Women’s soccer opens schedule against Big Sky teams
The Utah State University women’s soccer team opens its regular season Friday in Pocatello taking on the Idaho State Bengals, the 2001 Big Sky conference tournament champions.
This will be the fourth meeting between the two schools, with the Aggies holding a 2-1 advantage.
The Aggies have won their season opening game just once in the six years they have been a Division 1 program, that being versus the Bengals at home in 1998.
The Aggies defeated ISU last season 4-1 on Tower Field, but Aggie Head Coach Jen Kennedy Croft said that doesn’t mean anything for today’s game.
“It’s difficult going on the road to start the season, so we can’t really take anything from that (last year’s win),” she said. “Its a whole new ballgame this year.”
The focus of practice this week, Croft said, was to iron out some things in the Aggie backline that allowed two goals versus Dixie State.
Croft said a positive for today’s game is the confidence the Aggies are carrying over from the exhibition win against the Rebels.
“Our win over Dixie gave us confidence,” Croft said. “This game will be a good test for us.”
The Bengals have also played an exhibition game, trouncing Utah Valley State College 7-1 Aug. 24 in Pocatello.
Injury-wise, senior defender Megan (Edge) Tanner has been practicing with the team this week, and Croft said there is a good chance she will play against ISU. Tanner sat out last Saturday’s game versus Dixie State with a swollen foot.
Jessica Donelson has a sore quadricept but should also be ready to go, Croft said.
In 2001, ISU defeated the Weber State Wildcats in the Big Sky tournament championship and then lost in the first round of the NCAA College Cup to the Portland University.
The Aggies will return to action Monday as they will host in-state rival Weber State, the 2001 Big Sky regular season champions, at Chuck and Gloria Bell Field.
The Aggies are 2-3-1 against Weber State all-time and have not beaten the Wildcats since 1999 when USU won in Ogden, 2-1.
“It’s a big rivalry,” Croft said. “We recruit the same players they do, so they know each other. It can tend to get a little more physical than we would like.”
Weber State won its exhibition match last Friday 2-1 against the Dixie State Rebels, the same team the Aggies beat in its exhibition last Saturday.
The Wildcats open their regular season at home today versus Southern Utah University.
-Samhis@cc.usu.edu