LOGAN, Utah - Utah State soccer ended the year with a five-match unbeaten streak after punctuating the season with a 3-0 victory over Wyoming on Sunday afternoon.
Neither team was able to find the back on the net during the opening 45 minutes as the teams went into the half tied at 0-0. The Aggies had a 9-2 advantage in shots during the first half, peppering the Wyoming net as the Cowgirls keeper recorded five saves going into the break.
Freshman midfielder Whitney Lopez put the Aggies on the board in the 53rd minute when redshirt-sophomore forward Sara Noel-Taylor shielded off Wyoming defenders just outside of the goal and crossed the ball across the face of goal. Lopez ran onto the ball and powered it into the back of the net for the first goal of her collegiate career.
With Utah State leading 1-0, Wyoming (2-7-0, 2-7-0 MW) drew a penalty in the 55th minute, but USU sophomore keeper Diera Walton saved her third penalty of the season as she dove the right way and parried the PK outside of the goal. In all, Walton finished the match with two saves and recorded her fourth shutout of the season. Walton has now recorded 10 shutouts in her career to move to No. 5 all-time in the Utah State record books.
The Aggies (5-4-1, 5-4-1 MW) were able to increase their lead minutes later in the 57th minute when senior midfielder Kami Warner played a ball ahead to fellow senior mid Ashley Cardozo down the left flank. Cardozo crossed the ball into the box and junior forward Marli Niederhauser was able to volley the ball into the back of the net.
Cardozo then added a goal of her own as she successfully converted a penalty kick in the 85th minute, driving the ball into the lower corner of the net.
Utah State finished the game with 19 shots to the Cowgirls' six, as 12 of USU's shots were on frame. Niederhauser tied for the team lead with Warner and senior defender Imelda Williams with three shots apiece.
Cardozo finished the year with 10 points, tallying team bests of three goals and four assists. The 10 points increases her career total to 53, putting her sixth all-time in the Utah State record books. Cardozo also finished the year with 21 assists for her career, setting the all-time standard in USU history. Her 16 career goals rank eighth all-time in school history, while her 174 shots rank fifth.
Prior to the match, senior defender Taylor Garza-Freeman was honored as part of Senior Day ceremonies. Garza-Freeman will graduate in May with a degree in social work and will pursue a master's degree in social work at the University of Houston. The Aggies have won each of their last two Senior Days.
Fans can follow the Aggie soccer program on Twitter, @USUSoccer, on Facebook at /USUSoccer and on Instagram, @USUSoccer. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter, @USUAthletics, Facebook at /USUAthletics and on Instagram, @USUAthletics.
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