Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Montana
'Cats Take Down Grizzlies in Big Sky Opener
10/9/2008 6:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
OGDEN, Utah -- Alyssa Foutz scored her first-career game winning goal in the 19th minute for all the offense Weber State would need as the Wildcats defeated Montana 1-0 to open the Big Sky Conference schedule on Thursday at Wildcat Soccer Field.
The WSU offensive attack generated several good scoring chances as the Wildcats out-shot the Grizzlies 26 to 6 overall, but several shots went wide of the net.
In the 19th minute, freshman midfielder Collette Simmons made a nice run up the right sideline. She got the ball deep on the Montana end and fired a cross to the left post. Foutz got on the end of the play, and headed the ball back to the right post to put the Weber State side up 1-0.
After out-shooting the Grizzlies 15-1 in the opening half, Montana began to press for the equalizer, posting five of its six shots in the final 45 minutes. The Wildcats twice took advantage of the pressing attack. In the 80th minute Emily Freshman had an open shot in the middle of the Grizzly box, but sent the ball wide. The 'Cats missed an open net again in the 88th minute as Whitney Smith chipped past UM goalkeeper Grace Harris, who rushed the play. The insurance goal did not get on the board as the ball rolled across the face of the goal and just wide of the far post.
Rebecca Ritchie earned her second-straight shutout with four saves, three of which came in the second half. Ritchie's biggest challenge came in the 84th minute, when a shot from Sara Campbell was snared from the upper 90 by the WSU goalkeeper. Ritchie has now allowed only a single goal over her last three contests and has a consecutive scoreless streak of 242 minutes and 45 seconds.
The win moves the Wildcats to 4-6-2 overall on the season and 1-0-0 in Big Sky play, while Montana drops to 3-8-1 overall and 0-1-0 in the conference. The victory also marked the first time the 'Cats have won their Big Sky opener under head coach Tim Crompton. The Wildcats tied Idaho State in the opener back in Crompton's first season (2004), but have dropped the last three.
