Through the first half Sunday, following a 4-0 loss to Oregon earlier in the week, it looked like even just one goal would be the step forward the Wildcats needed for the coming weeks after Oregon State took a 2-0 lead into halftime.

Weber State’s key metrics, like shots on goal and corner kicks, were good at Oregon and, at Oregon State, were better than the Beavers through the first half. But both of OSU’s shots on goal got past Maya Cordova for the lead.

The Wildcats came out of the break determined and, in two games of the Kyle Christensen era, matched that nonconference win total from the past two years. Weber State scored three goals in the first 11 minutes of the second half and left Corvallis with a 3-2 victory.

First, in the 47th minute, Sayler Schlosser chased a ball ahead down the left side, set up her defender with a move to the goal line and back to her right foot at the top-left corner of the box. Her take curved past OSU keeper Mya Sanchez and tucked into the far post for the first regular-season goal of WSU’s season.

In the 51st minute, Lily Blum took a free kick that amounted to a close-range corner kick from the left. Her ball went straight to a crashing Brynlee Meyerhoffer, who controlled it off her torso and punched it into the net with a left-footed poke to knot the score.

WSU wouldn’t stop there, showcasing Christensen’s emphasis on counterpressing and winning back lost balls.

In the 56th minute, Weber State lost possession near midfield. Oregon State played it back to the keeper with several Wildcats giving chase. Several challenges led to Tenzi Knowles taking the ball from an OSU player near the box; she quickly crossed to Schlosser, whose header Sanchez blocked.

Schlosser couldn’t put the rebound on frame but OSU’s feeble header to clear went straight to a charging Blum, who took her shot before the clear hit the ground, sending it screaming past Sanchez for what proved to be the winner.

Aside from the offensive barrage, which saw Weber take nine shots on goal in the second half, the Wildcats didn’t allow the Beavers another take on frame after going down 2-0.

The Wildcats (1-1) return to Ogden for a home-opening weekend, hosting Cal State Bakersfield at 7 p.m. Thursday and North Dakota State at 11:30 a.m. Sunday. Bakersfield beat Sacramento State in an exhibition but has a pair of 1-0 losses to Cal Baptist and San Diego State. NDSU is 1-1 with a 3-1 win at Green Bay and a 2-0 loss at Marquette.

SHORT WINS WAC HONOR

Elsewhere in college soccer, former Weber High stonewalling goalkeeper Stockton Short was named the WAC men’s soccer preseason goalkeeper of the year for Utah Tech, as voted on by WAC head coaches.

Short led the country and set a Utah Tech record with 105 saves last season as a junior. He played every minute between the posts for the Trailblazers last season.

Short has not allowed a goal through three exhibition matches so far in 2025. Utah Tech opens its regular season Thursday, hosting Gonzaga.