LOGAN, Utah – An action-packed contest saw the Pacific women's soccer team fight in an offensive battle, but ultimately dropped a 9-3 decision to No. 11 Utah State on Sunday afternoon at Chuck & Gloria Bell Soccer Field.
 
The Tigers (1-5-1) tallied a season-high three goals in the effort, all coming in a tightly contested first half against the Aggies (7-0).
 
Fifth year Laila Saravia, redshirt junior Ariana Gronauer and freshman Sierah McCallum each scored for Pacific, marking the most goals the Aggies have allowed in a game this season.
 
Freshman goalkeeper Sierra Schwarz made her first career start and fourth appearance of the season, totaling 20 saves after facing 41 shot attempts by the Aggies' offense. Schwarz's 20 saves set a West Coast Conference record for most saves in a single match.

"We faced a good team today that was relentless in their pursuit, and we fought hard to stay in the game in the first half, scoring three great goals, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough as the assignment called for 90 minutes," co-head coach Danesha Adams said. "We will continue to work with this young group moving forward."
 
The Aggies jumped out to a 1-0 lead, scoring in the fourth minute off a Pacific turnover. The Tigers responded after junior Allie Jones found Saravia, who chipped a shot through to level the score at 1-1 in the 14th minute. Saravia collected her first goal of the season and fourth of her Tiger career.
 

Allie Jones finds Laila Saravia for the equalizer! #PacificProud pic.twitter.com/G8Ja8nlZup

— Pacific Women's Soccer (@PacificWSoccer) September 8, 2024

 
Utah State countered with four goals in a span of 15 minutes, scoring in the 17th, 23rd, 24th and 29th minutes to take a 5-1 lead.
 
Pacific cut into the home team's lead as a shot by senior Aly Milford was redirected by Gronauer past the Aggie goalkeeper to make the score, 5-2, in the 34th minute.
 
In the final minute of the first half, McCallum launched a goal high into the left corner, presenting the Tigers with a two-goal deficit at halftime. McCallum found the back of the net for a second straight game after scoring her first career goal in a 1-1 tie at Weber State last Thursday.
 
The Tigers battled in the second half, but the Aggies put the game away, scoring four goals in the second half to ice the game, 9-3.
 
Pacific returns home from its two-game road trip, taking on UC Irvine at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Knoles Field.
 
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