Boise State Claims Share of MW Title with 0-0 Draw

Sunday, October 21

Boise, Idaho

1:00 PM MT

Boise State

13-3-2, 7-1-2

San Jose State

7-6-4, 6-2-2

OT 3

OT 4

San Jose State

Boise State

10/21/2018 6:08:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

BOISE, Idaho – The matchup of the conference's top two teams lived up to the hype Sunday afternoon at the Boas Soccer Complex, as Boise State (13-3-2, 7-1-2) and San Jose State (7-6-4, 6-2-2) played to a 0-0 draw. The result, however, gives the Broncos a point to bring their season total to 23, guaranteeing the team at least a share of the Mountain West regular season championship.

The title marks the first regular season conference championship in program history.

Boise State can claim the title outright next weekend with a tie or win against Utah State (2-13-2, 1-7-2), as senior day will take place, Friday, Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. back at the Boas Soccer Complex.

"Well, it's kind of hard because we all wanted the win today," senior defender Addison Standlee said after the game. "We're both two really defensive teams, so we kind of locked horns in that sense. I was really surprised we didn't get any of our forwards to break through there at the end. They're so good at what they do and they're so dynamic. It's hard for anyone to defend that, it's hard for us to defend that in practice, but a draw puts us in a good place come next Friday."

The scoreless affair gives goalkeeper Tara Fisher her 10th shutout of the season and the sixth over the course of Mountain West play. The six shutouts in league play ties the Mountain West record, as she joins Zoe Makrigiannis (San Jose State, 2015) and Melanie Vaughn (San Diego State, 2013) who also tallied six clean sheets over the course of a conference season.

The senior made three saves and dealt with five Spartan corner kicks over the course of the game.

"It was a long 110 minutes I can tell you that," Fisher said. "It really helps when our defense is as good as it is. They're working hard out there and it motivates me to do whatever they need me to do out there, so focusing on that kept me calm."

The two teams were fittingly neck-and neck statistically, as Boise State held a 9-8 advantage in shots and San Jose State had the 5-2 edge in corner kicks.

McKenna Kynett – who finished the day with a team-high four shots – started the game off strong with a shot on goal in the 10th minute to provide an early test for San Jose State's Paige Simoneau.

The junior put another one on net in the 33rd while the Spartans tallied just one shot over the course of the first half.

The visitors partially took the momentum in the first 15 minutes of the second half, but Boise State withstood the short storm and began to control the majority of possession in the latter part of the half.

Standlee sent in a beautiful ball on a free kick set piece in the 65th, and Raven Sweeney's header just went high over the crossbar to keep the game scoreless.

The last 25 minutes of regulation continued the ongoing battle in the midfield, as neither side was able to put forth another exceptional chance as the game moved into the first overtime.

Fisher made a save on a shot from Hannah Matthews in the 92nd while Kristina Serres got her head on a cross in the 98th, but the shot went wide.

The second overtime produced two quality chances for the Broncos, as Ashleigh Harrison almost beat Simoneau in the 104th thanks to a great find from Emily Curry on a breakaway. A Bronco free kick in the 110th minute saw the ball eventually come to the feet of Serres in the box, who's shot went just right of the post, solidifying the 0-0 tie.

Boise State will honor its six seniors: Tara Fisher, Eva Herrera, Annie Lorelei Hoffman, Michelle Reed, Addison Standlee and Allegra Weeks prior to next Friday's game (Oct. 26) against Utah State at 4 p.m. If the Broncos are to record a win or tie, they will be the outright Mountain West regular season conference champions.