Saturday, Cowgirl soccer split back-to-back road games. Wyoming was victorious over Utah Valley University, winning 4-2 in a shootout, but fell short against Utah State in a 3-0 loss.
“I thought we really played well in this game,” said head coach Pete Cuadrado. “We created a lot of chances, so I was happy to see us get rewarded with the win. Utah plays a very different style of soccer we wanted to challenge our team to be able to pick up the changes with minimal preparation.”
The first two halves of regulation went without a goal from either side. The Cowgirls and the Wolverines faced each other in a shootout. Shooting for Wyoming was junior forward Kasey Curtis, freshman midfielder Alisha Bass, sophomore midfielder Mollee Ramsay, junior midfielder Alison Clarke and junior defender Kristin Howard.
In the second shootout the Cowgirls have seen this spring, Curtis scored the first penalty kick to give Wyoming a 1-0 lead. In UVU’s second penalty kick they tied 1-1. Ramsey quickly answered to make it 2-1. UVU scored one additional point which was followed by two points scored by Clarke and Howard to take the win 4-2 for the Pokes.
“We had our chances and dominated the attack but were unable to convert our chances during regulation,” said Cowgirls new Director of Operations Lauren Eberts. “Second game we played University of Utah. Utah came out with a strong attack, [they’re a] quick athletic team. Wyoming was unable to convert on chances and put a goal away.”
In game two, the Cowgirls fell early and were unable to gain any lead on the Utah State Aggies.
Junior defender Brooke Larsen-Leavitt scored the first goal for Utah State 28 minutes into the first half.
Cowgirls’ freshman forward Brooke Chalmers, in an effort to level the field, ran the ball up field and shot on goal with one minute left in the half, but sent the ball over the net. The Aggies led the half 1-0.
Going into the second half, the Cowgirls gave up another goal on a Utah corner kick in the 19th minute. Larsen-Leavitt was on the receiving end of the Utah corner kick and volleyed it in to put Utah up 2-0. In the remaining 16 minutes the Aggies made one more additional goal to take the win 3-0 over Wyoming.
After the loss Coach Cuadrado said he plans on focusing on “the simple things” such as one-on-one defending. “ [We want to] continue to improve and create more chances going to goal”
“We will look to improve on this result and take it into this week and next week’s practice before returning to competition” said Eberts.
The Cowgirls will return to action in Grand Junction, Colo. April 19 where they will face Denver University at 2:30 p.m. and Colorado Mesa at 6:30 p.m., followed by Fort Lewis at 9:00 a.m. the next day.
