. They return home Sept. 2 to take on Weber State.