Weber State University Athletics
Sunday, October 17
Ogden
1:00 p.m.
Weber State University
9-6-0, 6-1-0
3
vs
2
Portland State
4-9-1, 2-4-1
1
2
F
Portland St.
1
1
2
Weber St.
2
1
3
Photo by: Robert Casey
'Cats Win Home Finale 3-2 In Thrilling Fashion
10/17/2021 4:12:00 PM | Women's Soccer
On an afternoon that managed to at times alternate between warm and chilly, the Weber State Wildcats rode the roaring wind past Portland State and brought that magic number down to 2 after their 3-2 victory.Â
That magic number, of course, refers to the total number of wins that they need to win the Big Sky regular-season title. Before Sunday, finishing the season undefeated meant that the Wildcats would have a shot to at least share the conference championship but after top-seeded Northern Colorado fell to Idaho while the 'Cats were playing, they now have an opportunity to win the conference outright.Â
But the impactfulness of the day doesn't end there because not only did WSU officially clinch a spot in the Big Sky tournament which will be played in Greenley, CO but they also got to honor their 9 seniors and send them out with a win in the home finale.Â
Kaytlin Bradley, Aubrey Hadley, Taylor Slack, Sadie Newsom, Nixie Hernandez, Trinity Kerr, Kinsley Napoli, HarleeTurnbow and Amy Kenney each were escorting onto the field by loved ones as they heard their name called out on the Wildcat Soccer Field for the final time in their collegiate careers and while it was already undoubtedly going to be an emotional day for the Wildcats, the rollercoaster of a match that followed would drastically add onto things.
The PSU Vikings came into Ogden with a record of 4-8-1, 2-3-1 and were looking to play well enough to spoil WSU's Senior Day and championship aspirations - and while their efforts exceeded what they would've needed to win, WSU's resilience shined once again and showed up when the team needed it most.Â
"It was tough, it was a tough win... we knew they were a physical and aggressive team and they gave all of that today. I think their game plan was perfect" said Wildcat Head Coach Craig Sanders.Â
When the match kicked off, it felt as if WSU might jump out to a big lead early once Hailey Price scored her first goal of the season in the third minute of the game. But PSU began to fight back and ended up answering with a score of their own in the 16th minute of the match. Shortly after the Viking equalizer, Price again found the back of the net after the 'Cats were awarded with a penalty kick in the 18th minute and push the lead out to 2-1.Â
When the halftime horn rang, that 2-1 lead was still intact as Weber State took to the locker rooms and prepared for a second-half that'd end up pushing them to the brink.Â
In the following 45 minutes, chaos ensued. After Portland State nailed a goal during the 50th minute - the weather began to send wind that was rapid enough to lift the tent from over the Wildcats bench and the physicality from the Vikings began to spike as they let the confidence of their game-typing goal begin to guide them towards a potential upset.Â
Despite the wind, the peskiness of PSU, and an overall rough-looking second half, the Weber State Wildcats did what they've done in all but one Big Sky outing which is finding a way to win.Â
Over the course of the final 10 minutes of the match, the Wildcats found a spark, and suddenly instead of rushing into bad passes downfield they were balancing their sense of urgency which was allowing them to take control of the game and take some pressure of Bradley, in turn, Bradley put pressure on the opposing defense despite being the goalkeeper by sending a ball sailing over their heads and into the path of the speedy Lily Webster who fired a shot past the keeper and into the back of the net to give them a 3-2 advantage in the 85th minute.Â
As PSU grew desperate trying to tie the game, WSU was able to fend them off and when the clock hit triple zeros, a couple of Wildcats dropped to their knees in reflection and looked on as their teammates celebrated what had largely been an emotionally exhausting afternoon.Â
The Wildcats not only sit in first place of the standings and will be taking part in the Big Sky tournament, but they also finished their home slate without a single loss to a Big Sky foe.Â
Two wins are what sits between the Wildcats and a Big Sky championship but first, they'll travel to Missoula, MT to battle their arch-rival Montana on Friday afternoon.Â
That magic number, of course, refers to the total number of wins that they need to win the Big Sky regular-season title. Before Sunday, finishing the season undefeated meant that the Wildcats would have a shot to at least share the conference championship but after top-seeded Northern Colorado fell to Idaho while the 'Cats were playing, they now have an opportunity to win the conference outright.Â
But the impactfulness of the day doesn't end there because not only did WSU officially clinch a spot in the Big Sky tournament which will be played in Greenley, CO but they also got to honor their 9 seniors and send them out with a win in the home finale.Â
Kaytlin Bradley, Aubrey Hadley, Taylor Slack, Sadie Newsom, Nixie Hernandez, Trinity Kerr, Kinsley Napoli, HarleeTurnbow and Amy Kenney each were escorting onto the field by loved ones as they heard their name called out on the Wildcat Soccer Field for the final time in their collegiate careers and while it was already undoubtedly going to be an emotional day for the Wildcats, the rollercoaster of a match that followed would drastically add onto things.
The PSU Vikings came into Ogden with a record of 4-8-1, 2-3-1 and were looking to play well enough to spoil WSU's Senior Day and championship aspirations - and while their efforts exceeded what they would've needed to win, WSU's resilience shined once again and showed up when the team needed it most.Â
"It was tough, it was a tough win... we knew they were a physical and aggressive team and they gave all of that today. I think their game plan was perfect" said Wildcat Head Coach Craig Sanders.Â
When the match kicked off, it felt as if WSU might jump out to a big lead early once Hailey Price scored her first goal of the season in the third minute of the game. But PSU began to fight back and ended up answering with a score of their own in the 16th minute of the match. Shortly after the Viking equalizer, Price again found the back of the net after the 'Cats were awarded with a penalty kick in the 18th minute and push the lead out to 2-1.Â
When the halftime horn rang, that 2-1 lead was still intact as Weber State took to the locker rooms and prepared for a second-half that'd end up pushing them to the brink.Â
In the following 45 minutes, chaos ensued. After Portland State nailed a goal during the 50th minute - the weather began to send wind that was rapid enough to lift the tent from over the Wildcats bench and the physicality from the Vikings began to spike as they let the confidence of their game-typing goal begin to guide them towards a potential upset.Â
Despite the wind, the peskiness of PSU, and an overall rough-looking second half, the Weber State Wildcats did what they've done in all but one Big Sky outing which is finding a way to win.Â
Over the course of the final 10 minutes of the match, the Wildcats found a spark, and suddenly instead of rushing into bad passes downfield they were balancing their sense of urgency which was allowing them to take control of the game and take some pressure of Bradley, in turn, Bradley put pressure on the opposing defense despite being the goalkeeper by sending a ball sailing over their heads and into the path of the speedy Lily Webster who fired a shot past the keeper and into the back of the net to give them a 3-2 advantage in the 85th minute.Â
As PSU grew desperate trying to tie the game, WSU was able to fend them off and when the clock hit triple zeros, a couple of Wildcats dropped to their knees in reflection and looked on as their teammates celebrated what had largely been an emotionally exhausting afternoon.Â
The Wildcats not only sit in first place of the standings and will be taking part in the Big Sky tournament, but they also finished their home slate without a single loss to a Big Sky foe.Â
Two wins are what sits between the Wildcats and a Big Sky championship but first, they'll travel to Missoula, MT to battle their arch-rival Montana on Friday afternoon.Â
Team Stats
PSU
WSU
Goals
2
3
Shots
6
17
Shots on Goal
3
7
Saves
4
1
Corners
3
6
Fouls
16
22
Scoring Plays
Hailey Price (1)
Assisted By: Harlee Turnbow
GOAL by WSU Price, Hailey Assist by Turnbow, Harlee.
02:59
Ani Jensen (3)
Assisted By: Sofi Papastamos
GOAL by PSU Jensen, Ani Assist by Papastamos, Sofi.
15:34
Hailey Price (1)
WSU Hailey Price PENALTY KICK GOAL.
17:30
Raniyah Burton (2)
Assisted By: Sofi Papastamos
GOAL by PSU Burton, Raniyah Assist by Papastamos, Sofi.
49:42
Lily Webster (2)
Assisted By: Kaytlin Bradley
GOAL by WSU Webster, Lily Assist by Bradley, Kaytlin.
85:26
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
2
Assists
0
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
GK
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
D/MF
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
F/MF
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's SoccerD
/ Women's Soccer
MF
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