Drawing Different Conclusions

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There were some mixed feelings. About the day. About the week.

No wonder. Thursday's tie with Boise State felt like a loss to some on Colorado State's women's soccer team, a natural reaction to giving up a game-knotting goal with 2 seconds on the clock. In some regards, Sunday's matchup with No. 11 Utah State felt a bit like a win after a 1-all result.

Outshot and out-chanced throughout the Senior Day afternoon, earning a point when the Rams were not at their best felt like a net positive.

"I think we just weren't on today. We talked at halftime about some of it was self-inflicted," CSU coach Keeley Hagen said. "Our passes were a little bit off and that's going to happen. In terms of being proud of, the response in fighting to get a goal back, that was good. I thought the momentum shifted a little bit more in the second half in our favor. They're obviously a good team, and you can't have an off day against a good team, and for us to come out with a tie … We don't like ties, so I won't say we're pleased, but I'm pleased with the response from the first half to the second half."

Colorado State is unbeaten in its past seven matches, six of them coming at the open of Mountain West play. At 8-3-3 overall and 4-0-2 in conference, it remains tied at the top with Boise State, each with 14 points.

The Rams are now 0-2-2-in their history against ranked foes.

Maggie Altman noted the team calls Sunday matches – the second of the week – battles. The battles within the match were won largely by the visiting Aggies, who were defter with their passing, and thus, controlled possession. It led to 16 shots overall, five on goal. The Rams only had five shots in the match, three on net.

Altman, a transfer from Nebraska, was the only forward to get a shot off, one of the three put on frame.

"It comes down to the little details, and ultimately that's what wins us the game – the big separator," Altman said. "I think at the end of the second half we started fine-tuning those things and sticking to our style. Our style ultimately can break down anyone, so keeping with our way of playing is what's going to win us games.

"It feels unfortunate with the tie today, but we keep working and keep chipping away."

All the scoring took place in the second half, and when Utah State scored first, it was the first time in more than a month since the Rams trailed in a match. Tess Werts tagged the goal for the guests, taking a strong feed from Summer Diamond in the 19^th minute.

It didn't take long after – 11:01 exactly – for the Rams to even up the board by taking advantage of their best chance of the game. The action was all follow-up from an initial corner kick, with Mia Casey regaining possession on the left side and crossing a perfect pass into the box, where Avery Vander Ven headed it in for her second of the season.

Not a bad way to celebrate senior day, though they hoped for more.

"I mean, yes and no. Obviously we approach every game wanting that win, but at the end of the day we battled," Vander Ven said. "We got a tie, we walked out with a point, which is good overall. We're just moving. We're still hungry. We want to win every game. Hopefully if we end up seeing again, we'll both be different teams, and it will be a different battle."

Casey has been on a roll as a playmaker for the team, with the assist her fifth of the season, the sixth of her career. All three of her goals and the five assists have come in the past six matches. Her assists are tied for third most in a single season; her career tally also tied for third.

Vander Ven and her mates in the backline had their work cutout for them as Utah State continued to put on the pressure, a push which resulted in an 8-1 advantage in corner kicks as CSU goalie Libby Brooker produced four saves.

"I think we had to make some adjustments in the first half, like increasing our tempo and adjusting to their pressure," Vander Ven said. "I think we found rhythm in the first half where we could play out of it and find some space behind. We've been pressed by teams before; it's noting we haven't seen. I think we just need to continue to grow each day."

The Rams came out of the weekend unscathed, yet still feeling a bit uneven. The goal each week is six points, and regardless of the quality of opponents, two will not sit right. Not with the chances they felt they had, even the ones they didn't generate.

There were runs the Rams started to make which were closed down quickly by Utah State, particularly the Aggies' defenders. There were times Altman felt things were opening up, only to have them quickly shut down.

In the course of a season, there will be those days.

"Defensively we got more organized in the second half. Offensively, our first touch wasn't good, but we were winning the second balls in the second half," Hagen said. "Really, it's execution and focus. Not one of our better day, but to compete with a really good team and not lose is a positive to get a point, but we're going for six points. We'll be back to the drawing board a little bit on how we can get six points."

On occasion, it's OK to feel good about what you get. Sunday felt like one of those days.

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Avery Vander Ven

Mia Casey

Kenady Leighton

Mia Massey

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Maggie Altman

Libby Brooker

Mia Casey

Avery Vander Ven

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Maggie Altman

Libby Brooker

Mia Casey

Avery Vander Ven

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