Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Northern Arizona
Wildcat soccer storms into Big Sky title match
11/7/2013 9:59:00 PM | Women's Soccer
HILLSBORO, Ore. – The Wildcats put their best foot forward during training this week and carried that over when it mattered the most.
With three different players finding the back of the net, the Weber State University women's soccer team stormed into the Big Sky Conference championship match with a decisive 3-0 victory over Northern Arizona on Thursday afternoon at Hillsboro Stadium.
Weber State (10-4-4) will face top seed and tournament host Portland State in Saturday's 4:30 p.m. title match at Hillsboro, with the winner staking claim to the Big Sky's automatic bid into the NCAA Women's College Cup next week.
Junior midfielder Ryley Hansen broke a scoreless tie in the 33rd minute, punching in a seven-yard shots after sophomore central midfielder Chansi Crompton's corner kick, putting the Wildcats in front for good.
“For a semifinal game, I thought it was wonderful we got three goals from three different players,” said Hansen, whose tally was her second goal of the season. “We have been practicing free kicks and corner kicks for weeks and the fact we scored two goals of both of them is great. I feel blessed I get another chance to play in the championship. My freshman year we fell short in penalty kicks in the final, but this year I believe we will win and I couldn't pick a better group of coaches and teammates to share this moment with.”
Hansen's goal turned the match's momentum firmly in the favor of the Wildcats, who carried the one-goal advantage into the locker room at halftime.
Weber State wasted no time adding to the lead in the second half, with sophomore forward Stacy Bair punching in her fifth goal of the season on a shot from 12 yards out after a failed clearance by the Lumberjacks.
“We didn't play particularly well in the first half, however you have to give NAU a lot of credit for that. NAU played with high energy and their pressure on the ball was very good,” Weber State coach Tim Crompton said. “It wasn't until we scored the first goal that I felt we settled in and began to dictate the pace. All three goals were great finishes and we will enjoy it tonight and move on to the next game in the morning.”
Junior midfielder Mackenzie Day turned the match into a runaway in the 68th minute when she latched on to a cross from Bair on the left side and turned into a 1-on-1 with NAU goalkeeper Lauren Weaver, smashing home the shot from 10 yards out to make it 3-0.
“It feels great. We are all so happy to get to the finals, bit it's something that we all expected of ourselves,” said senior goalkeeper Ryann Waldman, who earned her 19th career clean sheet between the pipes. “The game today was great motivation moving forward with scoring three goals and getting the shutout. As a senior, knowing that my season isn't over and that we get to play again is amazing and we aren't planning on slowing down any time soon.”
Weber State improved to 10-7-3 all-time in tournament play, and is now 7-4-1 in the semifinal round. The three-goal margin of victory is Weber State's largest in a semifinal match since defeating Sacramento State 3-0 during the 1997 tournament at Missoula, Mont.
The Wildcats will be making their eighth appearance in the Big Sky championship match, and are 3-3-1 in seven previous appearances.
