Colorado State University Athletics
Sunday, September 17
Fort Collins, CO
1:00 PM
Colorado State
5-2-1, 0-0-0
0
vs
1
Utah
4-2-3, 0-0-0
1
2
F
Utah
0
1
1
Colorado St.
0
0
0
Penalty Kick Sinks Rams at Home
9/17/2023 4:23:00 PM | Women's Soccer
CSU finishes nonconference slate with loss to Utah
Defensive mistakes can be deadly, no matter how many scoring opportunities you get. Such was the case for Colorado State's women's soccer team against Utah.
Goalkeeper Shayna Ross put on a clinic in the first half of the Rams' final nonconference match, recording five saves to set her career mark in a single game. Offensive struggles and a single mistake were enough for Utah to break through for a narrow 1-0 win on Sunday afternoon at the CSU Soccer Complex.
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In the 76th minute, Olivia Fout came in just late on a challenge just inside the box for a penalty, which Utah's Katie O'Cain converted.
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It wasn't necessarily against the run of play for the second half. Utah kept the ball out of their own third for much of the half and had spells of possession which threw the Rams out of rhythm.
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"We gave up a really soft goal which we didn't need to, and I thought we could have gotten a result," CSU head coach Keeley Hagen said. "It's frustrating just in terms of self-infliction, so we've got to fix it before next week."
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CSU's lack of a goal wasn't for lack of opportunities. As the game went on, chances came fewer and further between, but whenever they arrived, many shots weren't far off.Â
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Liv Stutzman produced two of the best opportunities, one in each half. In the 10th minute, an ill-advised pass by a Utah defender went straight to an open Stutzman about 10 yards from goal, but her shot was saved. Another Stutzman shot from way downtown sailed just over the crossbar in the 52nd minute.
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Fout had a great shot of her own midway through the first half. From around 35 yards out, she sent a rocket on goal, but it was saved on its way to the top corner in the 19th minute.
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Almost was a commonality for the Rams' attack all day, all they needed was a finishing touch or a little more fortune to score.Â
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"It takes the whole team, right, and I think that's what we're seeing," Hagen said. "You saw Hale Otto running her tail off up top and they're working hard. We've got to tighten some things up and be a little more disciplined."
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An entire team effort on defense is what it takes to compete against teams like Utah, which is undefeated on the road this season.
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Aside from giving up a penalty, the Rams warded off 18 shots on the day. While some were saved excellently by Ross, some other defenders came up big by blocking shots right off of Utah's feet.Â
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"I think we defend as a unit and everyone worked together today to keep them away from goal," forward Hale Otto said. "Ultimately it was a battle in the box, and we knew it would be. We just had one slip up and they capitalized on that."
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As the Rams move into conference play, Hagen is mainly focused on utilizing what has gone well over the past eight games and fixing up what hasn't. A simple formula, but necessary for the goals the Rams have created for themselves.
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CSU tied their best nonconference record in program history of 5-2-1, which was set in 2019. On the heels of a performance like that, the objective is clear, and the path they're paving is in the right direction.
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"All this nonconference stuff has prepared us for what we're trying to do, and that's trying to win the conference," Hagen said. "It's just about fine-tuning things and taking the momentum and creating more momentum going into conference play."
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The Rams will continue their home stand and begin their conference schedule against Nevada on Thursday, Sept. 21 at 4 p.m.
Â
Goalkeeper Shayna Ross put on a clinic in the first half of the Rams' final nonconference match, recording five saves to set her career mark in a single game. Offensive struggles and a single mistake were enough for Utah to break through for a narrow 1-0 win on Sunday afternoon at the CSU Soccer Complex.
Â
In the 76th minute, Olivia Fout came in just late on a challenge just inside the box for a penalty, which Utah's Katie O'Cain converted.
Â
It wasn't necessarily against the run of play for the second half. Utah kept the ball out of their own third for much of the half and had spells of possession which threw the Rams out of rhythm.
Â
"We gave up a really soft goal which we didn't need to, and I thought we could have gotten a result," CSU head coach Keeley Hagen said. "It's frustrating just in terms of self-infliction, so we've got to fix it before next week."
Â
CSU's lack of a goal wasn't for lack of opportunities. As the game went on, chances came fewer and further between, but whenever they arrived, many shots weren't far off.Â
Â
Liv Stutzman produced two of the best opportunities, one in each half. In the 10th minute, an ill-advised pass by a Utah defender went straight to an open Stutzman about 10 yards from goal, but her shot was saved. Another Stutzman shot from way downtown sailed just over the crossbar in the 52nd minute.
Â
Fout had a great shot of her own midway through the first half. From around 35 yards out, she sent a rocket on goal, but it was saved on its way to the top corner in the 19th minute.
Â
Almost was a commonality for the Rams' attack all day, all they needed was a finishing touch or a little more fortune to score.Â
Â
"It takes the whole team, right, and I think that's what we're seeing," Hagen said. "You saw Hale Otto running her tail off up top and they're working hard. We've got to tighten some things up and be a little more disciplined."
Â
An entire team effort on defense is what it takes to compete against teams like Utah, which is undefeated on the road this season.
Â
Aside from giving up a penalty, the Rams warded off 18 shots on the day. While some were saved excellently by Ross, some other defenders came up big by blocking shots right off of Utah's feet.Â
Â
"I think we defend as a unit and everyone worked together today to keep them away from goal," forward Hale Otto said. "Ultimately it was a battle in the box, and we knew it would be. We just had one slip up and they capitalized on that."
Â
As the Rams move into conference play, Hagen is mainly focused on utilizing what has gone well over the past eight games and fixing up what hasn't. A simple formula, but necessary for the goals the Rams have created for themselves.
Â
CSU tied their best nonconference record in program history of 5-2-1, which was set in 2019. On the heels of a performance like that, the objective is clear, and the path they're paving is in the right direction.
Â
"All this nonconference stuff has prepared us for what we're trying to do, and that's trying to win the conference," Hagen said. "It's just about fine-tuning things and taking the momentum and creating more momentum going into conference play."
Â
The Rams will continue their home stand and begin their conference schedule against Nevada on Thursday, Sept. 21 at 4 p.m.
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Team Stats
UUT
CSU
Goals
1
0
Shots
18
14
Shots on Goal
6
11
Saves
11
5
Corners
3
3
Fouls
9
8
Scoring Plays
Katie O'Kane (2)
UUT Katie O'Kane PENALTY KICK GOAL.
75:43
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's SoccerM
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