#2 Fresno State 2, #1 Utah State 1 (2OT) (Championship)
Elora Martinez notched the game-winning goal in the 105th minute to give Fresno State a 2-1 double-overtime victory in the championship game of the 2008 WAC Soccer Championship. Utah State struck first in the 20th minute off a Lauren Hansen shot, but Fresno State wasted no time as Ali Sill tucked a lose ball in the back of the net just two minutes later. From there on out it was a scoreless affair for 83 minutes until Martinez’ goal from 28 yards out broke the 1-1 deadlock to give the Bulldogs their second tournament championship. Fresno State will wait to find out who it will face next week in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship.
All-Tournament Team
F Lauren Hansen, Utah State
F Randi Baker, Boise State
MF Cristen Drummond, Nevada
MF Miranda Montejo, Nevada
MF Elora Martinez, Fresno State
MF Ali Sill, Fresno State
D Lindsay Roberts, Boise State
D Sydne Porter, Utah State
D Jessie Malaska, Utah State
D Allison Ventura, Fresno State
GK Kaitlyn Revel, Fresno State
MVP: Ali Sill, Fresno State
#2 Fresno State 2, #6 Nevada 0 (Semifinal) Ali Sill's goal in the 16th minute proved to be the game winner as Fresno State defeated sixth-seeded and championship host Nevada 2-0 Friday evening at Mackay Stadium in Reno. The win advances the Bulldogs to Sunday's championship game against No. 1 seed and regular season champion Utah State. Sill scored the game winner for Fresno State in the 16th minute off an assist from Bradlee DeShane. Laura Dodd gave Fresno State an insurance goal in the 84th minute after receiving a ball off the post. Alex Jensen was credited with the assist on the score. Despite the loss, Nevada did out-shoot the Bulldogs 12-9, including 6-5 on goal. Fresno State's Kaitlyn Revel picked up the shutout in goal with six saves.
#1 Utah State 1, #4 Boise State 0 (Semifinal)
Junior forward Lauren Hansen found the back of the net in the 78th minute to help Utah State to a 1-0 win over fourth-seeded Boise State Friday afternoon at Mackay Stadium. The win advances the Aggies to their first-ever WAC championship game, set for Sunday at 1 p.m. Andrea Seledee was credited with the assist on Hansen's goal. Candice Clark led the Aggies with three shots, including three on goal. Hansen and Erin Salmon each had two shots on goal. Shannon Saxton led Boise State with three shots. Utah State registered nine shots in the match, including eight on goal. Boise State tallied eight shots and was held to no shots on goal. USU keeper Ali Griffin was credited with both the win and shutout in goal. Utah State will face the winner of the Fresno State/Nevada contest, which is currently in progress.
#4 Boise State 2, #5 San Jose State 1 (First Round)
Junior Andrea Huerta tucked in a game-winning header in the 81st minute to lead Boise State to a 2-1 victory over San Jose State in the first round of the 2008 WAC Soccer Championship in Reno, Nev. BSU struck first as midfielder Brandy Hickcox scored off a corner kick from Janelle Jin in the 53rd minute. SJSU fought back and scored a goal of its own when Emmy Belding registered her eighth goal of the season to tie the game at 1-1. Huerta then connected with a cross from freshman Chelsea Robinson to place her header past Spartan goalkeeper Sarah Wisotsky. The win advanced the Broncos to the semifinals and will face top-seeded Utah State on Friday, Nov. 7 at 3:00 p.m. (PST).
#6 Nevada 2, #3 Hawaii 1 (First Round) The Nevada Wolf Pack advanced to the semifinals of the WAC Soccer Championship for the third time in four years on a Natalie Ratnavira goal in the 44th minute. The freshman’s only goal of the season put sixth-seeded Nevada up 2-1 over third-seeded Hawai?i. The Rainbow Wahine registered the first goal of the match after senior Alexis Choi notched a goal in the 11th minute. It took the Wolf Pack just 18 minutes to tie the match up when Samantha Miller finished a cross from Karen Zmirak in the 29th minute. Fifteen minutes later, Ratnavira put the ball in the back of the net after catching the rebound off the left post. Nevada will face No. 2-seeded Fresno State on Friday, Nov. 7 at 5:30 p.m. (PST).
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Tournament Notes
Final Tournament Soccer Bracket
| 2008 WAC Soccer Championship (All times Pacific) |
| Thursday, November 6 (First Round) |
Match 1- #4 Boise State def. #5 San Jose State, 2-1
Postgame Video: BSU Game Winning Goal | BSU | SJSU |
Live Stats |
Live Blog |
WAC.tv |
Final Box |
Recap |
Photos |
Match 2- #6 Nevada def. #3 Hawai?i, 2-1
Postgame Video: NEV |
Live Stats |
Live Blog |
WAC.tv |
Final Box |
Recap |
Photos |
| Friday, November 7 (Semifinals) |
Match 3- #1 Utah State def. #4 Boise State, 1-0
Postgame Video: USU |
Live Stats |
Live Blog |
WAC.tv |
Final Box |
Recap |
Photos |
|
Match 4- #2 Fresno State def. #6 Nevada, 2-0
Postgame Video: Fresno State |
Live Stats |
Live Blog |
WAC.tv |
Final Box |
Recap |
Photos |
| Sunday, November 9 (Championship) |
Match 5- #2 Fresno State def. #1 Utah State, 2-1 (2OT)
Postgame Video: Celebration | Trophy Pres. | Coach |
Live Stats |
Live Blog |
WAC.tv |
Final Box |
Recap |
Photos |
All photos by Tyler Keck