Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
6-0-0, 0-0-0
UC San Diego
2-2-3, 0-0-0
Rams Rally, Add to Win Streak
9/7/2025 4:31:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Colorado State soccer stays undefeated as cracks are patched
A little adversity breeds players with more tools to deal with it deftly.
Souped up by orange attire, Colorado State soccer tallied its sixth win of the season, beating UC San Diego on Sunday afternoon and updated the record book in the process.
Olivia Fout scored her 19th career goal in the second half, tying the program record set by Caeley Lordemann during her three years with the Rams. Lordemann also owns the program marks for career points and single-season points.
Like Lordemann, Fout is no stranger to history.
She entered the record book in her first year as a Ram with 12 goals in a single season and continues to trend upward. But for Fout, the records and rankings aren't the motivator — it's the next challenge.
I don't care about the records, Fout said. I just want to have fun and I want to win the Mountain West championship with my best friends. I didn't even know until Kate Dunne told me I had one more until I tied the record. My first year here, when I broke the season record for goals, I didn't know until my parents were crying after the game. I just want to win.
Fout wasn't the only Ram to step up. Michaela McGowan scored her second goal at CSU in the opening 10 minutes, blasting a shot into the top left corner off an assist by senior Kacie Laurie. For McGowan, success came from trusting the moment.
Honestly, (coach) Keeley (Hagen) is really big about taking half chances, McGowan said. If we're in front of the goal and we have one or two steps on the defender, we're told to take it because you never know what could happen. It could be a ricochet, it could be a goal, it could be an assist. You never know — and that's a big part of it.
Those half chances stacked up quickly. CSU outshot UCSD 20–6, but the Tritons didn't go quietly. Just minutes after McGowan's opener, UCSD capitalized on a corner kick to level the match in the 16th minute.
The Rams found themselves under pressure, allowing defensive cracks to show and struggling to control the tempo. At halftime, something had to change.
We had to get more defensively organized, Hagan said. So, we just reminded them of our principles and changed a couple pieces in terms of who was stepping and pressuring. Ultimately, they were able to go out and execute that, and we won the ball higher up in the field.
Spending the majority of the second half in Triton territory, the Rams organized efficiently enough while they flipped through their rolodex.
Seeing what works and what doesn't.
The coaching staff made a huge tactical adjustment coming in the second half where we just threw the kitchen sink at them, Fout said. We just pressed and that's how we scored. They had no idea what to do. They started playing long and then we were winning every 50-50. I want to say almost 75% of the game was in our half so it's just a great feeling flipping that switch from the first to second half.
The offensive threat from which CSU is made up is a multitude of parts – McGowen, Fout, Kaja Dionne, Mia Casey and Hanna McKay – and when they're in the right position, they are dangerous.
As the defensive organization gets better week by week, the offense looks for any chance to score.
I think McGowen and Fout's relationship is pretty good, Hagan said. You even see Dionne on the left side who's a threat. So, if you look at our front five, we're pretty dangerous at any moment. And Casey, she's knocking on the door and getting goals. If you're going to stop Fout, they you have to worry about McGowen, if you're going to stop both of them, you have to worry about Kaja and Casey. And McKay, she's an engine out there.
What made the difference wasn't just firepower – it was resilience. From conceding early pressure, to reorganizing at halftime, to throwing wave after wave of attacks, the Rams' proved setbacks don't define them. Their response does.
As the team grows tighter and quicker to adjust against tough opponents, they hold their 6-0 start loud and proud.
They're not here because of luck or flukes. They're here because every time adversity comes knocking, CSU answers – and so far, the response has been nothing but wins.
Team Stats
Michaela McGowan (2)
Assisted By: Kacie Laurie
GOAL by CSU McGowan, Michaela Assist by Laurie, Kacie.
10:43
Natalie Abel (2)
GOAL by UCS Abel, Natalie.
16:10
Olivia Fout (5)
Assisted By: Michaela McGowan
GOAL by CSU Fout, Olivia Assist by McGowan, Michaela.
54:47
