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Show Monday, September 25, 2006 Page 6 Sports Editor: Jon McBride 626-7983 The Signpost Vikings conquer 'Cats Offense sputters again in Big Sky loss By Jon McBride sporls editor I The Signpost The Weber State University football team came up short in its first Big Sky Conference game of the season as they lost to the nationally ranked Portland State University Vikings Saturday night 20-10 at Stewart Stadium. The Wildcats' play almost mirrored their effort two weeks ago against the University of California-Polytechnic. The WSU defense was impeccable while the offense sputtered. WSU's 129 passing yards and 63 rushing yards were bad, but the offense's four fumbles and four interceptions were worse. The turnovers killed the Wildcats as all the 15thranked Vikings needed to do was capitalize on a couple of their many opportunities that were gift wrapped by poor offensive choices. ~_. "Everyone did their, job," said Portland State quarterback Rob Freeman. "My job was just not to screw anything up." See Football page 7 : >**\ V- •K •r \ v; "r*-v/-^ Weber State University's sophomore running back Marcus Mailei is tackled during Saturday nights homecoming game against Portland State University as the ball squirts loose for a fumble. The Wildcats only had 63 rushing yards and 129 passing yards in the game. Mailei had seven carries for 40 yards to lead WSU rushers. The Vikings conquered the 'Cats by a final score of 20-10 in WSU's first Big Sky Conference game of the season. Portland State only had 50 passing yards and 111 rushing yards, but took advantage of numerous WSU turnovers. WSU will take on the University of Nortern Colorado on September 28. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU. Soccer denied on home field The head referee gives a red card to both Weber State University's Sarah Espinoza, 5, and University of Texas-El Paso's Kelli Yeamans, 9 during Saturday's game. WSU lost to UTEP in the last seconds of overtime, with a final score of 3-1 after an intense and foul-ridden game. WSU will travel to Illinois to play Western Illinois University on September 30, followed by Southern Utah University in Ceadar City on October 1, and will be home again on October 5 to face Sacramento State University. I'HOrO IJY JEFF NEBEKER | H If i By Frances Kelsey asst. sports editor I 7fte Signpost The Weber State University women's soccer team had their unbeaten streak broken on Saturday in an intense game against the University of Texas-El Paso. Saturday afternoon's game was possibly the most intense game of the season. UTEP was an extremely dominant and aggressive team both during play, and also with an excessive amount of aggression toward WSU players and the referees. However, the victory of the first goal was claimed by WSU's Natalie Ellis, who was given a wide open shot for a header into the goal off a kick from Linsev McFarland in minute 38 of the first quarter. By the 30th minute, one of UTEP's with a warning for being offside one too many times. Soon after, assistant coaches UTEP's number 9 received a red card and WSU's Sarah and was ejected "We just didn't Espinoza were from the game for have the drive at red carded when UTEP's player disorderlyconduct shoved Espinoza, and badgering the end but we who retaliated, the referee. Just causing both minutes after had the heart/' players to be that, the second ejected from assistant coach - Natalie Ellis, the game with 4 received a yellow Women's soccer minutes to go in card for the same the first half. reason. player El Paso scored Eight minutes their first goal before that, WSU with 14 minutes left in the quarter, goalkeeper Rebecca Ritchie made creating a tie game at 1-1. During a spectacular double save just off the middle of the first half, WSU's the goal line to prevent UTEP from Shelli Gough was yellow carded achieving another goal. WSU Midfielder Kelsie Ehlers said she thought that UTEP was quick. "They were very aggressive," Ehlers said, "and they know how to pass the ball." With two minutes remaining in the third quarter, Ehlers took a blow from a UTEP player's knee driving into her rib, causing her to step off the field in order to be checked and return later on in the fourth quarter. Soon after the shoving incident, WSU's Sarah Hill scored, making the score 2-1. UTEP answered back with 16 minutes left in the third quarter, advancing to a second tie of2-2. Three minutes later, UTEP's See Soccer oaae 7 One individual shines in disjointed offensive effort Et e u a ti n e broke the p Ia y e r Standing Out defender's "Stood ankles, Out" from a By jon McBride juked him sputtering sports editor | The Signpost out of his offense in jock strap. Weber State University's game Saturday etc. He gained 14 yards on the play. night at Stewart Stadium. "Eteuati was unbelievable," Sophomore wide receiver said WSU Head Coach Ron Bryant Eteuati had 220 allpurpose yards in the Wildcats' McBride. "He gave us field loss, more than the rest of the position the whole night." Unfortunately, the Wildcats WSU offense combined. couldn't do anything with that Eteuati picked up 206 of field position. his yards on punt and kickoff The Vikings won the game returns. Because of the Wildcats' stingy defense, Eteuatihadmany in the third quarter. Not one opportunities to return punts, first down was gained by WSU a total of six. With the Vikings' in the quarter despite many punter's high, arching kicks, opportunities. The Wildcats the Portland State University were 1 of 11 in third-down gunner would come barreling in conversions. on the comparably tiny 5-foot-7Last week against Southern inch, 175-pound Eteuati. Those Utah University, we saw a WSU watching the play cringed as the offense that came together, anticipation of the 250-pound showed some urgency and got gunner connecting with Eteuati things done. The week before, we created freakishly gruesome saw a game that was very similar thoughts. But the gunner, to Saturday's against Portland however, didn't connect with State. In thai game, we saw Eteuati once. With a few jukes freshman running back Trevyn and head fakes, Eteuati managed Smith have a breakthrough to duck, dive and dodge out of game while the rest of the harm's way plus gaining another offense struggled. This time we twenty or so yards. saw Eteuati breakthrough while Eteuati had three receptions. the rest of the offense struggled. If the offense is going to His most impressive came in the second quarter as he set up a succeed again any time soon, it's Wildcat touchdown on a quick going to have to come together and effective drive. Eteuati again. True, my columns may caught the ball out on the flat not be as exciting, describing incredible individual and was met by a Portland State such defender. He made the defender performances, but that's a bite on a head fake that would sacrifice I'm willing to make. make Michael Jordan drop his jaw. In sports lingo, it would You can reach reporter Jon McBride be very appropriate to say that by calling 626-7983. O |