Snow soccer get some losses, but win against ranked foe
Matt Harris
Staff writer
8-6-2016
PRICE—Snow soccer teams competed with Utah State-Eastern at Price and achieved mixed results in three games, but, significantly, got their first win against a ranked opponent.
While the men’s team struggled to stop the Eagles’ offense in a 3-2 loss, the Lady Badgers surprised everyone with a 1-0 upset of the nationally-ranked USU-Eastern women’s team in their first match. The two women’s teams tied 1-1 in their second game.
The first game between the USU Eastern and Snow women featured less than 15 shots on goal combined. The deciding shot came from Snow defender Kassidy Barker in the first half of overtime.
The Lady Badgers led on offense with 12 shots, six on goal, and only allowed six shots on defense.
USU-Eastern entered the matchup ranked No. 17 in the country. The game marked the Snow soccer program’s first win over a ranked team ever.
“The ladies worked very hard against Utah State Eastern,” head coach Nuno Gourgel says. “Hopefully, this will build us some momentum and help us win games in the conference playoffs.”
For the men’s team, fortune did not favor the weary. Coming off of close games against Salt Lake and Western Wyoming, the Badgers were outplayed by the Eagles, 3-2.
“The boys looked very tired against [USU-Eastern],” Gourgel says. Because of that fatigue, the team wasn’t able to play its usual high-pressure style, he says.
Gourgel maintains confidence in both teams and their outlook. “The goals have not changed,” Gourgel says. “We still want to win as many games as possible going into the playoffs.”
The teams face a nonconference matchup against Sheridan College in Wyoming before traveling to face the College of Southern Nevada in a two-game set next Friday and Saturday.
