Last year, the Weber State University Women’s Soccer team only managed to win three games, and finished near the bottom of the Big Sky Conference rankings. This year things have been very different and the team has booked a place in the conference
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On Sunday WSU took on Sacramento State University, needing a win to extend their season. The Wildcats claimed a 1-0 victory at home on Senior Day.
“Senior day was exciting and sad,” said Senior Nicole Moore. “Exciting that we are almost done with our college careers and sad because a lot of friendships had been made and soccer bring us together.”
As the game began, both teams remained scoreless throughout the first half of the game. WSU missed multiple opportunities that were just off target to take the lead. It wasn’t until the 65th minute of the game that freshman midfielder Kendra Bailey scored the Wildcat’s only goal of the game.
Bailey’s first goal of the season came at a crucial time in the season for WSU. The goal came off of Victoria Anderson’s corner kick. Bailey connected on Anderson’s kick with a header that hit off to the right post and bank it into the net.
Following the WSU goal, the Hornets stepped up their attack and pressured the Wildcat goal. Moore said that the team held up under the SSU attack and played well.
“We possessed the ball, defended well as a team, and we had a good amount of shots on goal,” said Moore.
Sophomore goalkeeper Ryann Waldman held strong in the goal with seven saves to shutout the Hornets. This was Waldman’s fourth complete-match shutout of the season and fifth overall. WSU Women Soccer ended their regular season with low team’s goals-against average of .98, which is the second lowest average at the end of the regular season in this school’s history.
The Wildcats accomplished a goal that the coaching staff set at the beginning of the year, and are headed to the Big Sky tournament for the first time since 2008. Wildcats ended their season with a 4-2-1, Big Sky 6-10-1 overall, and will take the No.3 seed in the tournament in Colorado.
WSU honored 10 senior players before the game on Senior day, Kirsten Anderson, Victoria Anderson. Jessie Baddley, Emily Freshman, Alyson Hansen, Kylie Johnson, Nicole Moore, Lindsay Ortgiesen, Collette Simmons and Roxanne Tebbs. The seniors were anxious and excited to start their final regular season game as their college careers reached an end.
Senior day turned out to be an exciting and proud moment for all 10 seniors, many of which will be going to the Big Sky tournament for the first time. Roxanne Tebbs said that qualifying for the tournament is the culmination of years of preparation.
“I was very excited and proud of my teammates and very happy to advance to the Big Sky tournament, it has been our goal this season,” Tebbs said. “For the past couple of years we’ve work so hard and had success but at the same time come up a little short when we needed it to count.”
The Wildcats will head to the Big Sky tournament for the 11th time in 15 seasons.They will begin to prepare for the No.2 seed Portland state in the semifinal round on Nov. 4th at 3 p.m. in Greely, Colo.
“This year is especially different and exciting. We’ve played all the teams that will be in tournament so we know a little bit about how they are going to play and how they bring it.” Moore said. “We’re going to keep our heads up, practice hard and leave everything out on the practice and game field.”
