Wyoming soccer hit their stride and took two shutout wins on the road against Fresno State and San Jose State both 2-0, improving their conference record to 7-1
“It was a hard fought battle,” said Coach Cuadrado. “I give both teams a lot of credit but the fight our girls had through the entire game made me very proud. Winning two matches on the road is tough and just I was proud of the effort and resiliency of the team.”
The Cowgirls are tied in shutout games with Utah State for number one in the Mountain West conference, each team with 16 games played and seven shutout games.
The Cowgirls notched their first win over Fresno on Friday. The Bulldogs lead the series 2-1-1. Freshman forward Kaitlyn Lomsnes continues to lead the Cowgirls in goals. Her three goals over the weekend made for a team high of nine goals, followed by senior defender Kasey Curtis, whose sixth goal for the season came against the San Jose State Spartans.
Lomsnes headed Friday’s shutout with the only goals of the game. Lomsnes totaled six shots, five on goal, and two in the net in her 86 minutes on the field. Lomsnes’ shots accounted for over half of the nine shots the Cowgirl’s took in Friday’s game. Redshirt freshman forward/midfielder Candace Sciberras had two shots; one on goal, and senior defender Alison Clarke had one shot on goal.
The Bulldogs managed to create several chances in Friday’s matchup, totaling 15 shots, nine on goal over the course of regulation. Senior goalkeeper for Wyoming, Alex Bohem, proved to be a force for the Cowgirls, shutting out the ‘dogs with seven saves.
“It was a very physical match tonight,” Cowgirls head coach Pete Cuadrado told gowyo.com. “I’m proud of the team’s effort and energy and how they left it all out on the field.”
Lomsnes struck with one goal in the first half at the 11 minute mark off an assist from freshman forward Kayla Cryer and a second unassisted goal in the last half in the 88th minute.
Bulldogs freshman goalkeeper Domenique Banta had five saves over the 90 minute match.
Sunday the Cowgirls faced the Spartans in another hard fought conference match that set them tied for first place. Both the Wyoming and San Diego State have a conference record of 7-1-0. Although SDSU has an overall record of 12-3-1, matched up to Wyoming’s 9-6-1 record, the Cowgirls – ranked first in an unbeaten streak – currently have a five game winning streak.
The Cowgirl’s victory against the Spartans came with a goal from Curtis in minute two of gameplay. Curtis nailed a penalty kick to put the first point on the board for Wyoming after a handball in the box was called on the Spartans. San Jose State junior goalkeeper Zoe Makrigiannis managed to clip the ball, but was unable to keep it from reaching the net.
The Spartans statistically ran much of the game. SJSU outshot Wyoming 21-13, but were unable to capitalize on any of the opportunities. Cowgirl’s defense proved to be a curtain of steel in their seventh shutout game, only eight of the Spartans 21 shots were on goal and none made it to the back of the net.
Shots for Wyoming was led by freshman forward Alisha Bass with three shots, followed by Sciberras, Lomsnes and Meyer each with two shots.
Returning to goal for the Cowgirls, freshman goalkeeper Georgia Rowntree had four saves in the first half. Bohem matched Rowntree’s first half with four saves in the second 45 minute period.
Makrigiannis had three saves the entire 90 minutes.
Lomsnes sealed the win with a final goal in the 88th minute with an open shot on goal. Lomsnes who breached SJSU defense and went in for the kill intercepted a corner kick by the Spartans.
The Cowgirls will be back on the road Friday Oct. 24 where they will battle No. 21 San Diego State for the number one spot in the mountain west conference at 8 pm. The SDSU Aztecs are coming off a loss to Boise State that snapped their eight-game win streak. Sunday Oct. 26 the Cowgirls will play at New Mexico at 1 pm.
