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Soccer team wins WAC home opener
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After starting off their Western Athletic Conference matches with two disappointing losses, the women’s soccer team rebounded to defeat Nevada 2-1 on Friday at Simplot Fields.
The Broncos returned from a rough three weeks on the road, in which they went 2-4 to capture their first conference victory.
Boise State took early advantage of a struggling Nevada Wolf Pack squad (3-9-0, 0-2-0) and put away two goals within the first nine minutes of play.
At the seven-minute mark, Brittany Zoellner sent in a left-side ground cross that found the feet of Anna Howard, who was able to put a one-touch shot off the far post and into the net for her fourth goal of the season. The Broncos followed it up with the game-winning goal just two minutes later.
Senior Tara Milligan sent in a cross from the right end line that made its way through a sea of legs to Zoellner, who fired the ball past the Nevada goalkeeper to put Boise State up for good 2-0. With her goal on Friday, Zoellner continues to improve upon her own school career records of 18 goals and 44 points.
For the first 25 minutes of play, Boise State was able to completely shut down the Wolf Pack and dominate the time of possession. Boise State’s high pressure and ball control kept the ball in the Nevada end of the field for the majority of the first half.
The Wolf Pack were unable to put much together against the Bronco defense until 31 minutes in, when they were rewarded with a penalty kick after forward Annie Baxter was taken down in the penalty box by Bronco keeper Amy Ortmann. After breaking away from the last of the Boise State defenders, Baxter beat Ortmann on a move to her right and was dragged down by Ortmann. Jessica Gregg sent the penalty kick past Ortmann for what was to be the only Wolf Pack goal.
The Broncos put together several opportunities in the second half, but were unable to complete them. Fifteen minutes in, sophomore BreeAnn Milligan sent in a cross that Zoellner shot off the post. One minute later, Anna Howard broke through the Nevada defense off a through pass and had a one-on-one opportunity with the Wolf pack goalkeeper, but hit the shot wide.
Both squads exchanged attacks and scoring opportunities for the remainder of the match, with neither team managing to score. The BSU defense remained solid throughout the match as the Broncos out-shot the Wolf Pack 15-8, allowing only 2 Nevada shots on goal.
The victory puts Boise State at 5-6-1 overall and 1-2-0 in the WAC. Nevada slips to 3-10-0, and 0-3-0 in WAC play.
The Lady Broncos travel to San Jose State on Friday. They’ll return for a home match on Sunday, Oct. 20 at 1 p.m. against Fresno State.
The BSU women look to climb their way off the bottom of the WAC standings with victories in their next few matches. The Lady Broncos have five remaining conference opponents, none of whom have either winning records in overall play or winning records in the WAC.
Boise State’s next home game is against Fresno State on Sunday.
Aaron Barton, The Arbiter
