Broncos Seize Opportunity at Air Force, Come Away with 1-0 Win

Friday, October 12

USAFA, Colo.

6:00 PM MT

Boise State

6-0-112-2-1 / MW

Air Force

0-4-31-6-6 / MW

Boise State

Air Force

Photo by: Boise State University

Broncos Seize Opportunity at Air Force, Come Away with 1-0 Win

10/12/2018 9:18:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

USAFA, Colo. – Boise State (12-2-1, 6-0-1) solidified its longest unbeaten streak in program history (nine-game streak) with a 1-0 win Friday night at Air Force. Raimee Sherle scored her 18th goal of the season in the 55th minute, giving the Broncos three road points to stay atop the Mountain West standings.

The goal from Sherle ties the Mountain West single-season record – which she also tied in 2017 – and also gives her 94 career points, good for the Boise State program record.

Goalkeeper Tara Fisher made five saves on her way to securing her eighth shutout of the season, which ties the Boise State single-season record with Maddy McDevitt (2013).

In a matchup of two teams with exceptional defenses, the night was defined by a one-minute sequence early in the second half.

Boise State was called for a hand ball in the box in the 54th minute, resulting in a penalty kick for the Falcons. Keelyn Osoba's shot hit the crossbar and the Broncos went on to avoid the rebound to dodge Air Force's best opportunity of the game.

The Blue and Orange quickly responded just 48 seconds later as they quickly moved the ball up the field with Kristina Serres sending a deflected cross into the box. Sherle was there waiting at the edge of the six-yard box, using a masterful touch to redirect the cross into the back of the net to give the Broncos the eventual game winner.

"Moments change games," head coach Jim Thomas said in reference to the missed penalty kick and eventual Sherle goal. "That was a brutal moment for them, and a lucky one for us. We turned luck into an opportunity, and you saw the girls immediately respond with the goal."

Although Boise State was the beneficiary of a missed penalty kick, the visitors were unfortunate to not score in the first half.

McKenna Kynett had a couple great opportunities to start the game, as her header in the second minute was saved by Air Force's Jennifer Hiddink. The junior had another chance in the seventh, but her spinning shot inside the box went just high over the net.

Sherle tallied two other good looks in the first half as the Broncos earned four corner kicks over the course of the first 45 minutes.

After the goal in the 55th, Chatterton almost tacked on another in the 58th with a curling shot from the top of the box, but Hiddink once again made an exceptional save to keep it a 1-0 Boise State lead.

Air Force produced a handful of chances in the final 35 minutes, but Fisher and the rest of the Broncos held strong and maintained the shutout to preserve the achievements for Fisher and Sherle.

"What's cool about it is that they're not looking at records," Thomas said. "Tara did that in really difficult conditions with a slick field and the ball was skipping all over the place. She was technically sound and in perfect position in what was a really tough night to keep a shutout."

"Raimee was man-marked the entire night. Because she is incredibly intelligent and such a fierce competitor, she was able to find a way. Tonight she really showed how mentally sharp she is."

Boise State will complete its road trip Sunday at Colorado College with the match scheduled for a noon kickoff. The forecast calls for temperatures in the 20s with snow throughout the afternoon.