LOGAN, Utah - Utah State soccer matched its largest margin of victory against Idaho State, posting a 5-0 rout of the Bengals in the Aggies' 2022 home opener. The five-goal margin matched the Aggies' 6-1 victory over ISU during the 2011 season.
Four different Aggies scored goals as Utah State opened the match with a 1-0 lead behind an own goal by Idaho State in the 20th minute. USU went into the half with 2-0 advantage after redshirt freshman Kaitlin Richins scored on what will likely be in the running for goal of the year, as she bent a ball into the upper right 90 of the goal from the opposite side of the 18 in the 33rd minute.
Action was halted for a lengthy period in the opening half and lighting storms were circulating around Cache Valley. The delay didn't seem to hamper the Aggies as USU finished the first half with 10 shots to the Bengals' four.
Senior forward Sara Taylor put her name in the box score in the 61st minute when a ball played on from the back by junior midfielder Alex Day was flicked on by freshman forward Kaylie Chambers. Taylor collected the ball streaking down the left side and fired her own strike into the upper left corner of the goal.
Senior forward Sammie Murdock followed her initial shot in the 75th minute, calmly collecting the rebound from Idaho State's keeper and putting it into the back of the net to give the Aggies a 4-0 lead.
Senior forward Jordan Foraker scored her team-best second goal of the year, when a cross by Richins in the 80th minute found her foot and was drilled into the top corner of the net.
Utah State finished the match with 23 shots, including 13 on goal, to Idaho State's eight shots (four on goal). Senior keepers Marren Nielsen and Diera Walton shared a shutout as Nielsen started the game before being subbed out in the 75th minute.
The Aggies will be back in action on Thursday, Aug. 25, hosting Illinois State at 5 p.m. (MT), in the second contest of a three-match homestand.
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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