Sherle ties Mountain West’s career goals record as Boise State beats the odds for win
Before too long, the Boise State women’s soccer team is going to run out of records to break, so the Broncos have now taken to beating the odds.
Boise State won a program-record ninth consecutive home game by rallying for a 2-1 victory over Wyoming in front of a season-high 736 fans Sunday afternoon at the Boas Soccer Complex in Boise.
In 49 previous tries under coach Jim Thomas, the Broncos had won just four times when an opposing team scored first.
“I don’t think we’ve had a challenge like that yet (this season),” Thomas said. “I was really excited for our girls to have to take that on.”
Wyoming senior forward Brittney Stark scored in the ninth minute, putting the Broncos behind at home for the first time this season.
“We knew that we were getting that goal back, or two or three,” Boise State senior defender Allegra Weeks said. “We knew that we were going to get this game back. It was just a matter of time.”
Weeks went on the offensive for the Broncos near the end of the first half, dribbling the ball upfield and then finding junior forward Raimee Sherle in the middle of the pitch just outside the 18-yard box.
Sherle beat two Wyoming defenders and scored on a left-footed cross in the 40th minute for her 15th goal of the season. Sherle added the game-winner on a penalty kick in the 54th minute, pushing her career total to 41 goals, which ties the Mountain West Conference record set by Utah’s Amy Kofoed from 1999 to 2001.
“I feel so blessed to even be up there with some of the greats of the Mountain West,” Sherle said. “... I know I could not be here without my teammates. I want to give them the biggest shoutout possible, because I would be nowhere without them.”
Sherle already broke the program record for career goals earlier this season and is only two points short of tying Boise State’s career points record of 92. Her 16 goals this season also is tops in the nation.
The Broncos (10-2-0, 4-0-0) as a whole have matched Sherle’s individual success, teaming up for the best start in program history and first place in the Mountain West standings.
“We try and enjoy every single (accomplishment). We don’t hide them,” Thomas said. “It’s kind of like if you never eat a hamburger, what’s the one thing you want? You really badly want a hamburger. So we talk about it. We enjoy the moment. We celebrate it.”
Boise State plays its next four games on the road, and three of those matches — New Mexico (Oct. 5), San Diego State (Oct. 7) and Colorado College (Oct. 14) — are against teams directly behind the Broncos in the standings.
“I think we’re used to traveling. We’re good at it,” Thomas said. “It was nice to be home for a few games, but I think it’s also nice to keep varying where they’re at and keep them on their toes so they don’t get too comfortable.”
This story was originally published September 30, 2018 at 5:48 PM.