Sept. 3, 2006

Box Score

SALT LAKE CITY - Despite a frenzied finish, the Utah State soccer team lost to Washington State, 1-0, Sunday afternoon in the University of Utah Fall Classic at Ute Field.

The majority of the final 15 minutes of the match involved action in front of Washington State's net, but the Aggies could not the get the ball in the net.

Utah State had 10 shots in the match, one fewer than Washington State, as the Aggies had eight shots on goal compared to only five for the Cougars.

The Aggies were shutout for the second match in a row, following Friday's 3-0 loss to No. 17 Arizona, and Utah State evens its record at 2-2-0, while Washington State improves to 2-1-1.

Utah State is now 0-2-0 against Washington State all-time, as well as 1-5-0 versus Pac-10 teams all-time.

Washington State had a scoring threat in the first 40 seconds of the match, as Brook Bemis launched a shot from 10-yards out that Utah State sophomore goalkeeper Ali Griffin made a sprawling save to push the ball wide.

The Cougars got on the board in the 7th minute, as a free kick generated a scoring chance after Carly Dobratz fed Sasha Baines, who lofted a shot from the left wing just inside the 18-yard box elbow that sailed over Griffin into the net.

Utah State got some scoring opportunities created, as junior midfielder Andra Hansen checked into the match in the 15th minute and promptly produced two chances, including the Aggies' first corner kick of the match.

Roughly 10 minutes later, senior forward Charlsie Harris checked in and got a shot off from the top of the box, as Utah State cranked up its possession. Harris earned a free kick in the 34th minute while driving to the goal. Sophomore midfielder Shannon Ross took the kick from 25-yards out, cracking a line drive shot that WSU keeper Brynn Bemis blocked, but lost control momentarily as senior forward Charity Weston and freshman forward Jessica Williams closed in before Bemis smothered.

The Cougars countered with several threats, but the Aggie defensive line held solid. In the 40th minute, freshman forward Erin Salmon took a counter attack and drilled a shot from 18-yards out that Bemis dove and snared.

The first half ended with some dramatics, with a Utah State foul just outside the 18-yard box as time was winding down. The official stopped and reset the clock for two seconds, allowing Washington State a shot, but Dobratz fired the shot that went wide as the half ended.

"I wasn't happy with the breakdown in the first 10 minutes, as they threw some different things at us than Arizona did and so it took us awhile to figure out how they were going to attack and how we were going to defend, and it cost us a goal," Utah State head coach Cairns said. "Once we did figure those tactics out, we were much better and they were much less dangerous. I was happy that it only took part of the half this match as opposed to halftime as in the Arizona match."

The second half opened with another Washington State free kick that was drilled through and Griffin smothered.

Utah State countered with creating pressure at the other end, and Salmon was fiercely fouled by WSU's Jessica Martinez to receive a yellow card. Ross took the free kick from 30 yards out but it was drilled into the wall denying the Aggies a scoring threat.

The Aggies did create a scoring threat in the 57th minute, as a ball in front of the net was challenged by Weston, who collided with Bemis, jarring the ball loose, and Utah State hit the ball into the net, but was called off by the official, who issued a yellow card to Weston. The collision injured Bemis, who was replaced by backup Amber Wittmers.

Utah State had another serious threat in the 77th minute, as junior midfielder Dana Peart's corner kick ended up in front of the net, but the ball could not be knocked in. The Aggies kept pressuring, getting several chances, just none on goal. In the 84th minute, freshman defender Lindsey Smart fired into the box that Wittmers dove to save, keeping the bagel on the board for the Aggies.

As time was winding down, Weston attempted to drive, but was fouled and the clock was again reset. With eight seconds left, Smart launched the free kick into the box that Washington State cleared out as the horn sounded.

"I would have liked to have put one in there in the end in the last 15 minutes, but it shows a great deal of gamesmanship on our end, knowing the situation and that we had to push hard. That shows that we're gaining some maturity," Cairns said. "The girls came away from this disappointed, which shows that they knew we could have won that game. The disappointment in their faces is a positive because it shows that we have the confidence and belief that we can beat some of these teams, now it is just that last step of making that happen."

Utah State will travel to San Francisco, Calif., to play in the City By The Bay Classic, facing former Big West foes Long Beach State on Friday, Sept. 8 at 8:30 p.m. (MST) and Cal State Northridge on Sunday, Sept. 10 at 1 p.m. (MST). The Aggies return home to Chuck & Gloria Bell Soccer Field to host intra-state rival BYU on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 1 p.m. (MST).

Washington State (2-1-1) vs. Utah State (2-2-0) Date: Sep 03, 2006  Attendance: Weather: 80 degrees, sunny
 Goals by period       1  2  Tot ------------------------------- Washington State....  1  0 -  1 Utah State..........  0  0 -  0
 SCORING SUMMARY:  1.   6:43 WSU Baines, Sasha (1) (Dobratz, Carly) - shot from 12 yards out over gaolies into
 Shots: Washington State 11, Utah State 10 Saves: Washington State 8 (Wittmers, Amber 2; Bemis, Brynn 6), Utah State 3 (Griffin, Ali 3) Utah Fall Classic. Utah State now 0-2-0 vs. Washington State all-time and 1-5-0 vs. Pac-10 teams.