Victory Marks Best Start in Program History

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Sep 14

12:00 p.m.

Women's Soccer

at Denver

Sep 19

6:00 p.m.

Women's Soccer

at Omaha

Sep 25

7:00 p.m.

Women's Soccer

at Utah State

Sep 28

12:00 p.m.

Women's Soccer

at Boise State

Oct 5

12:00 p.m.

Women's Soccer

vs UNLV

FORT COLLINS – One current program record came to an end on Thursday afternoon. However, another important one was matched, and the result was the best start in program history.

With the 1-0 victory over Missouri-Kansas City at the CSU football practice field, Colorado State's women's soccer team moved to 3-0-1 on the season. It was a third consecutive victory – all with clean sheets – matching an accomplishment by the 2019 squad.

Much of the credit for the current run has to go to the nearly impenetrable back wall of Kenady Leighton, Avery Vander Ven and Kaitlyn Abrams in front of netminder Shayna Ross. That quad has played every minute of the season so far, and the communication and bonding have started to show.

"We're just working as a team. We go through our highs and our low together," Abrams said. "I think we're just providing really good coverage for each other. Defense is all about discipline, and that's what we're doing. Then we're letting the girls up top show some skill.

"We're spending a lot of time together. We're just training super hard every day, and there's just a different energy about this group. We're approaching every practice session like a game. Just one step at a time up the mountain."

The fun part about the grouping is it is a very new combination. Leighton has been a constant in the back end for the Rams for the past four seasons, but while Abrams has been around for five, she's spent her career as a Ram being a jack-of-all trades, playing virtually every position on the field. Vander Ven is a transfer from Texas.

Abrams has loved her multitude of roles, but head coach Keeley Hagen said she made her a promise at the start of the campaign.

"To Kaitlyn's credit, we tried to say, hey this year we're going to stick you in one place so she can grow and learn the position," Hagen said. "they're just so coachable. Their eager to learn and they're competitive. When you have that formula, you're going to see positive results. I'm just excited to continue to grow and develop them because I think they're just scratching the surface of what they can do."

Ross has stood tall as the last line of defense all season, as the team has allowed just one goal in four matches. With the group in front of her, she hadn't been called on a lot to make tough saves, but when she was in the final 10 minutes Wednesday as the Roos pushed an extra attacker up front, she came up clutch. She rushed forward to snuff out a chance with seven minutes remaining, then a couple minutes later, she snared a targeted Roos' chance out of the air.

All they needed was a goal to get the victory.

That was delivered seven minutes after the break.

Olivia Fout, a transfer from Auburn, had been a constant, consistent threat for Colorado State's attack. She had scored a goal in three consecutive games, the first player in program history to accomplish the feat. But Wednesday, the Roos kept her limited chances out of net, but a newcomer became a new entry in the ledger.

Mia Casey, just a freshman, has started all four games for the Rams, but up until Thursday, none of her four shots taken had been on net. In the contest, she found her range and her third targeted attempt found the back of the net.

She becomes the third Ram to score a goal this year, with Katy Coffin being the other.

Consider it a belated birthday present to herself two days after the event.

"A lot of my teammates were like, let's get your first official goal this game," Casey said. "It happened, so it was really exciting. A late birthday present.

"Hale (Otto) worked so hard to get to the corner and get that ball back in. It's just as much Hale's goal as it is mine."

It came off an impressive out-of-the-norm feed from Hale Otto deep on the right sideline, who fed it back to Casey in the middle. A calm Casey took the perfect pass, made a quick deke to create space and fired the game-winner into the upper corner. It was Otto's team-leading second assist of the season.

"It was good recognition by Hale to see she was open," Hagen said. "Normally we don't want to play a ball back there, but Hale hit her right on the nose. It's a counter ball if we miss it. Credit to our players. It was a transitional moment."

Very much so, producing the best start to a season for the Rams. The team will hit the road next week for a pair of road tilts, first at Montana on Sept. 7, followed with a date with Idaho State on Sept. 9.

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