Oct. 28, 2007

Final Stats | Photo Gallery

LOGAN, Utah - Four different Aggies scored a goal as Utah State shuts out San Jose State, 4-0, Sunday afternoon in Western Athletic Conference action at Chuck and Gloria Bell Soccer Field. Utah State picked up its first back-to-back victories this season and tallied its sixth shutout on the year. USU has now scored four goals in match three times this season. Utah State improves to 8-10 overall and 4-2 in WAC play, while San Jose State falls to 4-12-1 overall and 2-3 in WAC action.

"It was a good match for us because we had to fight through it," said Utah State head coach Heather Cairns. "We didn't have the energy we normally have, so it was all about willing ourselves to get the energy, to execute and to win."

It was the first time Utah State defeated San Jose State, as they are now 1-1-1 all-time, tying, 0-0, last season in Logan at falling 4-2 at San Jose in 2005.

In the 12th minute of the match, freshman forward Lauren Hansen scored off a rebound as the goalkeeper deflected a shot from senior midfielder Abby Hunt to give USU a 1-0 lead. Freshman midfielder Heather Pond netted her first career goal in the 39th minute of action to put the Aggies up 2-0 at the half. Sophomore defender Sydne Porter shot a free kick off a SJSU foul and Pond scored on the rebound off the deflection inside the six yard box.

"We've gotten two goals off Porter's set plays in conference play," Cairns said. "It's a game-changing play and to have that is really valuable."

In the 84th minute, junior forward Candice Clark had a breakaway and scored from fifteen yards out as junior defender Jessie Malaska assisted. Junior midfielder Lacey Christenson netted the fourth goal of the match in the 85th minute as she kicked in the ball after the goalie deflected junior forward Kiersten Nilsson's cross.

Aggie junior goalkeeper Ali Griffin made five saves in the match, as the Spartans had nine shots compared to 16 for Utah State with San Jose State's Nine Butera making five saves.

"I was really pleased with the defense," Cairns said. "A shutout in soccer is a great feat and for them to do it in this situation where they had to think a lot and the other team was throwing a lot of different things at them, was a really great accomplishment for these girls."

Hansen netted her sixth goal of the season and now leads the Aggies in goals and is tied with senior forward Dana Peart with 12 points. Clark scored her fourth goal of the season and seventh in her career, while Christenson tallied her first goal of the season and fourth career goal.

Utah State improved to 6-1 when leading at the half and 7-3 when scoring first.

"We were able to hold defensively and put the game away," Cairns said. "I think we're starting to peak at the right time. We're not making the same mistakes as we did at the beginning of the season and we're growing as a team."

The Aggies regular-season finale is next Saturday, Nov. 3, hosting Louisiana Tech. Utah State will honor its three seniors, forward Dana Peart and midfielder Abby Hunt and Shannon Ross, who will play in their final home match.

San Jose State (4-12-1, 2-3-0) vs. Utah State (8-10-0, 4-2-0)Goals by period               1  2  Tot ------------------------------------------ San Jose State.............  0  0 -  0 Utah State.................  2  2 -  4

 SCORING SUMMARY:  1.  11:25 USU Hansen, Lauren (Hunt, Abby)- Rebound off GK inside 6 yard box  2.  38:28 USU Pond, Heather (1) (Porter, Sydne)- Free kick and rebound in 6 yard box  3.  83:11 USU Clark, Candice (4) (Malaska, Jessie)- Breakaway, shot 15 yards out  4.  85:00 USU Christensen, Lacey (1) (Nilsson, Kiersten)- Kicked in after goalie deflected cross from 16Shots: San Jose State 9, Utah State 16Saves: San Jose State (Butera, Nina 5), Utah State 5 (Griffin, Ali 5)
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