Colorado State University Athletics

Rams’ Run Ends in Semifinals
11/6/2024 7:43:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Utah State wins rematch of 2023 title game
SAN DIEGO Calif. – Stymied offensively from start to finish, Colorado State women's soccer fell to No. 25 Utah State in the Mountain West tournament semifinals 2-0, ending one of the most successful seasons in program history.
The opening 45 minutes of Wednesday's match were evenly played until the 40th minute when Utah State's Ellie Hendrik found what she was looking for to put her team ahead, making a move which ran one Colorado State defender into another and leaving her with a clear path to sneak a ball past Rams' netminder Libby Brooker into the top corner.
Colorado State held its composure well with a fair share of winning one-on-one tackles with the ball remaining central in the field, but moving it into the attacking third proved to be difficult all match. The Rams walked off the field at half trailing by one, with only one shot on goal from Mia Casey.
The second half was just as difficult offensively, with Colorado State taking just one more shot and finishing with no corner kicks. Utah State took 21 shots, putting 11 on frame and earning 10 corners.
In the second half, the Rams made some changes to their lineup and position, partially due to the loss of midfielder Liv Stutzman, who went down with an injury after she and Brooker collided in the goal box in the 26th minute. Stutzman did not return, with Casey moving into a striker position.
Communication was heard all around the field guiding each other to remain on their marks, track the ball, and to position themselves in the best way to generate any offensive movement forward. Colorado State struggled to get out of its half for the majority of the closing frame battling from a fast movement of play. The closing goal came from Kate Christian as quick passes from Hendrix and Mia Mullenmeister found Christian – who scored the game winner in last year's championship -- alone in the middle of the box.
Brooker finished with nine saves as the Rams closed with a 12-5-4 record, tying the program standard for wins in a season after breaking a record with seven victories in conference play to earn the team's best tournament seed in its four trips to the postseason.
The opening 45 minutes of Wednesday's match were evenly played until the 40th minute when Utah State's Ellie Hendrik found what she was looking for to put her team ahead, making a move which ran one Colorado State defender into another and leaving her with a clear path to sneak a ball past Rams' netminder Libby Brooker into the top corner.
Colorado State held its composure well with a fair share of winning one-on-one tackles with the ball remaining central in the field, but moving it into the attacking third proved to be difficult all match. The Rams walked off the field at half trailing by one, with only one shot on goal from Mia Casey.
The second half was just as difficult offensively, with Colorado State taking just one more shot and finishing with no corner kicks. Utah State took 21 shots, putting 11 on frame and earning 10 corners.
In the second half, the Rams made some changes to their lineup and position, partially due to the loss of midfielder Liv Stutzman, who went down with an injury after she and Brooker collided in the goal box in the 26th minute. Stutzman did not return, with Casey moving into a striker position.
Communication was heard all around the field guiding each other to remain on their marks, track the ball, and to position themselves in the best way to generate any offensive movement forward. Colorado State struggled to get out of its half for the majority of the closing frame battling from a fast movement of play. The closing goal came from Kate Christian as quick passes from Hendrix and Mia Mullenmeister found Christian – who scored the game winner in last year's championship -- alone in the middle of the box.
Brooker finished with nine saves as the Rams closed with a 12-5-4 record, tying the program standard for wins in a season after breaking a record with seven victories in conference play to earn the team's best tournament seed in its four trips to the postseason.
Team Stats
CSU
USU
Goals
0
2
Shots
2
21
Shots on Goal
1
11
Saves
9
1
Corners
0
10
Fouls
7
6
Scoring Plays

Ellie Hendrix (3)
Assisted By: Austin Miller
GOAL by USU Hendrix, Ellie Assist by Miller, Austin.
39:55

Kate Christian (7)
Assisted By: Ellie Hendrix , Mia Mullenmeister
GOAL by USU Christian, Kate Assist by Hendrix, Ellie and Mullenmeister, Mia.
82:55
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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
Colorado State Soccer: Keeley Hagen Preseason 2024
Wednesday, August 14