The Weber State University Women’s Soccer Team dropped another close game to the University of Wyoming Cowgirls, last weekend in Laramie, Wyo.
For much of the first half, the teams were evenly matched, with WSU barely outshooting UW 6-5 in the first half. Head Coach Tim Crompton said that, despite the loss, he was pleased with the way the team played. He said that the Wildcats’ defense has played strong this season.
“Our defense continues to play great; they’re playing hard,” Crompton said.
For the fourth time this season, WSU lost a one-goal game, with the only goal of the match coming from a penalty shot halfway through the second half. In the 66th minute of the match, the Cowgirls were awarded a penalty shot, following a WSU handball in the box.
Allison Masumiya knocked the shot home to give UW the lead. Crompton said that if the team can figure out how to score, they will start winning matches, since their defense is keeping the games close.
“We just need to find a way to be able to convert our chances in front of the goal,” Crompton said.
The second half of the match was also tight, with the Cowgirls holding a slight advantage over WSU. UW barely outshot the Wildcats, 11-10.
Freshman midfielder Kendra Bailey led WSU with five shots, while seniors Jessie Baddley and Collette Simmons recorded three shots and two shots in the loss.
The Wildcats will wrap up their current six-match road swing on Friday night, when they will travel to Salt Lake City to face in-state rival University of Utah. The Wildcats have had a hard non-conference schedule, facing two teams from the Pac-12. WSU goalie Ryann Waldman said that the tough schedule will help prepare the team for the conference games.
“These preseason games get us the experience that we need,” Waldman said, “to get the job done when it really matters. We want to be able to win conference, host the Big Sky tournament and get into the NCAA tournament.”
After the game against the U of U, the Wildcats will end their long road trip and return to Ogden for their first home game of the season against New Mexico State University on Sunday.
WSU defender Ari Wood said that she hasn’t thought much about the tough schedule, but tries to focus on one game at a time.
“To be honest,” Wood said, “I’m the type of player that doesn’t really look at the schedule much. If you ask me who we’re playing the next week or the next month, chances are I won’t know. I guess I figure no matter who we play, my game plan is the same.”
The Wildcats will play their first conference game on Sept. 30, against the Idaho State University Bengals, in Pocatello, Idaho.
Northern Arizona University was selected in a coach’s poll to win the Big Sky Conference, and will prove a tough challenge for the Wildcats. Waldman said that the team is hopeful that they can win the conference, and have a chance to make it to the NCAA tournament.
