Box Score Aug. 24, 2014 Box Score
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Utah State soccer dropped its second-straight match to open the season, falling to Missouri State, 2-0, in the sweltering heat of Springfield, Mo., on Sunday.
The Bears used early goals in the first few minutes of each half and the home team made the two goals stand up, holding off a USU attack.
Utah State opens the season 0-2-0, after losing at No. 23 Arkansas, 3-1, Friday night, as the Aggies are playing their first two matches on the road in a season since 2007. It also marks USU's first 0-2-0 start to season since 2005, when the Aggies began the season 0-6-1. Missouri State evens its record to 1-1-0.
For the second-straight match, the Aggies found themselves in an early hole, as the Bears took the early lead in the sixth minute of action. Brooke Zimmerman scored her first goal of the season off the pass from Lauren Fussell after a scramble in the box following a corner kick to give MSU the early 1-0 advantage.
"The early hole was really hard to dig out of. It wasn't like we didn't have enough time. We just couldn't get it done," USU head coach Heather Cairns said. "The irony was that when we actually started to play a little bit better, that is when they scored the second goal. We are still forming this team and haven't hit our stride."
The Utah State offense was more active in the first half than they were against No. 23 Arkansas on Friday. Junior defender Lexie Henrie took three shots in the first half alone. Six different USU players took shots in the first 45 minutes.
Sophomore forward Jessica Brooksby fired off two shots in the final five minutes of the half that were both saved by MSU goalkeeper Jessica Perry.
In the 54th minute, the Bears struck again when Molly Huber knocked in her first goal of the season. Zimmerman and Molly Brewer got the ball to Huber inside the 16-yard box and Huber delivered the goal.
Utah State ended with a 15-13 shots advantage, as well as a 4-3 corner kicks edge, but the Aggies just couldn't get the ball in the net as Perry made six saves on the afternoon. Senior forward Lauren Roundy and sophomore defender Lexie Henrie led USU with three shots apiece, each with one on goal while Brooksby finished with two shots, both on goal.
USU returns home to host its 2014 home opener on Sunday, Aug. 31 against Omaha at 1 p.m. Once again, admission to all Utah State soccer matches at Chuck and Gloria Bell Soccer Field is free.
Fans can follow the Aggie soccer program on twitter at @USUSoccer or on Facebook at USUSoccer. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program at @USUAthletics or on Facebook at USUAthletics. Aggie soccer can also be followed on Instagram at @ususoccer.
Aggie fans can also still register for the Utah State University Athletics Hall of Fame Ceremony and Banquet on Friday, Sept. 6 at 6 p.m. at the Riverwoods Conference Center in Logan.
For more information or to register, go to www.utahstateaggies.com/HOF or contact Jimmy Moore, Assistant Athletic Director for Special Projects, at (435) 797-7101.
-USU-
