Women’s soccer goes to overtime twice over weekend
The Utah State women’s soccer team (3-1-3) returned home this weekend after a three-game road trip and played well against back to back regionally ranked opponents. In a double overtime thriller Friday, they scored an impressive 1-1 tie, coming from behind against Colorado College (2-1-4), and on Sunday they defeated Cal Poly (3-4-0) 3-2 on a golden goal in overtime.
Against Colorado College, the Aggies went down 1-0 after a goal in the 65th minute by Colorado College’s Brittney Lyman. USU rallied back in front of nearly 1,000 raucous fans to tie the game when WAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Shantel Flanary connected on a penalty kick in the 90th minute. The game headed into overtime, but 20 minutes was not enough as the game ended in a 1-1 tie.
“Colorado College is tough and we want to test ourselves,” said USU coach Heather Cairns. “This game was a positive step, but you want to win.”
The first half was a back and forth affair, with neither team able to gain the upper hand. Aggie senior Lauren Hansen, who is third in career goals in USU history, nearly added to her total early in the first half when her shot narrowly missed left. With neither team able to break through the defenses, the first half ended 0-0. Both teams struggled to find the edge in the second half as well, until the 65th minute when Colorado College was awarded a free kick.
After going down 0-1, Cairns said, “It lit a fire under us and we were going to push, push, push. That was the best soccer of that half.”
Following the goal, the Aggies came out aggressively but couldn’t find the net. That was until Flanary was awarded a penalty kick late. With the game on the line, she stepped up and knocked in the goal.
“I really enjoy situations like that,” Flanary said. “There was no pressure.”
Despite the comeback, the Aggies realize that they still need to improve their play.
“We are disappointed with a tie,” said Cairns. “We need to be more consistent in our effort and execution.”
Flanary echoed her coach’s words on consistency, but also saw the positive in the game, saying “we started the second half slow, but to come back really shows character.”
On Friday, the Aggies also hosted Youth Soccer Day in conjunction with Utah Youth Soccer Association and South Cache Soccer League. Young kids involved with these organizations were invited onto the field prior to the game and to an autograph session with the USU players after the game.
“This is so special for us,” Cairns said, “the girls all really enjoyed it.”
On Sunday USU came out with an even better all-around effort against Cal Poly, defeating them 3-2, their first win against the Mustangs since 1999. Hansen and Flanary scored in regulation, and freshman Mari Miyashiro scored the golden goal in the 96th minute, during overtime. It was Miyashiro’s first career goal as an Aggie, but after the game, she had praise only for her team.
“Our team did so well,” said Miyashiro, who hails from Mililani, Hawaii. “We really out possessed the other team and they put so much effort out there.”
The Aggies fell behind early after Whitney Sisler’s goal in the 14th minute, but once again they rallied back in dramatic fashion. Nine minutes later, Hansen shook free, received a pass from midfielder Heather Pond, and found the back of the net. USU would strike again before the half, this time from Flanary. Down 2-1, Cal Poly regained momentum after halftime, evening the game in the 62nd minute.
“We told the girls at halftime, a 2-1 lead is the most dangerous lead. Whoever scores that next goal gets the momentum,” Cairns said after the game.
The deadlocked teams headed into overtime soon after, a familiar position for USU.
“We’ve been in so many overtimes,” joked senior midfielder Stefani Shiozaki, “I think we would know it best.”
Unlike Friday, though, the Aggies would only need six minutes for Miyashiro to break free and knock in the game winning goal.
“It was huge,” Shiozaki said. “We’ve been on a tying streak, so we finally got over that hump.”
The Aggies will travel to California where they will play Loyola Marymount on Sept. 17. Cairns said she has been very impressed with her team’s performance, and feels that they can play with the top teams.
“We feel like we represented the WAC,” Cairns said. “It’s super exciting. I’m really proud of ourselves.”
– mark.israelsen@aggiemail.usu.edu