Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
LOGAN — Utah State had all the momentum of its NCAA women's soccer tournament first-round match, coming off a historic season, back-to-back Mountain West tournament championships, and a No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament against a Big Ten foe.
But Washington had all the advantage in a penalty shootout.
Ioanna Poapatheodorou, Jadyn Holdenried and Alex Buck each converted from the spot as the Huskies upset the Aggies 3-1 in a shootout after a scoreless regulation Friday afternoon at Chuck and Gloria Bell Field.
Alysia Butters converted a penalty for Utah State, which faced the same backup goalkeeper in Mia Hamant that made three saves in toppling No. 17 Iowa in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament on Nov. 2.
The Aggies out-shot the Huskies 15-12 and held the visitors to just three shots on target in regulation, but converted just 1-of-4 penalties during the shootout to fall in their first match beyond 90 minutes of the season.
SURVIVE. AND. ADVANCE. pic.twitter.com/OQqKsKgl2Y
— Washington Women's Soccer (@UW_WSoccer) November 15, 2024
"These are always tough, right? I'm really proud of the team; I thought we played well throughout the game," said Utah State coach Manny Martins, who signed an extension with the school through 2027 after the historic regular season. "I thought we stepped it up in the second half. We went from two shots in the first half to 10 in the second half. We really turned up the volume and had shots skim across the bar a couple of times. In the end, it's about the result, and we fell short in PKs, but I'm really proud of the team's performance and the season overall."
Utah State had outscored its opponents 62-14 en route to a program-record 18-1-4 run and back-to-back Mountain West Tournament championships, along with wins over BYU, Utah and Utah Valley in nonconference play. But defense ruled the day during regulation, when Washington goalkeeper Olivia Juarez made seven saves and Aggies counterpart Cora Brendle had three during a scoreless regulation.
Both teams combined for just five shots during a physical first half, but Brendle and Washington making a save apiece to keep the match scoreless through the opening 45 minutes.
Summer Diamond nearly gave the Aggies the advantage off a free kick in the 49th minute, but the former Bonneville High standout's shot was tipped just over the crossbar to preserve the draw.
Mia Mullenmeister pushed one just past the far post in the 72nd minute for Utah State, and Kate Christian skipped another in the 80th minute.
Kate Christian SO CLOSE pic.twitter.com/zWxgBJHZTa
— USU Soccer (@USUSoccer) November 15, 2024
Kaylie Chambers banged one towards the middle of the net before Juarez collected her fourth save of the match in the 84th minute and another four minutes later to before two scoreless, 10-minute extra-time periods.
The Huskies went to Hamant in goal after Juarez was pulled following a collision in the box with Utah State's Tess Werts in the final minute of the first extra period.
The backup goalkeeper who sent the Huskies through on penalties in the Big Ten Tournament against Iowa made one save, an easy snag in the final minute against Butters that set up the shootout.
Brendle tied a program record with her 11th shutout of the season, the most since Molli Merrill in 2011.
Washington (10-6-3) advanced to face the winner of Saturday's match between No. 1-seeded Mississippi State and Southern in the second round.
