BOISE – The Boise State women’s soccer team was picked to finish sixth in the Mountain West preseason coaches poll.
Yet, with still three games left in the regular season, the second-place Broncos clinched a spot in the Mountain West Tournament following a 2-1 win over Fresno State Sunday afternoon at the Boas Soccer Complex.
“It feels really good,” Boise State coach Jim Thomas said. “Looking back to what we did in January and how we came together, built trust amongst one another and really invested in becoming what we are today, it’s nice for the players to get the reward for that kind of process.”
Especially after what happened a year ago.
Boise State (8-1-6 overall, 6-1-1 MW) already has as many wins now as it did all of last season. It lost three of the final four games to miss the Mountain West Championships for the first time since 2015.
But this year has been completely different.
The Broncos have yet to drop consecutive games and are now the winners of five of the last six. Their only loss in conference came 1-0 on the road Oct. 5 to San Diego State, which currently sits in first place.
“The rest of the Mountain West underestimated us,” senior midfielder Morgan Stone said. “So I think it’s really important just to show them that’s not what we were last year. That’s not who we are. And that’s not what this program is about. So to get this clinched this early, is so important because now we can look forward.”
Stone can too.
The fifth-year senior set a new program record with her 90th career match. She surpassed Macie Nelson, who just broke it last year.
“She just has such a special place on this team,” said junior forward Carly Cross who scored her team-high ninth goal of the season in the 17th minute. “She’s always had a huge impact on all of us and all the girls look up to her.
“She’s a really good person and I love her.”
Stone is a two-time All-MW player. She made the All-MW Tournament team as just a freshman and was an All-MW Second Team selection last season. The Boulder, Colorado native is the only holdover from the 2019 team that advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
“It just means so much because whenever you come into a program, you want to be able to leave your stamp on it,” Stone said. “And just being able to play for this program for that many games and set an example for my younger teammates, is so important to me. I’m so grateful for the opportunity.”
But after starting in all but one match over the previous four years, her role has changed this season. Stone has been mainly coming off the bench, including Sunday where she played a total of just 29 minutes.
Stone, who made 72 starts coming into her final season, has only cracked the starting lineup seven times in 2023.
“With me playing so many minutes that I have, my body doesn’t do the same things that it used to,” Stone said. “So taking a different role is really important to me. It allows me to still stay fresh and support my team and be a part of every single game, but not necessarily be the star.”
But Stone was the one on the field to help the Broncos stave off a late Bulldog (2-8-6, 1-4-3) charge.
Boise State jumped out to a 2-0 advantage with goals from Cross and junior forward Kenzie MacMillan, who scored her eighth goal of the year in the 28th minute. But Fresno State, which was playing with 10 players after Haley Espinoza received a red card in the 33rd minute, refused to quit. It cut the deficit in half with a goal from Kaelyn Miller in the 64th minute.
The goal prevented senior keeper Genevieve Crenshaw from becoming the school’s all-time shutout leader. She’ll try for her record 19th clean sheet at home against Nevada Thursday.
But Stone, who came in for the final 20 minutes of the match, gave directions to keep the Broncos calm in holding on for the win.
“I don’t think it’s always about the minutes that you play or the awards that you get, I think it’s about the impact you have when you’re on the field,” Stone said. And if I can impact them in the game with my leadership in the way that I play, then I’m happy at the end of the day.”
Stone wasn’t alone.
Thomas also etched his name into the record books.
He picked up career win No. 111, which ties Steve Lucas (2000-12) for the most in Boise State history.
“I’m just happy for the people that have been a part of it for the last 11 years,” Thomas said. “Three athletic directors, a slew of amazing coaches, tons of brillant players who are really the ones that win the games, it’s got nothing to do with me. So I’m just thankful that they’re gonna get a little more recognition because of all those wins.”
Boise State hosts Nevada at 7 p.m. Thursday.
