Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Maine
Late Goal Carries 'Cats Past Maine
8/28/2009 11:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer
OGDEN, Utah -- After not generating any offense in the first half, the Weber State women's soccer team turned things around over the final 45 minutes of play and used a late goal to defeat the University of Maine 1-0 on Friday at Wildcat Soccer Field.
The Wildcats went without a shot in the opening half and rarely got the ball deep into the attacking zone. Meanwhile, Maine plugged away to generate seven shots. UM's Laura Martel had two back-to-back great chances midway through the first half after breaking free in the box. Her first shot struck the right post and deflected back to her in the center. She was able to get off a second uncontested ball, but WSU keeper Rebecca Ritchie was well positioned for the save.
In the second half, the Wildcats showed improved organization and ended up generating seven shots to the Black Bears' three. In the 79th minute Weber State finally broke through as Jessie Baddley ran at the goal from the left center. The defense converged and Baddley placed a nice through ball to Nicole Moore, who got on the end of the play to score her first goal as a Wildcat on a shot to the right post.
Maine pushed for the equalizer and had a couple of corner kicks late, but the lone chance was gathered in by Ritchie with less than a minute to play. Ritchie ended the day with five saves for her first shutout of the season and the 18th of her career. She is now just two clean sheets away from breaking assistant coach Meaqan Thunell's school record of 19.5 shutouts.
Weber State improved to 2-0 on the season, while Maine fell to 0-1. The Wildcats will play the next seven matches on the road, beginning with a Sep. 2 showdown with the University of Utah.
