Colorado State University Athletics
Thursday, August 15
Fort Collins, CO
7:00 pm
Colorado State
0-0-1, 0-0-0
0
vs
0
Idaho State
0-0-1, 0-0-0
1
2
F
Idaho St.
0
0
0
Colorado St.
0
0
0
Opening Tie Leaves Rams Unsettled
8/16/2024 5:46:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Veteran group carrying greater expectations than a scoreless draw
FORT COLLINS – The dour looks on faces told the story.
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Expectations are grander for the program these days. A veteran team makes it a requirement. Coming off a trip to the Mountain West championship game underlines and highlights the fact.
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Colorado State's women's soccer team no longer finds a tie acceptable. Wins are what they're after, especially to christen the program's new pitch and the first home game under the lights. Even a newcomer to the program could sense that as fact immediately after the 2024 season opened with a scoreless draw with visiting Idaho State on Thursday night at Ram Field.
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"It shows how competitive this team is and how much we want to win," freshman Kaja Dionne said. "As ticked as they are, I am too. It shows the team I'm on is going to win and will try it's best to do that. First day, we know what the bar is and we're going to work toward that."
Â
A team coming off a season with 10 clean sheets started the next campaign with another. Spotless really, as the Bengals fired off just eight shots, none of which were on goal. Another shutout for Shayna Ross, who was in net for all 10 in 2023, she wasn't challenged much.
Â
The flip side is what had coach Keeley Hagen truly flustered. The Rams took 19 shots, six of them on net. There were other good looks which went wide. Just none of them led to a celebration.
Â
"I feel like game one, definitely not happy. I think our players felt like we were right there, and at the end of the day it was the missing piece on execution," the fourth-year coach said. "Credit to Idaho State, they definitely moved the ball and had good possession at points.
Â
"Shayna had zero saves. At the end of the game, this is soccer; it's a cruel sport. Just because you get goal-scoring chances, which we had 19 total shots and six shots on goal, it's like you've gotta be able to execute and put one of those away. We didn't, and that was the missing piece today."
Â
There was a lot on the field which looked similar for the Rams, with returning starters Katy Coffin, Liv Stutzman, Mia Massey, Mia Casey, Kenady Leighton and Avery Vander Ven roaming and doing the gritty things they do in front of Ross.
Â
There was also a lot new, such as the revamped back line. While Vander Ven and Leighton – who has started every game of her career, with Thursday's being No. 66 to tie for third all time – are solidifying forces in the middle, Coffin dropped back to one side, Lauren Wheeler joined them on the other.
Â
While there was some miscommunication in the exhibition which led to two sloppy goals allowed, corrections were made, and the group looked solid. Even still, for Wheeler, a senior with 33 career games and 10 starts, it was a mix of emotions being part of the gang.
Â
"It's fun, and intimidating at the same time," Wheeler said. "You know you have a strong back line, so it makes it calming to be back there with them. They bring a great presence, so it's easy to fit in and trust them.
Â
"We focused more on being touch-tight in the box and marking, denying services, because those are super dangerous for us. If we do get services off, making sure that everyone is marking someone, ready for the incoming balls."
Â
But a tie doesn't guarantee a win in soccer, which led to the upsetting part.
Â
Olivia Fout is coming off a knee injury at the end of her record-setting 12-goal season, so her minutes were limited to just 15. Transfer Maggie Altman gave the team a new look up front, generating five shots, while Stutzman fired off two on net, one of which led to the best chance the team had.
Â
It came in the first half, and the deflection off the goalie went right to Dionne, who was presented with an open net. She just missed high, just about seven minutes after getting denied on a one-on-one.
Â
Grit your teeth, live and learn.
Â
"I definitely was nervous. I started the exhibition and had a lot of fun and a lot of confidence, but I was definitely nervous here," she said. "Great balls in and I just didn't execute, so I'm bummed. I'm definitely going to work on that, but also on the positive side, I was so excited and blessed to be chosen to start as a freshman.
Â
"I'm trying a lot to look past it. I know in a few days it will take time. I'm looking toward the next day and focusing what I can do now to help that."
Â
It was the sixth time in 12 seasons for the program a campaign has started with a tie (the Rams are 4-2-6 all-time in openers). In some years, even some in the not-so past, it would have been looked upon as a positive starting point.
Â
Those days are long gone.
Â
"We expect more than a tie," Wheeler said. "We're out here to win. We hate tying. Coming away with a tie is not good enough. We have a long future ahead, and this is not good enough for us to win championships."
Â
The result of revised expectations.
Â
Â
Expectations are grander for the program these days. A veteran team makes it a requirement. Coming off a trip to the Mountain West championship game underlines and highlights the fact.
Â
Colorado State's women's soccer team no longer finds a tie acceptable. Wins are what they're after, especially to christen the program's new pitch and the first home game under the lights. Even a newcomer to the program could sense that as fact immediately after the 2024 season opened with a scoreless draw with visiting Idaho State on Thursday night at Ram Field.
Â
"It shows how competitive this team is and how much we want to win," freshman Kaja Dionne said. "As ticked as they are, I am too. It shows the team I'm on is going to win and will try it's best to do that. First day, we know what the bar is and we're going to work toward that."
Â
A team coming off a season with 10 clean sheets started the next campaign with another. Spotless really, as the Bengals fired off just eight shots, none of which were on goal. Another shutout for Shayna Ross, who was in net for all 10 in 2023, she wasn't challenged much.
Â
The flip side is what had coach Keeley Hagen truly flustered. The Rams took 19 shots, six of them on net. There were other good looks which went wide. Just none of them led to a celebration.
Â
"I feel like game one, definitely not happy. I think our players felt like we were right there, and at the end of the day it was the missing piece on execution," the fourth-year coach said. "Credit to Idaho State, they definitely moved the ball and had good possession at points.
Â
"Shayna had zero saves. At the end of the game, this is soccer; it's a cruel sport. Just because you get goal-scoring chances, which we had 19 total shots and six shots on goal, it's like you've gotta be able to execute and put one of those away. We didn't, and that was the missing piece today."
Â
There was a lot on the field which looked similar for the Rams, with returning starters Katy Coffin, Liv Stutzman, Mia Massey, Mia Casey, Kenady Leighton and Avery Vander Ven roaming and doing the gritty things they do in front of Ross.
Â
There was also a lot new, such as the revamped back line. While Vander Ven and Leighton – who has started every game of her career, with Thursday's being No. 66 to tie for third all time – are solidifying forces in the middle, Coffin dropped back to one side, Lauren Wheeler joined them on the other.
Â
While there was some miscommunication in the exhibition which led to two sloppy goals allowed, corrections were made, and the group looked solid. Even still, for Wheeler, a senior with 33 career games and 10 starts, it was a mix of emotions being part of the gang.
Â
"It's fun, and intimidating at the same time," Wheeler said. "You know you have a strong back line, so it makes it calming to be back there with them. They bring a great presence, so it's easy to fit in and trust them.
Â
"We focused more on being touch-tight in the box and marking, denying services, because those are super dangerous for us. If we do get services off, making sure that everyone is marking someone, ready for the incoming balls."
Â
But a tie doesn't guarantee a win in soccer, which led to the upsetting part.
Â
Olivia Fout is coming off a knee injury at the end of her record-setting 12-goal season, so her minutes were limited to just 15. Transfer Maggie Altman gave the team a new look up front, generating five shots, while Stutzman fired off two on net, one of which led to the best chance the team had.
Â
It came in the first half, and the deflection off the goalie went right to Dionne, who was presented with an open net. She just missed high, just about seven minutes after getting denied on a one-on-one.
Â
Grit your teeth, live and learn.
Â
"I definitely was nervous. I started the exhibition and had a lot of fun and a lot of confidence, but I was definitely nervous here," she said. "Great balls in and I just didn't execute, so I'm bummed. I'm definitely going to work on that, but also on the positive side, I was so excited and blessed to be chosen to start as a freshman.
Â
"I'm trying a lot to look past it. I know in a few days it will take time. I'm looking toward the next day and focusing what I can do now to help that."
Â
It was the sixth time in 12 seasons for the program a campaign has started with a tie (the Rams are 4-2-6 all-time in openers). In some years, even some in the not-so past, it would have been looked upon as a positive starting point.
Â
Those days are long gone.
Â
"We expect more than a tie," Wheeler said. "We're out here to win. We hate tying. Coming away with a tie is not good enough. We have a long future ahead, and this is not good enough for us to win championships."
Â
The result of revised expectations.
Â
Team Stats
ISU
CSU
Goals
0
0
Shots
8
19
Shots on Goal
0
6
Saves
6
0
Corners
2
5
Fouls
8
8
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
5
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
D/MF
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's SoccerM
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's SoccerColorado 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