The UW Women’s soccer team faces off against the Colorado School of Mines. This win pushed UW into the championship round.
The Wyoming Cowgirl soccer team hosted the Cowgirl Spring Tournament Saturday. The Colorado School of Mines, Northern Colorado Bears and Colorado Springs Mountain Lions all came to compete.
To kick off the tournament, the University of Wyoming faced the Colorado School of Mines. Wyoming triumphed 1-0.
The Cowgirls started the first half strong, controlling the ball with a tight passing game and spreading the field. Momentum was on the side of the Cowgirls, who played much of the first half on the Miner’s end of the field. Unable to capitalize on the several UW corner kicks, the Cowgirls’ first 40 minutes of play saw no goals.
Wyoming kept a consistent drive in the second half, beginning with the first play. Forward Anne Hinman wasted no time, taking the first shot on goal only a minute into play. The game winner was made by defender Kasey Curtis with a header, assisted by defender Sammi Dunda in the 68th minute.
The win over the miners ensured Wyoming a place in the championship game.
In the second game between UNC and UCCS, UNC’s forward Juliana Grover sealed off a win with a goal over UCCS.
The Mines took third over UCCS in a consolation match 3-0.
For the championship game, UW faced UNC in an aggressive, fast paced game.
The Bears forced the Cowgirls to play a defensive first half on their side of the field. UNC was first getting to the ball, allowing their passing to spread UW thin.
The Cowgirls played back much of the game, causing their forwards to constantly be behind when the ball was played into the Bear’s end of the field.
Despite the struggle to connect ball to net, the Cowgirls held off the Bears the entire regulation of play, forcing a shootout.
The Cowgirls’ shooters were Kasey Curtis, midfielder Mollee Ramsay, midfielder Alisha Bass, Oklahoma transfer Katie Marcheso and defender Kristin Howard. Three out of the five shots taken by Wyoming were goals, but UNC hit four and got away with the win.
After the shootout, head coach Pete Cuadrado expressed his disappointment in not being able to bring home the win.
“It’s tough to lose in PK’s, but there were some positives. Obviously not giving up a goal all day was a positive,” Cuadrado said. “It’d be nice to take care of it in regulation. But for the first day, not too bad.”
The Cowgirls will return March 30 against South Dakota and Western Colorado State.
