Young Blood, New Heights

LARAMIE, Wyo. – The song “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers played over the loudspeaker before Colorado State and San Diego State lined up to take penalty kicks in the Mountain West semifinals on Wednesday, sending the Rams into a dancing frenzy.
 
Then, a trio of true freshmen stepped up to the spot. Never mind their relative lack of college experience, especially in a moment where one mistake can extend or end a season – the conference semifinals. Never mind the fact there were no expectations for a Rams squad, which had never made it this far, against the No. 1 Aztecs.
 
Just you and the ball. 
 
“Mr. Brightside” is goalkeepers coach Josh Purdum‘s favorite song according to keeper Shayna Ross. He heard it and helped the team break out into a dance.
 
On the other end of the sideline, a more tense San Diego State team awaited.
 
“You know how sometimes you just have that feeling that things are just going to go your way?” freshman midfielder Mia Casey said. “The song they played beforehand, the energy we had, you could look from bench to bench and see the difference in energy, and I think that really helped us.”
 
The opportunity was there for the taking, much unlike how regulation and overtime went. In stark contrast to the previous meeting between the Rams and Aztecs, good scoring chances were few and far between.
 
After going scoreless for 110 minutes, the Rams won in penalties, 3-2, to advance.
 
The first half held consistent back and forth, but for the most part, both teams were able to clear danger out of their box. The half consisted of nine total corner kicks — six for the Rams.
 
CSU’s best chance of the first half was early on when some short play off a corner kick ended in a cross to Liv Stutzman right on the far post. She got a hip to the ball but couldn’t convert the opportunity.
 
The lack of chances continued in the second half for both teams, but the best of the frame came midway through with an Olivia Fout blast which went over the bar.
 
Ross posted one save during the shootout, which helped calm her down after not facing much during the match. The shutout was the 10th of the season, the most by the team in a single season.
 
As her teammates were stepping up and taking their opportunities, she was exuberant to make the most out of hers.
 
“I play for love,” Ross said. “It’s kind of like we’re going to battle, right? I love my teammates and I love playing for them. I was just, oh my gosh, so ecstatic, I was just so happy to pull one out for my team and be there for my team. I mean, if you look at the amount of shots I took and saved, there were very few because of them, because they are there for me every single second of a game. If a shootout is my opportunity to be there for them, then I’m going to take that.
 
“There is more pressure, obviously, because we’re in the semifinals. But I try to take the pressure off, have a good time and remember it’s just soccer. We play for fun and I’m just doing the same thing I do for every game, which is to be ready for anything, remember what we’ve learned and play soccer.”
 
The three penalty makers for the Rams were true freshmen: Casey, Sofia Coulombe and Taite DeLange. 
 
An ultimate show of trust from head coach Keeley Hagen, who was bathed in water after the game.
 
“A lot of times, you put so much work in and it doesn’t happen the way you wanted it to happen,” Hagen said. “We wanted to win it in regulation, but I’m just really proud of their fight, they never quit and they just kept grinding. We’ve been practicing the penalties, preparing for those moments, and that’s what it takes.
 
“(The freshmen) have obviously brought more talent to our program. They love the game, they’re passionate and that just makes a big difference in our culture. I’m so happy for our seniors, too, to get this opportunity and that’s who we’re playing for.”
 
The feeling was mutual for Casey, who calmly buried her penalty to the top right corner.
 
She said she was frustrated by the lack of serious scoring chances during the match, but being able to hold the Aztecs scoreless was a win of its own. But for Casey, the biggest win was taking advantage of the opportunity Hagen gave to her.
 
“The trust is the biggest thing, when your coach has that confidence in you, it’s impossible not to feel confident in yourself,” Casey said. “We practice it in practice all the time and it just feels so good. You go in there and you know everyone has your back, whether you make it or miss it. When they have your back, you can’t help but think you’re Messi out there taking a PK.”
 
When the song echoed through Madrid Sports Complex in Laramie, Wyo., right before the shootout began, there came an overwhelming sense over the Rams there was no way they’d lose.
 
In many ways, it was the perfect start to a perfect ending. Any doubt left?
 
“No, they played our song,” Casey said. “You could feel the belief coming in and Keeley kept saying ‘you have nothing to lose, you’re the fourth seed against the No. 1 team,’ but here we are playing for the championship.”
 
They’ll take on Utah State in their first-ever conference championship game Saturday at noon. The Aggies beat Boise State in their semifinal in a match which also took overtime to decide.