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Show StatesmanSports Page 10 Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008 - WOMEN'S SOCCER Looking for more home cooking ts continue three-game homestand By SETH R. HAWKINS web editor Coming off a big win against UTEP Sunday, the USU women's soccer team looks to do something they have yet to accomplish this season: win two games in a row. Following both of the Aggies' previous wins at home, they went on the road and lost - once to Oregon and most recently to Utah. Breaking that pattern is a top priority for the Aggies, said USU head coach Heather Cairns. Her team has an advantage they didn't in the previous matches: they play on their home field. Homefieldhas been nice to USU, where the Aggies are currently undefeated. As the middle game of a three-game homestand, Utah State looks to start its first win streak Thursday at 1 p.m. when they take on University of Texas at San Antonio. Even though the Aggies will have their hands full with UTSA, which comes from the talented soccer state of Texas, Cairns said the bigger challenge for her team is overcoming their own struggles with consistency. "What we have to worry about now is just replicating what we're doing," Cairns said. "We've had some trouble with that. While I don't want to discount our opponent, I think it's our opponent we're battling, but it's also ourselves." Each position on the team has struggled at one point in the season and the team has fought to find a consistent rhythm in their play, but Cairns said she thinks they are starting to pull together. "It's coming," Cairns said. "It's there in glimpses. The question that remains is can we do it consistently? We can't do it with three forwards working A B O V E , U S U J U N I O R F O R W A R D E R I N S A L M O N heads the ball Sunday at Bell Field against UTEP. Salmon scored her second goal of the season as the Aggies beat UTEP, 2-1. USU hosts Texas-San Antonio Thursday at 4 p.m. FAR LEFT, USU freshman forward Shantel Flanary protects the ball against a UTEP defender. TYLER LARSON photos and four midfielders loafing. We have to do it with 11 people on the field." Cairns also said bench production was critical, which was apparent in the UTEP game, where forwards Erin Salmon and Lauren Hansen came off the bench to score the two goals for the Aggies. Hansen leads the team in scoring and points with three goals and one assist, and Salmon has two goals. While the Aggies battle for consistency, UTSA will face a Win: Aggies improve to 2-9 on season with win [1 continued from page 8 USU SENIOR OUTSIDE HITTER MELISSA OSTERLOH (3) rises high for a kill Tuesday night in the Spectrum. Osterloh had nine kills as the Aggies swept their in-state rivals, improving to 2-9 on the season. CODY GOCHNOUR photo Come play Northern Utah's Best-Kept Secret. 18 Championship Holes Driving Range Practice Putting & Chipping Greens oteelc G O L F C O U R S E 550 East 100 North Smithfield, Utah 435-563-6825 Fall USU Student Special: 9 Holes of Golf, Sunday-Friday $10, must show current USU ID. After trailing 1-6 early in the second set, the Aggies rallied, bringing the score to 8-7, and never trailed again in the set. Senior outside hitter Kris Hymas had two kills and three digs in the set, helping USU to a 25-17 win. The Aggies had a 23-10 run to finish the set, hitting .321 and recording seven team blocks. Utah State had another slow start in the third set. A key four-point run late in the set, including two service aces from senior setter Heather Hillier and spikes from Osterloh and Hymas, sparked the Aggies to a 25-19 victory, clinching the match. USU hit .138 in the set, but held Utah Valley to -.029. USU head coach Grayson DuBose said the team blocked well and was able to take charge. "Blocking is just a matter of confidence," he said. "We didn't allow those guys to feel comfortable. It was a nice night for us." The Aggies finished the match with a season-high .244 hitting percentage, while holding the Wolverines to .031, a season-low for an Aggie opponent. "We played pretty well as a team," Astle said. "It's good to get a win." The first set also started slowly for the Aggies as Utah Valley took an early 3-0 lead. After a close game including six ties, USU took over the lead for good with a block from Osterloh. A spike from Astle ended the first set with a score of 25-23, the closest set of the match. Osterloh led the Aggies in the first set with five kills and two digs as the team hit .276. In regard to the team's slow starts in all three sets, DuBose said the Aggies need to come out a little sharper right off the bat. "It takes a lot of energy to make that kind of a comeback," he said. The Aggies had enough energy, coming back from early deficits to win each set. Astle said the team blocked well and came together. "We've gotten a lot more confident," she said. "We're serving and passing better." DuBose noted Astle's efficient hitting. "We were able to get her the ball in good spots," he said. "She did a real nice job." Utah State improves to 2-9 with the win, while the Wolverines fall to 2-6 this season. DuBose said the Aggies were able to outwork the other team, minimize errors and receive serves well. The Aggies will begin conference play Saturday evening at San Jose State. ~joseph.w@aggiemail.usu.edu GOLOSH ;1i (Bring a date, but no nibbling on the ears) 'TNEUfflfiEST CORN WEE * (MiQIE WEE DESIGN THE BEST DEAL QRoUm ECCIZS ICE flKW new challenge when they come to Bell Field, as it will mark their first game of the season against a non-Texas school. The Roadrunners play only three non-Texas teams this season in Utah State, Southern Utah and Louisiana-based McNeese State. With a 3-4-0 record, the Roadrunners have had their fair share of difficult preseason matches, railing 0-3 to No. 8 Texas, and recently dropping a 0-3 match against Baylor. UTSA is led in scoring by Veronica Najera, who has two goals and two assists. Three other UTSA players have two goals apiece and nine players have at least one assist. The Roadrunners also have plenty of experience in the net with three goalies who have all seen significant time in goal. "They've done well in their conference and they're going to be a strong team," Cairns said of UTSA. "It's going to be an evenly matched team." -seth.h@aggiemaii.usu.edu Witness contradicts self in OJ. trial LAS VEGAS (AP) - A key witness in the O.J. Simpson robbery trial was confronted with contradictions in his testimony Tuesday, including his claim that he didn't try to profit from the casino hotel room confrontation that led to charges against the former football star. Memorabilia dealer Bruce Fromong, who returned to the stand after becoming ill Monday, told defense attorney Gabriel Grasso he didn't have money on his mind while allegedly being robbed of sports collectibles by Simpson and a group of other men. "You were not trying to profit off this?" asked Grasso. "I was not trying to profit from it," said Fromong. The attorney played a tape recording of the 2007 incident in which Fromong said, "It's not (expletive) over. I'll have 'Inside Edition* down here for us tomorrow. I told them I want big money." Family: Holt siblings at USU 9 continued from page 8 days. Interval days push the runner and increase endurance while pace days help the runner listen more to his or her body and condition. She said she enjoys being able to use her emotions to motivate herself with her brother by her side. They said they enjoy various activities ranging from hip hop dancing, mountain biking and anything outdoors. "We definitely like to be outdoors," Alicia said. "That's were all our training began." She said her father helped cultivate her love for running. "He never made us run," she said. "[He] just gave us tons of encouragement and positive reinforcement." Whether in competition or school, this brother and sister tandem help each other out. They said they look forward to the year with high goals and objectives - namely another WAC title for the Aggie men and women. -c. ch ild@aggiema il. us u. edu Money-Making Scenarios: -Work for Someone Else as an Employee -Be a Professional (Doctor, Lawyer, etc.) -Own your own Business Is there something else? Mon-Thur 5-11,FrI5-12, Sat Adults $6 Students with ID $5 Children $4 Organized group rates with prior arrangements • CalU35-755-5755 ^-^8 Get a Buck off -Bring your student I.D. { Check out our website at www.greenconyonfarms.ci 2850N100E 435-755^5 - n Next to Eccles Ice Arena off Main St. Turn by Nate & Andy's Be Educated. Wednesday Sept 17th, Friday Sept. 19th 7:00 PM BATC Rm 1349 (North end of bldg). |