Colorado State University Athletics
Sunday, September 24
Fort Collins, CO
1:00 PM
Colorado State
6-2-2, 1-0-1
1
vs
1
UNLV
5-2-4, 1-0-1
1
2
F
UNLV
1
0
1
Colorado St.
1
0
1
Ross’ Penalty Save Keeps Rams Undefeated in Conference Play
9/24/2023 4:51:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Fout strikes early for her seventh goal of the season
FORT COLLINS -- Last week, Shayna Ross couldn't keep a penalty out of the net to keep Colorado State soccer's game against Utah level. This Sunday, she wasn't going to repeat history against UNLV.
Tied 1-all in the 61st minute, midfielder Ali Yoshida gave up a penalty. UNLV's Sarah Martinez lined it up, took the shot and Ross saved it diving to her left. It would end up being a game-saver, as neither team could break the deadlock until the final whistle at the CSU soccer complex.
Her effort to keep the penalty out of the net was just one of her three saves on the day. Was it her most impressive? She didn't think so.
"Honestly, it was a good feeling because I read (Martinez's) body shape pretty well," Ross said. "But I'm more proud of all the other saves I made because for those ones, you have to think of their skill, position and I'm analyzing the shot coming through and how to make the save. With a PK, I'm just looking to dive left or right. … It did feel really good to pull one for my team."
Redemption on a penalty kick felt good for Ross, especially against another Mountain West team which is undefeated in conference play so far. Her save ended up meaning CSU would have a 1-0-1 conference record for just the second time in program history after they did it last season.
After missing Thursday's game against Nevada for a red card suspension, Olivia Fout opened the scoring almost as soon as the match started. In the 2nd minute, a corner kick by Katy Coffin bounced around and dropped to Fout, who calmly volleyed it to the bottom-right corner of the goal.
A moment of calamity forced Fout into a difficult spot. The key to handling those situations is simple for her.
"I just don't think, honestly," Fout said. "If I'm thinking about it, I'm just gonna sail it over, so I'm just like 'OK, here's the ball, let's just hit it.' … It's about not letting yourself get in your own way, getting your head over the ball, hitting it and following through and to not watch the ball (after you shoot). I never know when I score, I just see my teammates run up to me and I think 'oh, the ball went in?'"
It was the seventh such moment of the season for Fout just past halfway into the 2023 campaign. Last season, no Ram scored more than six times in the entire season.
The Auburn transfer made an instant impact and has not let up since. One of a multitude of new players on the roster this season, head coach Keeley Hagen has found a gem. Now, it's about getting others to follow suit.
"The name of the game is scoring, so any time you can have a player who can put the ball in the back of the net pretty consistently, that's great," Hagen said. "We're challenging our other players to step up because we know they can score too. So, we're anxiously awaiting that but they're still creating opportunities which is what we want to see."
UNLV equalized in the 27th minute when Martinez took a tough, angled shot at goal from the left side of the box.
The Rams' early chance which resulted in a goal turned out to be hard to come by in the match. The Rams were held to just nine shots all game (five on goal), which was the first time all season they've been held to less than 10 shots.
One of the killers of momentum down the stretch were offsides called against the Rams – nine for the match. It was better than Thursday's 13 infractions, but something to be cleaned up, nonetheless.
"I think we need to take our chances when we get them and put them in the back of the net," Hagen said. "The game got stretched at the end and it goes down to execution and focus, just a little bit more focus in the attacking third. … I talked to the group about (the offsides calls), it's just attention to detail and being disciplined."
According to Hagen, the second draw of the season was ultimately disappointing for the entire team. Once a commonality — the Rams tied eight matches last season — Hagen is encouraged by their discontent, which she said is a testament to the results they expect and think they should earn.
All that's missing is standardizing a full match of playing their best soccer.
"I think it's just being composed. Sometimes when we score, we freak out, but there's still 85 minutes left in the game," Fout said. "It's just about staying composed and playing our game and going back to the core values we know. It's about finding that mindset and staying locked in for 90 minutes. We're still working our way to a 90-minute game of our style, but every game we just work hard and try to get better, but it's coming."
The Rams will embark on a two-week, four-game road trip this Thursday, Sept. 28 when they travel to Logan, Utah to take on Utah State at 5 p.m.
Tied 1-all in the 61st minute, midfielder Ali Yoshida gave up a penalty. UNLV's Sarah Martinez lined it up, took the shot and Ross saved it diving to her left. It would end up being a game-saver, as neither team could break the deadlock until the final whistle at the CSU soccer complex.
Her effort to keep the penalty out of the net was just one of her three saves on the day. Was it her most impressive? She didn't think so.
"Honestly, it was a good feeling because I read (Martinez's) body shape pretty well," Ross said. "But I'm more proud of all the other saves I made because for those ones, you have to think of their skill, position and I'm analyzing the shot coming through and how to make the save. With a PK, I'm just looking to dive left or right. … It did feel really good to pull one for my team."
Redemption on a penalty kick felt good for Ross, especially against another Mountain West team which is undefeated in conference play so far. Her save ended up meaning CSU would have a 1-0-1 conference record for just the second time in program history after they did it last season.
After missing Thursday's game against Nevada for a red card suspension, Olivia Fout opened the scoring almost as soon as the match started. In the 2nd minute, a corner kick by Katy Coffin bounced around and dropped to Fout, who calmly volleyed it to the bottom-right corner of the goal.
A moment of calamity forced Fout into a difficult spot. The key to handling those situations is simple for her.
"I just don't think, honestly," Fout said. "If I'm thinking about it, I'm just gonna sail it over, so I'm just like 'OK, here's the ball, let's just hit it.' … It's about not letting yourself get in your own way, getting your head over the ball, hitting it and following through and to not watch the ball (after you shoot). I never know when I score, I just see my teammates run up to me and I think 'oh, the ball went in?'"
It was the seventh such moment of the season for Fout just past halfway into the 2023 campaign. Last season, no Ram scored more than six times in the entire season.
The Auburn transfer made an instant impact and has not let up since. One of a multitude of new players on the roster this season, head coach Keeley Hagen has found a gem. Now, it's about getting others to follow suit.
"The name of the game is scoring, so any time you can have a player who can put the ball in the back of the net pretty consistently, that's great," Hagen said. "We're challenging our other players to step up because we know they can score too. So, we're anxiously awaiting that but they're still creating opportunities which is what we want to see."
UNLV equalized in the 27th minute when Martinez took a tough, angled shot at goal from the left side of the box.
The Rams' early chance which resulted in a goal turned out to be hard to come by in the match. The Rams were held to just nine shots all game (five on goal), which was the first time all season they've been held to less than 10 shots.
One of the killers of momentum down the stretch were offsides called against the Rams – nine for the match. It was better than Thursday's 13 infractions, but something to be cleaned up, nonetheless.
"I think we need to take our chances when we get them and put them in the back of the net," Hagen said. "The game got stretched at the end and it goes down to execution and focus, just a little bit more focus in the attacking third. … I talked to the group about (the offsides calls), it's just attention to detail and being disciplined."
According to Hagen, the second draw of the season was ultimately disappointing for the entire team. Once a commonality — the Rams tied eight matches last season — Hagen is encouraged by their discontent, which she said is a testament to the results they expect and think they should earn.
All that's missing is standardizing a full match of playing their best soccer.
"I think it's just being composed. Sometimes when we score, we freak out, but there's still 85 minutes left in the game," Fout said. "It's just about staying composed and playing our game and going back to the core values we know. It's about finding that mindset and staying locked in for 90 minutes. We're still working our way to a 90-minute game of our style, but every game we just work hard and try to get better, but it's coming."
The Rams will embark on a two-week, four-game road trip this Thursday, Sept. 28 when they travel to Logan, Utah to take on Utah State at 5 p.m.
Team Stats
UNL
CSU
Goals
1
1
Shots
14
9
Shots on Goal
4
5
Saves
4
3
Corners
2
8
Fouls
6
8
Scoring Plays
Olivia Fout (7)
GOAL by CSU Fout, Olivia.
01:46
Sarah Martinez (1)
GOAL by UNL Martinez, Sarah.
26:02
Game Leaders
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
mid
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
MF
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
M/F
/ Women's Soccer2025 Soccer Experience
Thursday, October 09
Colorado State Soccer: Fout (L), Hagen (M), McGowan (R) (9/1/25)
Monday, September 01
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