After an up and down season the Aggies couldn’t have asked for a better way to end their fall season. In windy and snowy conditions, the Ags trounced UVU last Saturday, 29-0. Amanda Peters and Jessie Trina scored in the first half and Shannon Woolley hit 1-of-2 conversion kicks to put the Ags up, 12-0.

The try by Peters was a well executed attack and Trina got the assist. USU head coach Dennis Kohler said the play was an indication of how the team improved offensively.

“I have always said when you have wingers score, you know that you are doing something right,” Kohler said.

In the second half the Aggies distanced themselves from the Wolverines. Woolley hit a penalty kick and then Tabitha “Mo” Morin and Vanessa Avila-Esparza each scored tries. Woolley hit both of the conversion kicks and was 3-for-4 on the day.

USU and UVU battled through a huge snowstorm and the Aggies were ready for it.

“Thursday we discussed the other problems with bad weather and set our game plan for Saturday. Everything went to plan," Kohler said.

Kohler said the team’s defensive efforts were much better than last week. He also said his team’s improved efforts may have been due to the weather conditions slowing down the pace of the game. Even so, the Aggies did something Saturday that they haven’t done consistently all year.

“Our back line did a very good job of closing distances and forcing mistakes," Kohler said. "That is something that we haven't seen enough of throughout the season."

Not only did the team do a great job forcing mistakes, they won most of their rucks.

“The rucks were outstanding. I would say the ratio of wins to losses in loose play for us was likely 3-to-1 in our favor,” Kohler said.

The team’s tackling was even improved from last week. Kohler said the team had a renewed commitment to contact from last week’s practice.

“I think most of the better tackling this week was because the team as a whole was more mentally committed than they have been in weeks past,” he said.

He also said UVU didn’t do much unexpected.

“The only thing that really surprised me was that their kicking was better than I expected," Kohler said. "But our fullback and winger did a very good job of handling it."

This was a crucial victory for the Aggies, who will now get a chance to play in the national tournament.

“As far as the next season goes, we will start practice as soon as the snow gets below our boot tops,” Kohler said.

He also said the team will not know who their next opponent will be or where the game will be played until March. Kohler does know, however, that the team will begin games again in March and will be playing a division match in April.

“We will most likely take a well needed rest until after the New Year,” Kohler said.