Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Montana
'Cats Drop Title Game in Penalty Kicks
11/7/2011 12:06:00 AM | Women's Soccer
GREELEY, Colo. – The Wildcats fell just short of their final goal.
Despite rallying dramatically from a 1-0 deficit in the late moments of match, the Weber State University women's soccer team saw its 2011 campaign come to a close as the University of Montana edged the Wildcats on kicks from the spot to take the Big Sky Conference tournament title at Northern Colorado's Jackson Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
“Penalties are a tough way to lose a game,” Weber State coach Tim Crompton said. “I am proud of our players and what they accomplished this season, coming back from missing the conference tournament the last couple of seasons and earning their way into the tournament this year. That was our No. 1 goal at the start of the season. We wanted to get back into the conference tournament and give ourselves a chance to win it.”
After finishing with a 1-1 draw after 110 minutes of action on the field, the teams went to spot kicks, with Montana winning that phase 4-3 to earn the title.
“I have to say congratulations to the University of Montana and coach Plakorus,” Crompton said. “They played a good game, and they will do a good job of representing the Big Sky Conference in the NCAA tournament.”
Montana controlled the tempo for much of the early half, pushing numbers into their attack and forcing Weber State into a less-preferred rapid pace up and down the field.
The Grizzlies earned eight corner kicks in the first half, although each team only had one shot on frame.
Montana punched itself into the lead in the 56th minute of action when India Watne came onto a rebound after the Wildcats had saved a shot by Ashley Tombelaine.
Weber State immediately charged down the field looking for the equalizer, but came up just short on a handful of opportunities. That burst immediately shifted the matches momentum, as the Wildcats continually attacked until senior defender Roxanne Tebbs got on the end of a cross into the box from senior forward Jessie Baddley and scored with a diving header to the left corner of the goal.
“I was proud to see us keep going, even when we got down a goal,” Crompton said. “We kept battling until we tied it up.”
Montana (6-11-4) finished with a 23-14 differential in shots, but Weber State (6-10-3) held a 7-4 advantage on frame as they forced Grizzlies' goalkeeper Kristen Hoon into six saves.
Baddley, Tebbs and goalkeeper Ryann Waldman were each named to the All-Tournament team.
The field of 64 for the NCAA Women's College Cup will be announced at 2:30 p.m. via NCAA.com. The first round is scheduled to take place Nov. 11-13 at host institutions.
