Finals bound

The Weber State University Women's Soccer Team faced the University of Montana in the semifinals of the Big Sky Conference Tournament on Thursday, with the winner facing Northern Arizona University on Saturday for the conference title. The 'Cats came out firing in the first half, posting three shots on goal and applying continuous pressure on the Grizzly defense. Weber State won the majority of balls in the air and picked up several steals along with well-executed passing throughout the game. Weber State opened scoring in the 28th minute when WSU senior forward Whitney Smith took a pass from Molli Neilson, dribbled around a Montana defender and blasted a shot that ricocheted off the right goal post and landed just inside the goal line. "Their defense was intense today," Smith said. "I just wanted to go to my right side because I knew it couldn't go left, so all I was thinking about was hitting it with my right foot." The Wildcat defense was untested for the most part in the first half with goalkeeper Rebecca Ritchie easily handling both shots on goal the Grizzlies had. Montana came out strong in the second half and created some early scoring opportunities the 'Cats had difficulty with. A corner kick two minutes into the second half gave the Grizzlies a quality opportunity to score, but Weber State's defense held strong and Neilson eventually cleared the ball. WSU defenders Lindsay Ellis and Ashtyn Webster anchored the Wildcat defense and cleared several potential Grizzly scoring opportunities. "I thought we did really well on defense," Ellis said. "Of course you can always play better, but we got the win we needed, and we'll come out with some big D on Saturday." The Wildcat offense pressed hard for a second goal but found good looks hard to come by in the second half. In the 71st minute WSU freshman Kiersten Wood took a pass down the left sideline and centered a ball just out of the reach of a racing Smith. Smith had four shots on goal throughout the day, including the one she put in for what turned out to be the game-winner and was a huge part of the Wildcat offense. Ritchie faced her toughest challenge of the day in the 87th minute when she made a diving save on a Grizzly shot to the right side of the net. Ritchie's four saves helped preserve her eighth shutout of the season. WSU midfielders Shaylee Hyde and Haley McCoy did a solid job of keeping the ball out of the Weber State secondary and helped with the offense on the other side of the field. McCoy contributed four shots of her own as the Wildcats outshot the Grizzlies 18-7. "The first half we came out and really set the tone," McCoy said. "We played well and got the first goal. We played tough the whole game and didn't let up, and I'm just super excited to play on Saturday." The Wildcats will have to face a fast Northern Arizona team in the championship match on Saturday. Earlier this season the 'Cats traveled to Flagstaff, Ariz., and beat the Lumberjacks in a tough battle. NAU will most definitely be seeking retribution for the 1-0 defeat. "It's going to be a quick game," said WSU Head Coach Tim Crompton. "It's going to be a battle for sure. We were fortunate enough when we went there this year to get a win, but they're a 'pacey' team, and I expect we'll see a lot of the same." The Wildcats will face the Lumberjacks for the Big Sky Conference title on Saturday at 1 p.m. on the PE Playfield.