Bryan Cole / Collegian File Photo

Soccer team begins WAC schedule at San Jose State today

The clock was winding down, people were starting to leave, and it didn̢۪t look good for the women̢۪s soccer team, down a goal to Oregon State with two seconds left in Corvallis, Ore.

But, the Bulldogs weren̢۪t done fighting as Krissy Looney sent a corner kick into the box that Allison Ventura knocked into the goal with a header to send the game into overtime.

After two overtimes against the Beavers, the game resulted in a 1-1 tie. In the final game of the road trip last weekend, the Bulldogs defeated Portland State 1-0, improving their record to 4-7-1.

“It was a crazy finish,â€Â Looney said. “It proved that it’s not over til it’s over.â€Â

Head coach Steve Springthorpe said he felt the girls played solid all weekend.

“It’s always good going on the road and escaping without a loss,â€Â Springthorpe said. “It was good to see the girls battle to the end.â€Â

Goalie Kaitlyn Revel also received WAC Defensive Player of the Week honors for the third time in her career for her play in Oregon.

“Kaitlyn’s distribution of the ball was great considering the conditions,â€Â Springthorpe said. “It was rainy all weekend, but the defense played well in front of her as well.â€Â

The Bulldogs were like a roller coaster in their first nine games of the season losing four, winning two, and then losing three more. Now, for the first time all year, the Bulldogs have completed three games without a loss.

Springthorpe said he feels the team had been very inconsistent early on, but is starting to come around.

“We still haven’t been finishing like we’re capable of ,â€Â Springthorpe said. “However, I feel like we’ve found a lineup, and now each player knows what role they play on the team.â€Â

The first half of the year hasn̢۪t gone quite how the Bulldogs wanted, but non-conference games are over as conference play begins today.

Looney said there is a different mindset going into conference play.

“The great thing about starting conference play is that every team gets a fresh start no matter what your current record is,â€Â Looney said.

The Bulldogs will kick off WAC play today against San Jose State.

Springthorpe said he feels the Spartans play much like his team. Both teams have played hard this season, but have not had the results they̢۪ve been looking for.

“Our games against San Jose always seem to end up with a one goal differential,â€Â Springthorpe said. “In a way it’s a rivalry game, and you better believe their fans will be jacked up for their home opener and first conference game of the year.â€Â

Then, to close out the weekend, the Bulldogs square off against their biggest WAC competition, Hawaii. The Warriors were the preseason pick to win the WAC, and are coming off last year̢۪s conference title.

“They deserve the recognition for what they did last year,â€Â Springthorpe said. “It’s going to be a great test to see where we stand among the conference.â€Â

The Bulldogs will try and carry over their momentum today as they travel to San Jose State. On Sunday, the Bulldogs host Hawaii at 2 p.m. at Bulldog Stadium.

Heading into the WAC

Starting today, the soccer team will have a tough stretch of games against WAC foes:

̢ۢ Today, 2 p.m., at San Jose State
̢ۢ Sunday, 2 p.m., vs. Hawaii
̢ۢ Oct. 17, 5 p.m., at Louisiana Tech
̢ۢ Oct. 19, 12 p.m., at Utah State
̢ۢ Oct. 24, 7 p.m., vs. Boise State
̢ۢ Oct. 26, 12 p.m., vs. Idaho