Colorado State University Athletics
Saturday, November 4
Laramie, Wy.
12 PM
Colorado State
12-6-4, 6-3-2
0
vs
1
#2 Utah State
14-7-1, 9-2-0
1
2
F
Colorado St.
0
0
0
Utah St.
0
1
1
Rams Fall Short of Championship Dream
11/4/2023 3:08:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Second-half goal from Utah State secures title
LARAMIE, Wyo. – One chance is all either team was looking for late Saturday afternoon.
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After 77 scoreless minutes in the Mountain West Championship match, Utah State found it's opening, with Kate Christian the beneficiary of a Colorado State miscue defensively, taking a feed and going from right to the far left of the net with her shot, the trajectory just evading the dive of Shayna Ross.
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Only one player played fewer minutes on the pitch than Christian – teammate Hannah Roe – but she didn't miss her lone chance in a match where there were few for either side. Despite the best efforts of Colorado State forward Ali Yoshida, the goal stood as the lone marker in the Aggies 1-0 victory.
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"It was just a breakdown. It was a clinical pass, and we just were a little out of position," CSU coach Keeley Hagen said. "It always starts up top with defending. It's not one player, it's, hey, we have to be a little more compact, so we don't get split. For the most part, we've been pretty solid in those areas and those things are going to happen."
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Colorado State looked disconnected on offense all match, finishing with just five shots overall, just two on net. It was a mix of things, but Hagen started with her own side first.
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She felt some of the issue was self-inflicted, her team just not at it's best in the biggest match of the season, but she credited Utah State's ability to apply pressure. Midfielder Mia Massey said part of it was Utah State playing with a high line, forcing the Rams' midfield to drop more than it is accustomed to doing.
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"The first half, we were playing kind of frantic, and we weren't playing like us," Yoshida said. "I feel like in the second half we  kind of settled in and were playing better together. We just weren't able to get the result we wanted to."
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The Rams two shots were both quality chances.
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Massey's came in the first half, a header in the box which was on net, but standing in the way was a Utah State defender. It's the kind of personal replay in the mind which can haunt a person.
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"I've been working on my headers in the box because they've been going over, and the one time it was on frame there was someone there," the sophomore said. "It was just unfortunate. That's just kinda how the game goes. Sometimes it works out for you, sometimes it doesn't."
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The second came when the Rams were in desperation mode, trying to find the tying goal to keep the dream alive in their first championship appearance in the 10th season of the program.
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Working from the left of the net, she found an opening and sent a shot toward the upper corner of the far side of the net. It was an attempt Diera Walton barely got a hand on, but it was just enough to have it hit the bar and bounce back out.
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"I definitely thought it went in. I put my hands up, but you know, it wasn't meant to be," Yoshida said. "I'm proud of the team. Everyone worked hard, and the only way I got that shot was from the team."
Â
One goal brought an end to a successful season, the third under Hagen, and the best tournament run in program history. It's hard to act like you've been there on the first visit, but the Rams gave it a shot.
Â
A trio of Rams – Mia Casey, Liv Stutzman and Ross – were named to the all-tournament team. The result stings, and it will linger, but in time, those who return – and the trio will -- feel it will provide a boost.
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In the moment, however, it's darn near impossible to find positives.
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"I mean, it's pretty hard. We thought we could win the whole thing waking up this morning," Massey said. "We were all super confident in ourselves. Looking back, we accomplished so much. It's our first time making it to this position, and I'm very confident that we'll get here next year and even win it. I'm very confident we'll get back here."
Â
In a title game, one chance can be enough. For a program, there's the anticipation of the next.
Â
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After 77 scoreless minutes in the Mountain West Championship match, Utah State found it's opening, with Kate Christian the beneficiary of a Colorado State miscue defensively, taking a feed and going from right to the far left of the net with her shot, the trajectory just evading the dive of Shayna Ross.
Â
Only one player played fewer minutes on the pitch than Christian – teammate Hannah Roe – but she didn't miss her lone chance in a match where there were few for either side. Despite the best efforts of Colorado State forward Ali Yoshida, the goal stood as the lone marker in the Aggies 1-0 victory.
Â
"It was just a breakdown. It was a clinical pass, and we just were a little out of position," CSU coach Keeley Hagen said. "It always starts up top with defending. It's not one player, it's, hey, we have to be a little more compact, so we don't get split. For the most part, we've been pretty solid in those areas and those things are going to happen."
Â
Colorado State looked disconnected on offense all match, finishing with just five shots overall, just two on net. It was a mix of things, but Hagen started with her own side first.
Â
She felt some of the issue was self-inflicted, her team just not at it's best in the biggest match of the season, but she credited Utah State's ability to apply pressure. Midfielder Mia Massey said part of it was Utah State playing with a high line, forcing the Rams' midfield to drop more than it is accustomed to doing.
Â
"The first half, we were playing kind of frantic, and we weren't playing like us," Yoshida said. "I feel like in the second half we  kind of settled in and were playing better together. We just weren't able to get the result we wanted to."
Â
The Rams two shots were both quality chances.
Â
Massey's came in the first half, a header in the box which was on net, but standing in the way was a Utah State defender. It's the kind of personal replay in the mind which can haunt a person.
Â
"I've been working on my headers in the box because they've been going over, and the one time it was on frame there was someone there," the sophomore said. "It was just unfortunate. That's just kinda how the game goes. Sometimes it works out for you, sometimes it doesn't."
Â
The second came when the Rams were in desperation mode, trying to find the tying goal to keep the dream alive in their first championship appearance in the 10th season of the program.
Â
Working from the left of the net, she found an opening and sent a shot toward the upper corner of the far side of the net. It was an attempt Diera Walton barely got a hand on, but it was just enough to have it hit the bar and bounce back out.
Â
"I definitely thought it went in. I put my hands up, but you know, it wasn't meant to be," Yoshida said. "I'm proud of the team. Everyone worked hard, and the only way I got that shot was from the team."
Â
One goal brought an end to a successful season, the third under Hagen, and the best tournament run in program history. It's hard to act like you've been there on the first visit, but the Rams gave it a shot.
Â
A trio of Rams – Mia Casey, Liv Stutzman and Ross – were named to the all-tournament team. The result stings, and it will linger, but in time, those who return – and the trio will -- feel it will provide a boost.
Â
In the moment, however, it's darn near impossible to find positives.
Â
"I mean, it's pretty hard. We thought we could win the whole thing waking up this morning," Massey said. "We were all super confident in ourselves. Looking back, we accomplished so much. It's our first time making it to this position, and I'm very confident that we'll get here next year and even win it. I'm very confident we'll get back here."
Â
In a title game, one chance can be enough. For a program, there's the anticipation of the next.
Â
Team Stats
CSU
USU
Goals
0
1
Shots
5
13
Shots on Goal
2
3
Saves
2
1
Corners
7
5
Fouls
8
3
Scoring Plays
Kate Christian (2)
Assisted By: Tess Werts
GOAL by USU Christian, Kate Assist by Werts, Tess.
77:24
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
mid
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
mid
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
M
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's SoccerM
/ Women's SoccerM/F
/ Women's SoccerColorado State Soccer: Fout (L), Hagen (M), McGowan (R) (9/1/25)
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Colorado State Soccer: Mia Casey (L) & Kate Dunne (R) (8/6/25)
Wednesday, August 06
Colorado State Soccer: Keeley Hagen Media (8/6/25)
Wednesday, August 06
Colorado State Soccer: Keeley Hagen Preseason 2024
Wednesday, August 14