Does anyone enjoy a blowout? A game where one team imposes their will onto the other and they can’t fight back. A game where not even the refs can prevent the beating delivered to the opposition. A game where the fans are hungry for more.
If that sounds enticing, then what happened on September 23rd at the UCCU Stadium between the UVU and Cal State women’s soccer teams is just for you. The Wolverines went into this Big West Conference opener 4-4-1, after beating the Cal State Roadrunners 7-1, things are looking good.
The match started off with a swift goal in the 10th minute from Sadie Beardall, but was quickly responded to by Cal state in the 12th minute tying the game early.
What came from UVU next would remain the rest of the game—desperation and aggression. The energy from them was powerful, all eyes and cleats were set on the opposition’s goal.
And the field might as well have been tilted. The way the Wolverine offense and defense unified to keep the ball in their possession and on the Roadrunner’s half was immaculate.
But Cal state wouldn’t roll over, not yet at least. In the 16th minute, their offense snuck past the Wolverine’s–the stadium held its breath. Thankfully, the defense was able to apply just enough pressure for a bad shot and the ball would soon be back on the other half.
That would be the closest the Roadrunner’s would get to scoring for the rest of the game. UVU would pull ahead with another goal in the 29th minute from Nixan Jackson. The Wolverines would carry this momentum off the field at the half and return after the break to deliver five more nails in Cal State’s coffin.
UVU would keep the aggression up all game. Head coach Chris Lemay attributed the source of offense to finding constant opportunities and being able to manipulate space to penetrate through the defense.
"We have to play consistently," said coach Lemay, "We can’t turn it on, turn it off, and we can’t, based on the scoreboard, have different energy. So we tried to play a full 90 [minutes]."
By the end of the match, UVU would have a total of 31 shots and 16 shots on goal. A fierce volley of shots taken. Senior Sadie Beardall ended the night with 2 goals and 1 assist.
"It was like the first game in the Big West for UVU, and I just knew that it was just kind of like a statement. You know, let’s just have fun,” said Beardall, “I feel like as soon as we get that first one, we just don’t back down, and that’s when we just put them out of their misery”
This mindset ended up in the crowd. With a minute left and the ball deep in the Roadrunner’s half, the Wolverine crowd yelled for more. They weren’t able to get an eighth, but it didn’t matter.
Even with this beating, the Roadrunner’s goalie Addyson Evens would end the night with nine saves, some of them were rather beautiful.
A strong statement match from the women’s soccer team. Next up, the Wolverines head to California to play UC San Diego, who is 5-2-2.
