Soccer Match Notes: Rams face crucial tests in California

Oct. 16, 2014

Complete Release

Rams Face Crucial Tests in California 

The Colorado State Rams continue to piece together one of its best stretches in program history with four wins on the year and two in Mountain West play. Through six conference matches, the Rams currently sit in a tie for seventh place with six points, just one point behind sixth-place Air Force. The top six teams qualify for the Mountain West tournament, which CSU will look to put itself in position for with a pair of crucial road contests against San Jose State and Fresno State.

The Colorado State Rams embark on the program's second season ever with a schedule featuring some of the premier programs in the sport. On the year, the Rams will play 10 matches at home, eight on the road and one at a neutral site.

Colorado Cup 

In its first Colorado Cup, the second-year Colorado State Rams proved to be a premier program in the state, compiling a 2-1-0 record in the season-long competition. With 1-0 wins over Air Force and Northern Colorado, accompanied with a close-fought loss at Colorado, the Rams finished with eight points, putting it in a tie for second place currently. Colorado State is guaranteed a top-three finish in the Colorado Cup, finishing ahead of perenial top-25 program Denver.  

2014 Colorado Cup Table

Pl. Team Pts. Record GF

1. Colorado 14 3-0-0 5

2. Colorado State 8 2-1-0 2

 Colorado College 8 1-1-0 5

4. Denver 7 1-2-0 4

5. Northern Colorado 6 1-2-0 3

6. Air Force 0 0-2-0 0

The Iron Woman 

Through 14 matches this season, only senior defender Jami Vaughn has played every possible minute in the field for the Rams. This a familiar sight for Colorado State, as the Kansas transfer was one of just three players in the entire Mountain West to play every possible minute in 2013. Dating back to last year when she first came to Colorado State, Vaughn has now plaed every possible minute in 32-consecutive matches, a streak that spans 2,889 minutes without a sub. Vaughn's streak leads the Mountain West.

A Pair Of Wins For The Rams Will... 

Give Colorado State its first winning streak in program history.
Improve CSU to 6-10-0 in 2014.
Give CSU its first road wins of the season.
Give CSU 12 points in Mountain West play. Sixth place currently has seven points.
Improve Head Coach Bill Hempen's career record to 284-210-47. He currently ranks No. 19 among Division I active coaches in all-time wins.

Into The Record Books 

Junior forward Gianna Bertana has made an instant impact for the Rams in her first season at Colorado State. With goals in back-to-back matches, Bertana now has four this season, making her the school's all-time leading goal scorer. In conference play, the junior forward has racked up three goals which is tied for third in the conference. Her three game-winning goals ranks second in the Mountain West.  

Impact On The Left 

Freshman forward Janelle Stone has grown into her new role as a forward on the left side for the Rams and has now become one of the team's most prominent attacking players. Transitioning from a defensive role in high school to an attacking one in College, Stone has not needed much of a transition-period as she leads Colorado State with three assists and ranks eighth in the Mountain West. 

Eckert's Moment 

Without a goal in the 2014 campaign, sophomore midfielder Amy Eckert chose a timely moment for her first goal of the season, and second of her career. Three minutes into overtime against College of Charleston, Eckert snuck behind the defense and received a pass from junior forward Gianna Bertana. Just inside the edge of the box, Eckert one-timed the pass and slotted the ball into the corner of the net to give CSU it's second win of the year, matching the team's total from last year.

Attacking From The Back 

It's no secret that Colorado State loves to use its wing backs as part of its attack. That trend is never more clear than when looking at the Rams' senior left back, Catherine Ruder. Through 14 matches, Ruder leads the team with 20 shots and nine shots on goal. Fellow defender Jami Vaughn is third on the team with nine shots one goal to her name.

Jumping On The Opponent Early 

Colorado State knows the importance of getting off to a quick start in a match. An early goal can completely tilt the entire momentum of the match. All four of the Rams' wins have come when they have scored the first goal. All-time, CSU is 6-1-1 when scoring first, and 0-22-0 all-time when conceding the first goal of the match.

Second Half Action 

In Colorado State's 14 matches this season, the matches have started to open up in the second half. Across the board, CSU's stats have gone up across the board in the second half of matches. While the Rams have tallied 40 total shots in the first half of matches this season, that total jumps to 75 in the second half of matches. Similarly, CSU's corners jump from 14 in the first half to 32 in the second half this year. Additionally, six of CSU's seven goals this season have been scored after the intermission.

Experience At The Back 

While Colorado State returns just nine players from last year's team, the 2014 Rams feature plenty of experence at key positions. CSU returns its entire starting defense from last year, including co-captains Megan Speed and Jami Vaughn. Speed and Vaughn are also flanked on the outside by Jessica Stauffer and Catherine Ruder, who each give the Rams valuable leadership and strong attacking options from the back. Out of a possible 28 matches, Speed, Vaughn, Stauffer and Ruder have been the starting defense for 25 of them. In 2013, Stauffer missed two matches due to a broken wrist.

The Lagoon - Home of the Rams 

Located on the field just west of the Lory Student Center on the Colorado State campus, The Lagoon serves as the Home of Rams Soccer. 

Free parking will be available for all CSU home matches in the Moby lot.

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