USU women’s soccer to face challenge in ranked BYU Cougar team in Provo
After falling 1-0 in overtime to Brigham Young University at home last season, the USU women’s soccer team looks for revenge Thursday, when it takes on the Cougars in Provo at 7 p.m.
Since its opening season in 1996, the Aggies have played BYU four times and have lost every meeting. BYU barely squeaked its way out of Logan with a win last season after a cold, snowy and scoreless regulation. Playing on the road for the fourth time against the Cougars, the Aggies are looking to win a game that has more implications than another tally in the win column.
BYU is currently ranked No. 23 in the NSCAA/Adidas Top 25 Poll and No. 17 in Soccer Buzz Magazine’s Top 30 Poll.
The Cougars are deserving of their high ranking, as they maintain an undefeated record at 8-0-2 and, until last week, were the only team in the nation that hadn’t been scored on.
The Aggies are looking to remedy that.
“It’s a big weekend for us because BYU and Utah are two high-quality teams in a highly respected conference,” Head Coach Heather Cairns said. “The team is excited to play opponents that are of such a high caliber that BYU and Utah are. They will be the toughest opponents that we’ve faced this year, and they both have a strong tradition of making the NCAA Tournament, and our goal is to make that tournament.”
Coming off a 1-0 win over Montana, Thursday, Sept. 27, USU boasts a healthy squad and an improved offensive attack that will be much needed against BYU goalkeeper Erika Woodbury. The Cougars took on Montana two days after the Aggies and beat them 2-1 at home. While the win itself may not be impressive, the fact that the small Big Sky Grizzlies team tallied the second goal against Woodbury all season is. That marks two straight games Woodbury has allowed a goal, the only two of the season.
So what does this mean for the Aggies?
Even though every game is different, USU blanked Montana, while the Cougars let the low-scoring team slip in a score. But one game doesn’t mean much when considering BYU has yet to add a number to their loss column.
The Cougars haven’t had an easy go at the season either, playing then-ranked No. 18 Colorado on the road and having to spar with three challenging Big West teams. Add to this, games against big name schools like Michigan State, Kansas and Wisconsin, and BYU is as legitimate as its record claims.
Getting past the Cougar defense will prove no small task. Woodbury boasts impressive numbers with a .951 save percentage, eight shutouts and a .19 goals against average, putting her in league with the best goalkeepers in the nation.
The BYU offense is no less formidable.
Katie Larkin, who scored the game-winning goal against the Aggies last season, leads the Cougars with eight goals and one assist on the season. The Cougars are something of a one-woman show, as the only other scorer on the team, Kassidy Christensen, has three goals. Shutting Larkin and Christensen down will be an important key to win the game, but the Aggies will still have to beware of Becca Riddle, who is knocking on the scoring door with 22 shots.
Unlike the Cougars, the Aggies have plenty of scoring options as five players have scored this season, including one defender. Senior forward Dana Peart continues to lead the USU attack with five goals and one assist. She boasts a .553 shot on goal percentage and is the clear Western Athletic Conference leader in shots with 38. Freshman forward Lauren Hansen and senior midfielder Abby Hunt both have two goals to aid in the attack.
In net for USU is junior goalkeeper Ali Griffin who has a .778 save percentage, 1.24 goals against average and 35 saves on the season, just four shy of BYU’s Woodbury.
-seth.h@aggiemail.usu.edu