Perfect Rams Post Fourth Successive Clean Sheet

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Sep 7

1:00 p.m.

Women's Soccer

vs UC San Diego

Sep 14

12:00 p.m.

Women's Soccer

at Denver

Sep 19

6:00 p.m.

Women's Soccer

at Omaha

Sep 25

7:00 p.m.

Women's Soccer

at Utah State

Sep 28

12:00 p.m.

Women's Soccer

at Boise State

Ready. Set. Perfect.

The outcome was, keeping the record spotless. The way the team played will require a bit of polish, but that's not necessarily a dreadful thing for Colorado State's women's soccer team.

Once again, a first-half goal held up for 90 complete minutes, a fourth consecutive clean sheet for the Rams and a spotless 5-0-0 record after a 1-0 victory over Northern Colorado at Rams Soccer Field on Thursday night.

There were plenty of other chances – even a goal taken off the board and another so close it also had to be reviewed – but the Bears put up a fight in the second half, applying ample pressure after absolutely no push in the first half.

"I think that credit to UNC. You know, they challenged us in a different way that we hadn't been challenged in," CSU coach Keeley Hagen said. "First half, I think our team was frustrated with kind of how they were performing overall and just the overall connectivity and definitely better response in the second half, not necessarily toward the end of the game.

"We're going to be able to learn a lot from this game. At the end of the day, we got the result, and we're going to be happy with that."

In the 38^th minute, the Rams broke the ice by scoring off their first set piece of the season. Freshman Hanna McKay took the corner, putting her feed into the box, always a scrum. Hope Tow got a piece of the ball, which deflected off a UNC player and found the net.

The fact McKay was taking the corners was a fresh look for a team which received votes (six) in the United Soccer Coaches poll this week. It's been a task assigned to Mia Casey for the brunt of the past two seasons, with Hagen calling it a tactical decision, noting McKay's left-footed feed.

It wasn't the first time this season the local Windsor product has had the chore, but the first time all season she handled every one, six in all.

"I just love the flexibility I have to be creative and scan where my players are," McKay said. "Everybody's so good in the box and everybody's just so aggressive, so it's so fun getting to play those balls in for them."

It was her first assist of the year and Tow's first goal. From her vantage point, Hagen wasn't sure it wasn't an own goal. As far as McKay's concerned, she's fine with an assist or a goal either way.

The best part of it all is learning as she goes, having started every match this season. This was the second night she's played all 90 minutes as the team continues to operate with a short bench.

"It has been very exciting and very challenging, but I wouldn't want to do it anywhere else," McKay said. "The coaching staff and the players just make this such an easy transition, and I just love it here."

The Rams made the lone marker stand up, though they took a good shot at extending the lead a few times, with a goal taken off the board. Unfortunate too, as it would have been rather poetic for the evening.

Olivia Fout thought she made it a 2-0 game in the 57^th minute, settling a long Kacie Laurie shot in the box, then pushing it left past the keeper. As the Rams celebrated, the officials called for a review, taking if off the board for an offsides call.

It came on a night when Fout's sister, August, presented the game ball as the team recognized childhood cancer, her older sibling being a survivor. It also would have been a fifth consecutive game with a goal and the 19^th of her career, which would have tied the program record.

In the 74^th minute, a rush up the middle of the field by Michaela McGowan had fans on their feet, but her high rocket shot hit the crossbar and caromed straight down, causing the officials to stop play to take a look. Again, no tally for the Rams.

In the final 45 minutes, the Bears finally put some pressure on the Colorado State defense after having no shots in the first half. Their first came in second minute of second half off a header in the box off a deep feed, then had another in the third, both on goal.

By the end of the game, CSU goalie Gray Willson went from untested to active, stopping three shots overall, the most daunting coming in the 72^nd minute on a scrum resulting from a corner kick.

Willson is new in net, and the backrow in front of her continues to grow along with her. They have now gone 363 minutes without allowing a goal, the only one coming at the end of the season opener.

The Bears' second-half offense gave them more lessons to reflect upon.

"I think honestly it's just our team being focused in every moment and being locked in. We kind of always have a reset moment just to guide us and remember to always be focused in the moment and locked in and just try to keep a clean sheet throughout the game," Avery Boulom said. "Today was definitely a big learning experience. It really gave us a different challenge, and we take it one game at a time, one practice at a time and just keep going from there."

Being clean for so long comes with pressure, but Boulom called it the good kind. Consider it a test of endurance to keep it going.

The fact her team wasn't perfect sat fine with Hagen. Not every match will be, not every half. The mark of an improving team is one which grows from each challenge, and so far, she's witnessed nothing less from her squad.

She said they will watch film and likely kick themselves over a few things. Chances given away, chances missed.

"Yeah, that's the plan," Hagen said. "That's what we want to have happen for sure."

Just like remaining perfect.

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