Colorado State University Athletics
Rams to Celebrate Seniors During Split Week
10/18/2023 9:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Colorado State will host the Aztecs after honoring its five seniors on Sunday
Fort Collins- Colorado State will finish its home slate of the 2023 season this week when the Rams host San Diego State (11-3-2, MW: 6-1-1) at 1 p.m., on Sunday following a Thursday road date at New Mexico at 7:30 p.m. (5-4-5, MW: 2-3-3). It will be the second, and final, split week of the season for the Rams.
Sunday's match with the Aztecs will serve as the annual senior day celebration. Five seniors are set to be honored after to the match: Megan Demski, Kenady Leighton, Hale Otto, Kaitlyn Abrams and Ashely Bahr. Each of these five players will be playing the final match of their collegiate careers.Â
The Rams are coming off a week where they won both matches at home against Colorado College and Air Force. The two shutout performances earned goalkeeper Shayna Ross Mountain West defensive player of the week, her second time earning the honor this season. Freshman Mia Casey also earned honors from the conference with her hat trick performance on Thursday against the Tigers.
Colorado State currently sits fourth in the conference with three matches remaining. The Rams have an opportunity to clinch a spot in the Mountain West Tournament with a win and a UNLV loss on Thursday. The Lobos are the current last team in when it comes to the top six which will make the tournament taking place in the final week of the month. Sunday's opponent for the Rams sits in the top spot and have clinched a spot in the postseason tournament. Â
The Rams hold a 1-9-1 record against the Lobos including a winless record in Albuquerque. New Mexico will host the Rams for the sixth time in program history on Thursday night. Last season the Rams traveled to New Mexico and battled to a draw.
San Diego State also holds a favorable record against the Rams, with a 1-7-1 mark. The lone win for the Rams in the series history came in San Diego last season with a 2-0 final. The Aztecs are coming off their first loss in conference play on Sunday against Nevada on the road. They are 7-1-1 at home for the year and have not dropped a match at home during conference play (4-0). Â
Last week was a historical week for Colorado State when it comes to the record book. Sophomore forward Olivia Fout tied the single-season record for goals scored with her game-winning tally against Air Force. Freshman midfielder Mia Casey's three-goal performance was the second hat trick in program history and moved her one goal behind the freshman record for goals in a single season. Casey has also cracked the top 10 for goals scored in a career with the four she has her first year on campus.Â
Defensively the Rams have rewritten the record books as well. Ross has been in goal for more wins than any goalkeeper in program history (14) after the team's win over Air Force. She is also second in shutouts in a single season with the team collecting their sixth and seventh shutouts of the season last week. Defender Avery Vander Ven has been as steady on the offensive end as she has on the defensive end as she has recorded four assists during the campaign, good enough for a tie for fourth most in a single season. It is also the most assists in a single season by a defender and tied for most by a defender in a career.Â
Both matches this week can be streamed on themw.com.
