The Weber State University soccer team is coming off a big win against the Idaho State University Bengals on Saturday.
The win for the Wildcats gives them a 3-2-0 record in the Big Sky Conference, as well as a 5-9-0 record overall.
The most recent win for the Wildcats against ISU provides for them a boost at the halfway point to carry their success out through the rest of the season.
“We certainly had plenty of opportunities to make that last play and last pass (in the first half), but we just didn’t execute at the end,” said Head Coach Tim Crompton concerning the win against the Bengals. “For the second half, I have to give Idaho State credit — they came out and played hard, but we scored a really nice goal to win.”
Upon reaching the middle of the season, the players look back and are able to evaluate their progress and how far they have come. They are also able to reflect on the positives and negatives of the season thus far.
“What I do like,” said Brecken Holbrook, freshman defender, “is that we have grown a lot as a team. We started off, and it took us a little while to get going, and we had so many freshmen, and it was just a new team. What I don’t like is that we should have won a lot more games than we did.”
The recent win for the Wildcats marks the first time the team has won consecutive games this season. Holbrook said the closeness the team members feel to each other was a factor in their straight wins.
“I feel like we have all gotten along better, and we have all figured out each other’s personalities and how each other plays,” Holbrook said. “We know how to handle when people are having a bad day, and we just know each other really well.”
WSU’s record (3-2) gives it the possibility at this point to qualify for the Big Sky Championships. The Wildcats have four more games to play this season, two away and two at home. Depending on the outcome of the final four games, WSU might have the chance to compete in the championships. The location is yet to be determined, but the date of the event is scheduled from Thursday, Nov. 1 through Sunday, Nov. 4.
“It’s better to win, and we are in for sure if we win,” said Holbrook concerning the Big Sky Championship tournament. “I don’t know how many we have to (win) to get it, but it’s just better to win. We just need to play like we have been playing without going back. We have been playing a lot better as a team, and we just look a lot better on the field than we have in the previous games. We just need to keep building off that, because we are looking good right now. So we just have to keep playing, and we’ll make it.”
Holbrook was recently named the WSU Student Athlete of the Week for her performance against the Bengals last Saturday. Holbrook played a big part in leaving ISU without a goal due to her help on defense, and she was credited with an assist for the right-on-target free kick from behind midfield to WSU forward Mackenzie Harrison, who scored the game-winning goal.
WSU soccer is halfway through conference play, and the team will look to place a few more victories under its belt as it departs this weekend for a two-game road trip at California State University, Sacramento on Friday and at Portland State University on Sunday.
