Rams’ defense shuts down Air Force in 1-0 victory

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FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The Colorado State women's soccer team held Air Force without a shot on goal on Friday and got the game-winning tally from sophomore forward Taylor Steinke in a 1-0 victory over the Falcons from CSU Soccer Field.

Friday's match marked the first time in Colorado State's (5-5-3, 2-2-1 MW) now-six-season history that the Rams have held their opponent without a shot on goal for the duration of a match. Battling rainy, windy conditions, the Rams allowed Air Force (1-5-5, 0-3-2 MW) four of the match's first five shots, but never an opportunity that required junior goalkeeper Hunter Peifer to make a save. The Rams outshot the Falcons, 10-3, the rest of the way, and took all five of the match's shots on goal over that stretch.

Steinke's goal came in the 66th minute of Friday's match. The ball was advanced up the right side by sophomore midfielder Karli Eheart, then passed between defenders to junior midfielder Caeley Lordemann at the top of the box. Lordemann then passed the ball to senior forward Kaija Ornes, whose shot was kept out of the net by Air Force keeper Jennifer Hiddink but rebounded just outside the goal line. Steinke followed Ornes' shot, firing home the putback goal and the decisive tally of the match.

Steinke also had the only shot on goal in the first half of the match on a chance from the top of the box in the 24th minute. Ornes also finished the match with multiple shots on goal, each in the second half. Sophomore forward Ally Murphy-Pauletto added the remaining shot on goal on a quality scoring chance in the 68th minute. Murphy-Pauletto had beaten her defender and was one-on-one with Hiddink, but the Falcons' keeper came out of her goal area and met Murphy-Pauletto at the top of the box to break up the opportunity.

STAT OF THE MATCH
Before Friday, the fewest shots on goal that Colorado State had allowed an opponent was one at Denver on Aug. 19, 2016. The Rams had previously held a conference opponent to two on three occasions, with the most recent on Oct. 9, 2016, also against Air Force.

IN THEIR WORDS
Colorado State head coach Bill Hempen
"I thought our defensive effort was outstanding today to keep a direct and active team out of the danger areas. They had some shots early, but were never in a zone where they could put one in. Halley (Havlicek) and Lo (Lauren Jones) may have had their best performances as Rams today. Beth (Plentl) stepped in and started as a midfielder today, and that rally solidified things in the back for us. It was really just a good team effort today."

NOTES

With Friday's win, Colorado State reached five wins for 2018, a single-season program best. CSU has six matches remaining on its schedule this season.
Hunter Peifer registered her fifth solo shutout of 2018, breaking the previous single-season program record. Peifer had four solo shutouts in 2017, as did former CSU goalkeeper Jesse McGinley in 2014.
Taylor Steinke's goal on Friday was her second of the season and the fourth of her career.
Steinke's fourth collegiate goal moves her up to sixth on CSU's all-time career list.
Steinke led the Rams in shots on Friday with five for the match.
Each of Baylee Bedard, Halley Havlicek, Lauren Jones, Caeley Lordemann, Hunter Peifer and Beth Plentl played all 90 minutes on Friday.

UP NEXT
The Colorado State women's soccer team bookends the weekend at home with a Noon MT match against the Colorado College Tigers on Sunday. The match will be held from CSU Soccer Field, and is the program's designated Pink Out match for 2018 season. Fans are encouraged to attend Sunday's match wearing pink.

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