Women’s Soccer Looks To Continue Strong Start
USU Women’s Soccer kept a solid core from last season’s team to start off the 2015 campaign.
Despite the graduation of Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year Taryn Rose, the Aggies retained three other defenders from a defensive line that was stellar last year, not to mention the return of team captain and senior goalkeeper Jeannie Woller. Thanks to that, the Aggies have posted shutouts in both games this year, and look to keep that streak going this weekend.
Friday’s home game against the Central Arkansas Bears was a 1-0 victory, and a solid display of possession, especially in the first half. Jordyn Chung-Hoon, the freshman midfielder from Orem, had the key assist on a pass to Jessica Brooksby, who lobbed the keeper from 30 yards out for a beautiful goal – by all accounts, an MWC Goal of the Year candidate. Brooksby returns to the team for her junior year after leading the Aggies in scoring with 11 goals last year.
Sunday the Aggies were home again, this time against the Missouri State Bears. This game was a much tighter affair than the previous one, right up until the 72nd minute, when things spiraled out of control for the Bears. Chung-Hoon and Brooksby swapped roles from the previous game as Brooksby assisted Chung-Hoon on her first career goal. Just eight minutes later, another USU freshman got her first goal as Sydnie Dolzine, the forward from McKinney, Texas, found the back of the net. Then, with less than two minutes to go in the game, sophomore midfielder Wesley Hamblin gave the Aggies an insurance goal to seal the deal for a 3-0 victory.
The Aggies (2-0) now head to Orem for their first road game of the season against Utah Valley University (1-1). Chung-Hoon will look to continue her great early season against her hometown crowd, and Brooksby will look to continue her pair of solid performances.
UVU has a common opponent with USU already, as Central Arkansas continued their road trip by losing to the Wolverines 2-0 in Orem. UVU has already faced one Mountain West opponent as they fell 6-0 in San Diego to the San Diego State Aztecs. The Aggies lead the all-time series against the Wolverines 5-1, their last appearance being a 1-0 victory for USU in 2013.
After their short one-game road trip the Aggies return home to face the University of Houston Cougars (0-1). Houston lost their season opener 2-0 to the Texas State Bobcats. Houston will start their road trip in Salt Lake, taking on the University of Utah before coming to Logan on Sunday. UH and USU faced each other for the first time last year, playing to a 1-1 draw in double overtime.
—Tristan Boyce is a super-senior from Malad, Idaho. He loves sports, and is willing to play Madden against you. He would like you to know that opening weekend for USU Women’s soccer taught us all that there are apparently a lot of bears along US Highway 65.