LOGAN, Utah - Utah State soccer wasted little time building a two-goal lead over UNLV on Sunday at Chuck & Gloria Bell Field, scoring two goals in the game's first 10 minutes and holding on late for a 2-1 victory over the Rebels. The Aggies stand as the only team in the Mountain West with two wins through the first week of conference play.
"We came out really strong and it was a good start," senior
Sara Taylor said. "We got two goals in the first 10 minutes, which was super fun. We came to win and we came to play."
USU controlled the match nearly from the opening kick, as junior
Alex Day found senior
Sara Taylor in open space down the right flank in the fourth minute of the contest. With plenty of room, Taylor sent a cross into the six-yard box where freshman
Kaylie Chambers headed in the goal to put the Aggies up, 1-0. At 3:13 into the match, the goal was Utah State's quickest goal since scoring only 67 seconds into the match versus Wyoming last season.
With a one-goal lead, the Aggies persisted with the offensive pressure. In the ninth minute, Taylor narrowly missed a second assist as the shot from junior
Kylie Olsen ricocheted off the left goal post. One minute later, and less than six minutes after opening the scoring, Chambers returned the assisting favor to Taylor, slotting a pass behind the Rebel defense to a streaking Taylor who calmly sent the left-footed strike past the keeper and into the goal.
"It's really fun," Chambers said. "Being new on the team, it can be hard to really mesh with the team and everyone's playing styles and what they're like. Now that we've hit conference, I think we've really prepared and we can play together really well.
Despite a two-goal lead, USU remained the aggressors for much of the match, holding possession for 57 percent of the 90 minutes. Utah State also led in total shots over UNLV, 21-7, and in shots on goal, 11-3.
The Rebels attempted a late comeback as Mimi Mendoza curled a shot past freshman
McKenzie Hunninghake to halve the deficit in the 81st minute, snapping a 260-minute shutout streak to open Hunninghake's career. UNLV managed only one more shot in the final nine minutes, as a desperation attempt was saved by Hunninghake in the final seconds to preserve the 2-1 Aggie victory. Hunninghake recorded two saves in the contest, bringing her season total up to six.
"Really proud about how the girls started the game on the front foot," head coach
Manny Martins said. "Two early goals, quality goals. We're playing well and taking care of the ball more, which is also something we've been working on, so really proud of those things. We do have to go back and be a little more consistent about our countermeasures. The goal they scored, great job by them, but we didn't do what we're supposed to do in terms of preventing it. Overall, it's positive. The Mountain West is tough and to be 2-0 to start the conference is a really good place to be in."
The 11 shots on goal are the second-most on the season by USU, trailing only the mark of 13 put up in the team's 5-0 win over Idaho State. With 21 total shots, it is also Utah State's fourth time eclipsing 20 shots as a team on the year.
"We're just continuing to work on playing and our building," Taylor said. "Being able to threaten behind and then possess, it's trouble for teams to have to defend both."
At 2-0 in MW play, the Aggies stand alone in first place in the young conference season. USU holds a two-point advantage over second-place Colorado State and San José State.
"I think it's a great start," Chambers said. "I think we can use this momentum and energy to really bring it in the next games that we have. Our goal is to win the Mountain West championship and I think we have a really good chance at that."
Utah State (5-2-4, 2-0 MW) returns to the road for two MW matches next week. First, the Aggies will take on Wyoming (1-4-4, 0-1-1 MW) on Thursday, Sept. 29, at 4 p.m. (MT), before facing Colorado State (4-3-3, 1-0-1 MW) on Sunday, Oct. 2, at 1 p.m. (MT).
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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