BOISE, Idaho — Utah State soccer (10-6-6, 5-2-3 MW) secured its third-straight Mountain West Tournament title and punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in program history, defeating Boise State in penalty kicks Saturday night at Boas Soccer Complex.
After a first half in which the sides combined for just a single shot on goal, Utah State's first goal of the night came in the 49th minute when a no-look back-foot touch from senior forward Kaylie Chambers found junior midfielder Summer Diamond unmarked in the middle of the box. Diamond needed just a single touch to deliver a left-footer past the diving reach of Boise State keeper and 2025 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year Ava De Leest to make it a 1-0 game.
The Aggies tacked on another in the 64th minute, following a collision between players inside of the box which resulted in a penalty kick for Utah State. Graduate midfielder Rine Yonaha stepped up to take the PK, and calmly delivered a ball into the bottom right corner of the net to extend the Aggie advantage.
Despite not recording a single shot on goal until the 57th minute, however, the hosts found an offensive spark late. Boise State first scored in the 75th minute when a handball called on USU in the box resulted in a penalty kick goal for the Broncos. BSU followed with another goal, this time in the run of play from near the top of the 18-yard box to equalize the match just five minutes later in the 80th minute.
With the game knotted up at 2-2 after 90 minutes of regulation, the sides played two scoreless 10-minute periods of overtime before going to a penalty kick shootout.
For the shootout, Utah State replaced junior goalkeeper Allee Grashoff, who played all 110 minutes of regulation and overtime and recorded three saves, with senior keeper Taylor Rath. Rath entered without having played a single minute during the tournament, and made two saves on four Boise State PK attempts to help secure the win. On the flip side, the Aggies made all four of their attempted PKs, with goals from Yonaha, sophomore midfielder Rachel Reitz, sophomore defender Talia Winder and Chambers.
SCORING SUMMARY
48:09 - Summer Diamond (USU)
Assist: Kaylie Chambers
63:41 - Rine Yonaha (USU)
Penalty Kick Goal
74:19 - Olivia Collins (BSU)
Penalty Kick Goal
79:30 - Kayla Soderstrom (BSU)
Assist: None
MATCH NOTES
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This is Utah State's third Mountain West tournament title, and fifth conference tournament title overall (WAC 2011, 2012; MWC 2023, 2024, 2025).
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Utah State is just the third team in Mountain West history to win three-straight league tournament titles, joining San Diego State (2012-15) and BYU (1999-2002).
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Utah State is the first team to win the Mountain West Tournament as a 3-seed or lower (no first-round bye) since San José State in 2018.
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Utah State clinched a spot in its fifth NCAA Tournament in program history, joining the 2011, 2012, 2023 and 2024 squads.
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This was Utah State's first penalty kick shootout win since 2013, when the team defeated New Mexico 4-2 in the Mountain West Tournament.
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Summer Diamond's goal was her fourth of the year, and the 12th of her career.
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Rine Yonaha's goal was her third of the year, and the seventh of her career.
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Utah State took nine shots to Boise State's 16, including four shots on goal to the Broncos' five.
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Allee Grashoff played all 110 minutes of regulation and overtime in net, making three saves.
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Grashoff was one of three players to play the entire contest, along with Reitz and freshman defender Summer Sofonia.
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Rath was named the Mountain West Tournament Most Valuable Player.
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Utah State had four players named to the Mountain West All-Tournament Team: Rath, Diamond, Chambers and Yonaha.
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With the draw, Utah State is now 9-4-3 all-time in Mountain West Tournament matches, including a 7-1-2 mark under head coach Manny Martins.
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With the draw, Utah State is now 17-7-5 all-time against Boise State, including an 8-5-2 record in Boise.
UP NEXT
Utah State (10-6-6, 5-2-3 MW) will now await its postseason fate, with a spot in the NCAA Tournament secured. The NCAA Tournament Selection Show will take place on Monday, Nov. 10, at 2 p.m., and will be streamed on NCAA.org.
FOLLOW
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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