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Boise State University vs. Utah State Aggies – 11/20/09

Kirk Bell — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:36:25 +0000

Boise State Broncos vs. Utah State Aggies – 11/20/09 – Logan, Utah

First Quarter

(BSU) 8:54 - Moore complete to Gallarda for 8-yd TD. PAT GOOD.

BSU 7 USU 0

(USU) 5:52 – Smith 22-yd rush for TD. PAT GOOD.

BSU 7 USU 7

Second Quarter

(BSU) 8:51 – Martin rush 17 yards for TD. PAT GOOD.

BSU 14 USU 7

(USU) 6:28 – Turbin for 24-yd TD run. PAT GOOD.

BSU 14 USU 14

(BSU) 4:47 – Martin 2-yd TD following Moore completion to Young for 52-yd gain. PAT GOOD.

BSU 21 USU 14

(BSU) 4:04 – Avery 9-yd TD. PAT GOOD.

BSU 28 USU 14

(BSU) 0:05 – Martin 1-yd rush for TD. PAT GOOD.

BSU 35 USU 14

Halftime – BSU 35 USU 14

Second Quarter

(BSU) 12:56 – Avery 32-yd TD run. PAT GOOD.

BSU 42 USU 14

(USU) 5:48 – Smith 12-yd TD rush. PAT Good.

BSU 42 USU 21

(BSU) 1:37 – Brotzman 52-yd FG. PAT GOOD. Brotzman career long FG (Previously 51-yds)

BSU 45 USU 21

Fourth Quarter

(BSU) 9:49 – Martin 6-yd rush for TD. PAT GOOD. Play on fourth-and-one

BSU 52 USU 21

Check arbiteronline.com in the morning to see the recap from BSU’s 52-21 victory over USU.

Bronco cross country headed to West Region Championships

Brendan Sherry — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:46:38 +0000

The Boise State men’s cross country team is headed to Eugene, Ore. for the 2009 NCAA West Region Championships on Saturday. The event that is being hosted by the University of Oregon will take place at the Springfield Country Club. In addition to the men’s team, freshman Shannon Porter will be representing the Boise State’s women’s team.

The Bronco men have competed in six races this season and finished in the top-five as a team in every meet. In their most recent performance the men’s team traveled to Reno, Nev. and raced to a third-place finish in the Western Athletic Conference Championships. The men were led by freshman Kevin Rosaeen who finished in fifth-place overall, which was good enough to earn him All-WAC First Team and WAC Freshman of Year honors. In addition to Rosaeen’s fifth-place finish, junior Sawyer Bosch and freshman Jeff Howard earned All-WAC Second Team for their 11^th and 14^th-place finishes. Juniors Scott Foley, Kevin Higgs, sophomore Brian Pierre, and freshman Jeff Howard and Zach Wiles round out the men representing the Broncos in Eugene.

The meet will be filled with some of the best teams and individuals in the country. If the men are able to put together their first really good race this season they will have a chance at surprising a lot of teams.

Even though the women’s team didn’t qualify for the West Region Championships, Shannon Porter qualified with her sixth-place overall finish at the Western Athletic Conference Championships. Porter’s performance at the conference championships was good enough to earn her All-WAC First Team. The key for Porter and the men’s team will be to stay relaxed and work their way through the crowds of runners

The NCAA West Region Championship will consist of a 10-kilometer men’s race and a 6-kilometer women’s race. The Men will get underway at 11:45 a.m. and the women will follow an hour later at 11:45 a.m.

2009 Heisman race frontrunners

Kirk Bell — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:12:38 +0000

The road to the Heisman Trophy is just around the bend. The most consistent and special of all candidates are beginning to make themselves known. These are the athletes who should have the best chances at a trip to New York this December.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Kellen Moore

His name matches this year’s production. More.

The Broncos’ sophomore is the national leader in the pass efficiency and touchdowns. He has a 172.5 passer rating with 32 touchdowns to just three interceptions – five touchdowns coming against in-state rival University of Idaho. His 67.7 completion percentage and 2,558 passing yards to make his statement to voters for a run to the Heisman.

C.J. Spiller

This senior has emerged as a spectacle of diversity for the Clemson offensive attack. He has 836 yards rushing on 153 attempts and 382 yards receiving on 24 receptions; averaging 15.9 yards per reception. He has 13 combined touchdowns from both offense and special team production. He has averaged 33.94 on kickoff returns and averaged 195.5 all-purpose yards this season; third in the nation.

Tim Tebow

This senior continues to impress through his ability to lead his team to victory by example. He is a dual threat quarterback with 10 rushing touchdowns and 12 passing touchdowns through his 2009 campaign. He has 2,334 yards of total offense and only four interceptions on 198 attempts. He has completed 64.7 percent of his passes this season.

Colt McCoy

This standout from Texas has the ability to make sound decisions and leads one of the nation’s most potent offensive attacks. He adds to this threat with the ability to create time for receivers to get open. He has 19 passing touchdowns and 2,628 total yards. The downside to selling McCoy this season is he’s thrown nine interceptions, creating nearly a 2-to-1 touchdown ratio going into the final weeks before voting.

Mark Ingram

This tough running back displayed his ability to break tackles this season. His 246 rushing yards and one touchdown against Ole Miss – six 100-plus yard rushing games this season – is a key reason he continues to be a frontrunner for the Heisman. He has 10 rushing touchdown and 1,297 rushing yards this season through 10 games. He continues to impress every week and should be a favorite going into December.

Toby Gerhart

This dark horse candidate emerged as a scary rushing attack in a conference that brags multiple tough running backs. He has 19 rushing touchdowns and averages 5.3 yards per carry. He has eight 100-plus rushing games this season; two of which were over 200-yard games. His latest performance against USC – 178 rushing yards and three touchdowns – puts him as a possible upset of leaders in the race to the Heisman.

Bronco wrestling looks to take program to next level

Matt Bedinger — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:17:47 +0000

CAMERON WIEMERSLAGE/ARBITER FILE PHOTO Broncos heavyweight senior Sam Zylstra works for inside position.

The Boise State wrestling team starts out this season ranked in the top 10 in various preseason polls. The team that sent nine individuals to nationals last year and broke a Pac-10 tournament scoring record looks to improve upon those number.

Expectations have may never been higher for the Broncos and head coach Greg Randall likes it that way.

“You just can’t believe you’re a top ten program,” Randall said. “That means you’ve got to believe you’re better than the top ten. You’re always trying to get better. We’ve been in the top ten before. We’ve been really close last year and right now it’s just not good enough especially with the talent we have here and how hard these guys have been working. If we finish tenth this year, you would probably consider it a failure.”

As always, Boise State will face tough competition in the Pac 10. This year, Randall believes his main two competitors will be Oregon State and Arizona State. Other than Pac 10 competition, the Broncos will take part in national duals on January 9-10 in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The national duals should provide a good indicator of how much work the Broncos need to do in order to be well positioned when the NCAA Championships roll around in mid-March.

“If you look at the Pac 10, Oregon State’s going to be probably a solid second and Arizona State probably right behind them. Maybe Stanford and Cal Poly. You have to set your goals not just to win the Pac 10, but to dominate and possibly put ten guys in the finals and hopefully have ten champs,” Randall said. “Other dual meets, you’ve got to look at the national duals. Iowa, Iowa State, Cornell College, Ohio State, Minnesota, they’re all going to be there. That’s going to be a big tournament for us. It will probably set the stage for where we are as we head into the season.”

Individually speaking, Randall thinks there are three guys on this team that could compete for a national title.

“We’re looking at Andrew Hochstrasser, Adam Hall and Kirk Smith. They could all be in the finals. It’s going to be a tough road to get there but once you’re there, you never know what’s going to happen. Potentially, those guys could be in the finals this year; there’s no doubt in my mind. As the season goes along, we’ll see where they are,” Randall said.

Nationals are a long way off, and for that to happen, things will have to go smoothly for Hochstrasser, Hall and Smith.

“Stay healthy. That’s the main thing,” Randall emphasized. “I think last year we lost a few guys and maybe they weren’t 100 percent going into the NCAA tournament and I think that’s a big deal if you stay healthy throughout the year and not miss any training periods. If we can keep all of our guys healthy throughout the year, we’re going to be tough to beat.”

As for Randall’s expectations for the team, it’s the same story. His goal is to raise the program to another level and be considered among college wrestling’s elite by earning a top-four finish at the NCAA championships.

“We want to bring home a trophy. To do that, you have to be in the top four. If we go to the NCAA tournament and bring home a trophy, you could probably call it a pretty good year,” Randall said.

Boise State is 2-0 on the year so far and looks to continue its success Nov. 22. The Broncos will travel to Corvallis, Oregon to wrestle Oregon State University and the University of Wisconsin.

Brockel, Kaiserman likely out for season

Trent Lootens — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:12:19 +0000

JOSH RASMUSSEN/THE ARBITER. Freshman receiver Kirby Moore will carry a heavier load as the season progresses due to injuries the Broncos have sustained on offense.

Boise State routed Idaho last week 63-25, but at a high cost for BSU.

Senior fullback and NFL prospect, Richie Brockel, injured his foot early in the game against the Vandals. When he returned to the sidelines he was in street cloths and on crutches. The diagnosis at this time is not exactly known, but according to BSU head coach Chris Petersen, Brockel will miss the remainder of the season, ending his career at BSU.

“It means a lot because Richie brings more intangible things than he does even physically,” Petersen said of his missed captain. “He’s a physical tone setter for us on offense. He’s also the voice of reason and he’s the most mature guy that we have on the entire team.”

Brockel is the unsung leader of the offense on and off the field. Losing a player of that caliber late in the year is hard for a young team, but his presence will still be with the team wherever they go.

“He was a pretty vocal guy in the locker room and during the pre game,” freshman wide receiver Kirby Moore said. “Losing Richie is a big deal.”

Austin Pettis, who had four touchdown catches against Idaho, knows just how much Brockel meant to this team and is still trying to cope with the fact that the captain will not be in the huddle again.

“It’s a lot of leadership that we’re losing on the field, but he’s still going to be a part of this team no matter what,” Pettis said.

The Broncos must now turn to sophomore fullback, Dan Paul, from Boring, Oregon. The sophomore has played sparingly during the season and has big shoes to fill in the absence of BSU’s only starting offensive senior. Coach Petersen feels confident Paul will step up and keep the Broncos playing at a high level.

“Dan’s been making great strides all year long and I think he’s in a place where we need him to be to take that next step and really carry that flag for Richie,” Petersen said.

Another unfortunate loss came to up-and-coming freshman running back Matt Kaiserman, who broke his leg late in the Idaho game after throwing his first touchdown on a trick play to tight end Kyle Efaw. Kaiserman’s injury is a significant blow to the already beleaguered BSU backfield. The running game lost junior D.J. Harper to an ACL tear earlier in the season against Fresno State. The Broncos are now down to only two productive backs with Jeremy Avery and Doug Martin.

“Kaiser’s going to be okay down the road. It’s just such a bummer for us and for him. He’s had a hard year anyway getting going and we were just starting to get him in the mix in a bunch of different things,” Petersen said.

Sophomore receiver, Tyler Shoemaker, was also injured during the victory over rival Idaho and also left on crutches after the game. His status is questionable for this weekend’s game at Utah State. Petersen said they’re still waiting on the doctors to evaluate him before they make any decisions going forward. Kirby Moore will likely step into Shoemaker’s slot position this weekend against USU.

Early production displays depth despite late season injuries

Kirk Bell — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:09:03 +0000

JOSH RASMUSSEN/THE ARBITER Junior linebacker Derrell Acrey celebrates following an interception against the Idaho Vandals during their annual rivalry.

The injury bug has proven to be an adversary of many college football teams late in the season. The Boise State Broncos have faired quite well considering they have played 10 of 13 games thus far. But the defense hasn’t been prone to that bug as of yet.

The linebackers

“Knock on wood,” sophomore linebacker Aaron Tevis said of injuries.

Tevis has struggled in the past with injuries and still battles through the pain persisting problems. Sharing time with freshman linebacker, J.C. Percy, has proven effective and an efficient use of young talent.

“First of all you don’t get as tired,” Tevis said. “You get a couple of breaks, a couple of series off. That helps a lot to go 100 percent in the game. And definitely helps with staying healthy. I’m definitely an injury prone guy but staying healthy this year has definitely helped me a lot.”

Tevis has 34 tackles this season with five tackles for loss. He has also stepped into the role of a hands-savvy backer. He’s recorded three interceptions this season.

Percy has 42 tackles – three of which are for loss – and one forced fumble.

To emphasize the relationship the line backers have with one another, it would be an understatement to call it competitive. The six major contributors – Percy, Tevis, Derrell Acrey, Tommy Smith, Hunter White and Daron Mackey have seen consistent action all season between the two available linebacker positions. Combined, the leading linebackers have recorded 172 tackles, seven interceptions and 15 tackles for loss for negative 48 yards this season.

The defensive line

Much like the linebackers, the defensive line has shown they are running deep with talent. The Broncos have rotated 10 guys who have contributed statistically in some way; yet another way to stay fresh on the field as the season progresses.

Often, injuries would allow for other guys to step in and showcase their talent. With the lack of injury in the initial point of contact that is the defensive line and traditional injury-prone positions of defensive tackle and defensive end, it is somewhat a curious matter why there has been so much defensive line production from so many athletes this season. But in this case, it has been due to BSU’s ability to showcase vast talent due to depth.

“We have great coaches and great athletes on the team,” junior defensive tackle Billy Winn said. “It just opens it up for other guys to play. These guys have been waiting for a long time to get on the field and have their chance to shine. It’s gonna be amazing. They’re excited to play. I just can’t wait to see them out there.”

The Broncos’ defense has stepped up in the turnover category. BSU has forced 16 turnovers during its past four games – seven coming against rival Idaho – following a two-game turnover drought against UC-Davis and Tulsa earlier this season. Much of this can be traced back to the defensive line applying pressure on quarterbacks and running backs behind the line of scrimmage.

“For a team to get to cause seven turnovers, that’s a great stride,” Winn said. “Showing the productivity of the defense. For us to get that many is a great attribute.”

Prior, the Broncos had 13 turnovers during their first four games.

Defensive backs

Though there hasn’t been an apparent showcasing of depth at defensive back as with the D-line and linebackers, sparks of production have shown through. What they haven’t displayed in depth, they make up for in talented play and progressive playmakers.

Boise State has only seen one player sit in the defensive backs corps with sophomore cornerback Jerrell Gavins filling the large shoes of senior cornerback Kyle Wilson.

Wilson has three interceptions and two pick-6’s in the past three games.

Gavins had five tackles while standing in for Wilson against UC-Davis. He has 21 tackles this season.

The defensive backs have 14 interceptions and three forced fumbles as a group this season.

Bronco volleyball wraps up regular season

Brendan Sherry — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:06:29 +0000

NIK BJURSTROM/THE ARBITER Freshman Liz Harden goes for a kill shot earlier in the season against Northern Arizona

When Boise State women’s volleyball coach Shawn Garus took over before the 2009 season, he wanted his team to be the most improved squad by the end of the year. As the Broncos wrap up their season, it is fair to say they have reached Garus’ goal.

After a sluggish start the Broncos have battled back into contention and are prepared to take on the Western Athletic Conference Tournament.

The Broncos can credit the work ethic and the player’s never-die attitude to this season’s resurgence. This year the Broncos continued to fight even when things weren’t going their way and the new coaching staff can take some of that credit.

“Things have been a lot more stable this year,” senior defensive specialist Kati Lewis said. “We are a lot more structured as a team.”

The Broncos could have given in and blamed new faces and a new system to their slow start at the beginning of the year. Instead, they put their time in at the gym and continued to improve every week, despite starting the season off with 11 straight losses. Although they had a conference win against San Jose State University, it wasn’t until the home win against the University of Idaho when the Broncos began to see the results of their hard work.

“Beating Idaho here was really a turning point for us,” Garus said. “We came out and played a really good match against a solid Idaho team. I think that it gave everybody the confidence that what we were doing day-in and day-out was working, and if we stuck to it, we would start winning matches.”

Following the win against Idaho, the Broncos began playing like a completely different team. They started playing better as a squad and displayed a desire to win.

“We started getting wins and dominating,” senior libero Jeanene Rose said. “We were taking people out in three games and were able to keep it up and build our confidence.”

The Broncos have been able to maintain that confidence through the rest of the season. Heading into Thursday’s rematch against the University of Idaho, Boise State is fourth in the WAC. Depending on how things play out this week, the Broncos could go into the tournament as high as a four seed, or as low as a sixth seed.

For a team that was picked to finish near the bottom of the conference at beginning of the year, a birth to the WAC Championship Tournament is a notable accomplishment. However, the Broncos – especially the seniors – don’t want to settle with what they have already accomplished.

“I don’t want our team to settle, I would rather go out with a bang,” Rose said.

Boise State establishes itself in world of college hockey

Josh Rasmussen — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:09:07 +0000

JOSH RASMUSSEN/THE ARBITER - Bronco netminder Dan Beaudrea prepares to stop a break-away shot from a University of Montana forward during a home game Nov. 6. at Idaho Ice World.

Boise State University football may make national headlines, and the women’s soccer players may call themselves Western Athletic Conference Champions, but none of their accomplishments came on ice.

The BSU hockey club, however, is in full swing, taking the ice by storm and has already played 13 of its 38 games this season.

Club president and team captain Dalton Smith, and his father, Lee, claim responsibility for starting the club 3 years ago.

“A lot of these kids came up together and want to play hockey,” Lee says. “They had nowhere else to go.”

It’s no small project to start a club either. It takes more than $40,000 yearly to play a full season. Lee is no longer designated the head coach though he handled those duties for the first two seasons.

JOSH RASMUSSEN/THE ARBITER - Boise State center, team captain and club president Dalton Smith extends toward the net during a shot in a home game against the University of Montana Nov. 6. at Idaho Ice World.

“I basically dumped my American Express into the first year just to prove we were serious,” Lee says.

To make matters more difficult, head coach Ken Beaudreau, in his first year coaching the Broncos, says, “I volunteer. The parents volunteer. The team manager, the assistant coach — no one gets paid. We are self-funded.”

He adds, “We’re always looking for sponsors. We’re always looking for support.”

The Broncos play as part of the ACHA (American College Hockey Association) in division II. The Broncos may play DII, but a DII hockey team doesn’t carry the same second-tier connotation as a DII football or basketball team. Other notable ACHA DII teams include Harvard, Ohio State University, New York University, Virginia Tech University, Arizona State University and the University of Idaho.

The rules most closely compare to those of the NCAA. Players must wear a full-cage on their helmets and fighting is forbidden. That doesn’t mean fights don’t happen. The penalty is an automatic ejection with a 1-game suspension as well as a 5-minute major another member of the team must serve during the game.

Like many sports, hockey demands a great deal from its players. To keep eligibility, each student must be a full-time, degree-seeking, with a minimum of nine credits and maintain a 2.0 GPA.

“It’s definitely been taking its toll on the whole team with grades, being gone every single weekend,” Dalton says. “It’s definitely intense. I don’t think somebody could hold a full-time job, go to school and play for a team. I personally don’t think it’s possible.”

But the reward is worth it to the players, most of whom grew up playing hockey. They manage themselves like any other hockey team.

“We don’t really allow any kind of drama between the players,” Dalton says. “Everyone shows a certain amount of respect for each other.”

BSU junior and 3-year-veteran of the WHL (Western Hockey League) Aaron Roberge’s several-team, multiple-league, hockey career came to an end 3 years ago in Canada but he maintains a love for the sport. Because of a by-law disallowing players with professional experience (WHL included) to play college hockey, he is ineligible to play with the Broncos but practiced with them a few times prior to receiving the news. The ACHA is not the WHL but some things never change.

“When I stopped playing hockey, I took a good, couple years off so … ya know how it is with guys on hockey teams — everyone’s really good, close friends,” Roberge says, “and there’s good camaraderie and everyone seems to get along. You get a feeling of being on a team and being with a group of guys who like to have fun and compete together.”

While athletes are often most-known through their sports, they are still responsible for daily life.

“Everything that happens at Boise State, the club sports, the varsity sanctioned sports — all of it’s important,” Ken says, “They’re all student athletes. These are people who are putting an enormous amount of time into their game, practice, school work and trying to get a degree. To me, they’re the finest of the finest.”

Ken has been coaching for 15 years at a variety of levels in multiple leagues including Peewees, Bantam, U-18 and the Idaho Rattlers. Youth soccer and YMCA roller hockey also help account for his coaching history.

“The game is almost secondary to what we’re trying to do,” he says, “which is make better men out of them — get them ready for the world.”

Ken’s son Dan Beaudreau, also the club vice president, serves as a 6’, 220-pound goalie for the Broncos. Coaching him has been really easy according to Ken.

“I’ve coached him for so many years and so many different teams that when we’re on the ice, he’s not my son and I’m not his father. We have kind of zoned that out, because I don’t understand goalies. They’re a totally different breed than anybody else. You’ve got to let him be who he is and trust him.”

The Broncos have a 23-man roster including former Idaho Junior Steelheads forwards Kevin Costello and Tyson Barnes and former Junior Steelheads AA defenseman Blake Englund. Boise is listed as the hometown for 13 of the 23 players.

A couple of the more-experience players are Dalton and brother Cortland Smith who combined for 54 of the team’s159 points in the 2008-2009 regular season. Cortland gets credit for leading the team in both goals (12) and assists (20) last season though he was followed closely by Dalton who tallied 11 of each.

Dalton’s hockey resume includes time with the Columbus Blue Jackets Midget Major AAA, an affiliate of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets.

Dalton says the team looks for “experienced players who are passionate about playing hockey.”

The club doesn’t only benefit players and fans. It also gives medical staff a chance to familiarize themselves with a new sport and learn its challenges. Gen Ludwig, the coordinator for injury prevention and care through Boise State says some of the most important differences are the rules and procedures. Also of educational value to new trainers are the pads and the order in which they are put on and likewise, taken off, should it be necessary during the treating and/or diagnosing of an injury.

The Broncos practice once a week on Wednesday.

The Broncos’ next home games are Friday and Saturday at Idaho Ice World at 10:00 p.m. against BYU.

To those who are new to the sport, Ken says, “Come out and learn the game. Come out with somebody who knows the game, learn it and (you) will fall in love with it when (you) see it live.”

Broncos sit 2-0 after 2009 innaugural home stand

Brittney Johnson — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:15:58 +0000

The Boise State Broncos looked sluggish in the first half, having a difficult time get shots underneath against the Weber State Wildcats at Bronco Stadium. A second half surge pushed both teams ahead, WSU winning the last twenty minutes 39-43. It wasn’t enough to stop the Broncos, taking home their second victory of their season opening weekend at home, 66-58.

The Broncos had a good first five minutes, going on a 10-2 run to open the first half. BSU failed to execute on 15 first half turnovers and translate them into points.

Both BSU and WSU didn’t shoot well in the first half, neither team shooting over 35 percent from the field.

The Broncos were led by freshman Julia Marshall in the first half to with seven points and four rebounds. BSU shot 34.3 percent from the field as the first 20 minutes expired.

Tasha Harris gave the Broncos a much needed spark going into the second half, scoring 17 points for BSU. Harris would lead the team in the scoring with 22 points boosted by six rebounds, four assists and three steals.

BSU shot 61.9 percent from the field during the second half but failed to find any rhythm from beyond the arc, making none of their three attempts. The Broncos finished shooting 12.5 percent from three-point land on the day.

BSU will face Portland State Thursday, Nov. 19, at Bronco Stadium. The Vikings and Broncos tip-off at 7 p.m.

Broncos’ Weekend Roundup: Nov. 12-15

Courtesy Bronco Sports — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:20:44 +0000

Broncos busted in first NCAA Championship Tournament birth

The Boise State Broncos fell 7-1 to No. 3 UCLA in the first round of the NCAA Soccer Tournament in Los Angeles, Calif., Friday night. After the Broncos took an early lead on a Maureen Fitzgerald goal in the 7th minute, the Bruins rallied with a dominating performance to score seven unanswered goals to advance into the second round of the tournament.

Boise State opened the scoring early with a strike in the 7th minute. A long ball was played down field to Molly Hill who drove it into the box where she played a pass to Shannon Saxton on the right side. Saxton turned and passed it back to the top where Fitzgerald was waiting. The freshman followed by launching a high arcing shot from 16 yards out into the upper left corner for the 1-0 lead.

However that score seemed to wake the third-ranked Bruins up. UCLA countered quickly with a pair of Sydney Leroux goals in the 13th and 16th minutes, on the day she would score four goals. The first UCLA score was the result of a series of perfect one touch passes that cumulated with Leroux volleying a cross in from eight yards out into the left side of the net. The second strike was a shot from the top of the box that found the inside of the right post.

UCLA extended its advantage in the 24th minute when Lauren Cheney was rewarded with another series of solid one touch passing resulting with her scoring from 11yards out. UCLA took the 3-1 lead into the half.

The second period was all UCLA as Leroux scored two quick goals to put an end to any doubt about the final outcome.

The Broncos played hard throughout the game but UCLA’s speed and experience was to much for Boise State today. The Bruins finished the game with three goals in the first half and four in the second. Held the Broncos to one shot in the final 45 minutes and out shot Boise State 13-to-2 in shots on goal throughout the 90 minutes of action.

The loss brings an end to Boise State’s best season in history as its finishes with 13-7-4 overall mark. The bulk of this squad will return next year with 21 of the 28 players being either freshmen or sophomores.

Broncos win then drop games during opening weekend

Despite having three Broncos score in double-figures, the Boise State men’s basketball team fell to Montana, 82-95, Saturday night as the Grizzlies proved to be deadly from 3-point range.

Senior Ike Okoye led the way for the Broncos with a team-high 20 points and nine rebounds, while La’Shard Anderson had another great offensive night with 16 points and five assists.

Play was close throughout most of the first half of as senior Kurt Cunningham led the Boise State offense with 13 points in just 12 minutes of play as he found himself on the bench with two fouls early on. It wasn’t until the three minute mark that Montana went on a 15-6 run, entering the half with a 52-42 lead over the Broncos.

Things open well for the Broncos Friday night in a victory over Loyola Marymount 90-87.

While the game was close throughout, the play of junior guard La’Shard Anderson clenched the win for the Broncos as he nailed nine consecutive free throws down the stretch en route to recording a career-high 26 points. Overall, Anderson was 13-14 from the line, and 6-10 from the floor.

As a team, Boise State made 50 percent of their shots from the floor and an incredible 83.3 percent from the line, as compared to 48.5 percent from the floor and 65.0 percent from the line by LMU.

Go online for the update from Montana on BSU’s Sunday game against North Dakota.

Cross country concludes season at regional championships

The Boise State men’s cross country team completed their 2009 campaign on Saturday morning racing in the NCAA West Region Championships hosted by the University of Oregon at the Springfield Country Club in Eugene, Ore. The Bronco men finished 15th out of 26 teams while Boise State’s sole women’s competitor, freshman Shannon Porter, placed 101st out of 184 runners.

Broncos’ volleyball spit to ends home season through weekend play

The Boise State volleyball team closed-out their 2009 home schedule on Saturday evening by capturing their seventh win of the season, defeating San Jose State, 3-1, in Bronco Gym. The Broncos (7-20, 7-8 WAC) downed the Spartans 25-22, 25-12, 19-25, 25-21.

Facing a tough No. 3-ranked Hawaii team, the Boise State volleyball team fell in straight sets, 25-16, 25-14, on Thursday evening in Bronco Gym. The Broncos (6-20, 6-8 WAC) fall to a 0-21 record all-time against the Rainbow Wahine (24-2, 14-0 WAC).