Weber State (10-6-1, 4-2-1 Big Sky, 13 points) struck early and then held on in a physical, drag-out battle with the Bears (3-9-5, 2-3-1, 7 points) for the final 85 minutes.

Pressing up the left side in the fifth minute, Oakley Anderson played a give-and-go with Grace Kirby to the middle and back left. Anderson put a cross into the goal box where Presley Ray beat her mark for a clean, right-footed look that got past NoCo keeper Kaya Lindberg for the goal.

WSU turned the Bears away every time from there. Freshman keeper Lauren Butorac officially made three saves in shots on goal. Her best came in the 28th minute when Northern Colorado sent a corner kick into a pinball that resulted in an open, close-range rocket from Sunnie Yarnell. Butorac blocked the ball headed straight at her face, then smothered it to clear the threat.

WSU got four points on the week after leaving Flagstaff with a 1-1 draw Friday at Northern Arizona. WSU outshot NAU 11-5 in on-goal attempts but trailed until the 57th minute when Lily Blum netted on an assist from Tenzie Knowles.

Montana (10-3-3, 4-1-2, 14 points) remains in first place with a 1-0 win over Sacramento State, scoring with 28 minutes left. As five teams entered Sunday with seven points, it seems the Griz are the only team to have clinched a spot in the Big Sky tournament (top six qualify) headed into the final week.

It’s WSU’s first 10-win season since 2021 and only its second since 2015. WSU has 30 goals this season, eighth-most in program history.

Weber State finishes the regular season playing at Idaho State on Sunday, Oct. 26, hoping to secure a coveted top-two seed and a first-round tournament bye. Montana hosts the Big Sky tournament Nov. 5-9.

VOLLEYBALL FALLS AT ISU

First-place Weber State volleyball took a loss Friday at Idaho State, falling 25-27, 25-8, 32-30, 25-23.

WSU had 24 attack errors and nine service errors in the defeat that saw three close sets, with ISU otherwise running away with the second.

Kaylie Ray led Weber State (12-6, 4-2 Big Sky) with 17 kills. Rose Moore had 12 and Jayda Tupea added 11. Morgan Pratt tallied 25 assists and three aces. Stacia Barker had four blocks.

WSU remains on the road, headed to Montana for two matches that may help decide who rises to the top third of the standings and who will battle in the middle. The Wildcats first face Montana State (9-9, 4-3) on Thursday before taking on Montana (12-6, 4-3) on Saturday.