Utah State Soccer Wins, 4-3, at Weber State Wednesday

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Utah State soccer scored the most goals in a match since 2005 in a 4-3 win against in-state foe Weber State at the Wildcat Soccer Field. USU halted their three-match losing streak and improved to 2-3 overall, while Weber State evens their record to 2-2.

 

"It was a thriller," said Utah State head coach Heather Cairns. "The good thing is that good teams find a way to win and there were some good plays and some bad plays from both teams, but in the end we pulled out a win."

 

Freshman forward Lauren Hansen scored what ended up being the game winner with a chip shot over the goalkeeper's head with an assist from junior forward Kiersten Nilsson in the 59th minute of action. That goal put USU ahead, 4-1, and the Aggies withstood two late Weber State goals for the win.

 

Hansen, a native of Camano Island, Wash., scored her first career goal in an Aggie uniform and her second goal this season, as she scored in the exhibition match against Dixie State.

 

Senior forward Dana Peart kick started the scoring for Utah State as the Aggies scored three goals in the first half. Peart's goal came in the 11th minute of action when she crossed from the left and then redirected off the right post after it was hit by one of the Wildcat's defender.

 

Goal number two for USU was scored in the 19th minute of action by senior midfielder Abby Hunt when she tapped the ball in the net from the 6-yard box off an assist from Peart and junior midfielder Lacey Christenson.

 

Sophomore forward Alysa Adams scored the third goal of the first half by netting the third shot after two blocked shots with 11 seconds left in the half. Adams goal was the first in her career at Utah State.

 

"I told the girls at halftime that we had to play like we were down 1-0. Weber's a good team, and we saw that they could be deadly with flip throws and their long balls," Cairns said. "So with that type of potent attack, you know that no lead is safe. You have to finish off a game."

 

Weber State responded early in the second half when forward Whitney Smith put the ball in the back of the net off a throw-in from midfielder Kelsie Ehlers in the 51st minute of the match.

 

After Hansen's goal nine minutes later, the Wildcats added another goal to make the score 4-2. Midfielder Lauren Parkhurst assisted forward Natalie Blaylock when she batted the ball in the box in the 74th minute of the match. Forward Hayley McCoy added the final goal of the match off a free kick hit to the far post at 78:04.

 

"It was a little scary toward the end, but we pulled it off, so that's all that matters," said senior Dana Peart. "We came out to win today, we really did. We showed a lot of character toward the end."

 

Aggie junior goalkeeper Ali Griffin made six saves in the first half of action, while fellow junior Lisa Willardson tallied four saves in the second half. In 90 minutes of action, Weber State's Rebecca Ritchie made seven saves.

 

The Wildcats had a 21-12 shot advantage, including 10-4 in the second half and 13-11 shots on goal.

 

USU is now 5-5-1 all-time against Weber State and snapped the Wildcats' two-game winning streak. Utah State also won its first road game of the season.

 

The Aggies continue action on Friday [Sept 14] as they host the Oregon Ducks in their home-opener at 4 p.m. at the Chuck and Gloria Bell Soccer Field. On Sunday [Sept. 16], USU hosts Idaho State at noon.

 

Admission to all Utah State soccer home matches is free.

 

Utah State (2-3-0) vs. Weber State (2-2-0

Date: Sep 12, 2007 Attendance: 281

Weather: 80s, Sunny

Goals by Period            1 2 Tot