Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Idaho
Wildcat soccer downs Idaho 3-0 in season opener
8/24/2013 2:07:00 AM | Women's Soccer
OGDEN, Utah – The Wildcats were looking to get their new season off to a solid start.
It couldn't have started much better.
Sophomore forward Stacy Bair had a goal and an assist, and senior goalkeeper Ryann Waldman earned the shutout between the pipes as the Weber State University women's soccer team thoroughly dismantled the University of Idaho on Friday afternoon after kickoff was delayed by nearly 45 minutes due to lightning.
Exercising complete command of the pitch from whistle to whistle, the Wildcats blanked the Vandals 3-0 at Wildcat Soccer Field, earning a win in their season opener for the first time since the 2009 season and the three-goal margin of victory is the biggest in a season opener since Weber State defeated Boise State 3-0 to start the 1998 season.
“The win today felt great,” said Waldman, who collected her 14th career shutout. “Start off with a W puts us in a great place right from the start. Getting the win with a shutout and three goals feels fantastic. It gives us the confidence we need to move forward from here and continue to play our game. Now it's time to put this one behind us and focus on the next one.”
Weber State outshot Idaho 27-2, including a 13-2 margin in shots on goal. Eight different players finished the match with multiple attempts, led by sophomore central midfelder Chansi Crompton's five and sophomore central defender Brecken Holbrook had four.
Bair punched the Wildcats into the 1-0 lead in the 25th minute, hitting a rifling shot from 15 yards out that banked off a Vandals defender in the box and into the back of the net. Weber State had plenty of opportunities to double the advantage as it finished the first half with a 13-1 advantage in attempts.
“I felt like everyone contributed on and off the field, and the players handled the delay in the kickoff well,” Weber State coach Tim Crompton said. “We created multiple chances on goal in the first half, and were rewarded with their consistency in the second frame.”
WSU doubled up the advantage in the 66th minute when senior midfielder/forward Sarah Thurston latched onto the end of a through ball by Crompton in the middle of the box and powered it home to make it 2-0.
Junior midfielder Mackenzie Day made it 3-0in the 82nd minute when she crashed into the box to get off a one-touch shot on Bair's cross from the deep left wing.
“It was a good start to the season, and I believe the girls built upon their (exhibition) game against Westminster,” Crompton added. “Idaho is a young team and well coached, we look forward to them joining the conference next fall, and wish them luck for the remainder of this season.
“We still have a lot of work to do to get to where we want to be, however, it was step in the right direction today.”
Weber State will be back in action on Monday against UC Santa Barbara. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. at Wildcat Soccer Field.
