Cowgirls soccer ties the best regular season finish in school history (10-8-1, 8-3-0 MW), and clinched the second seed in the Mountain West conference, in a 4-1 win over Colorado State.
“I think this is something that gets us ready for the postseason, and continues,” said Cowgirls head coach Pete Cuadrado. “Being focused for every game (sic). Not overlooking or getting complacent is the key to being able to finish the home schedule undefeated.”
The Cowgirls dominated the scoreboard and the offensive tempo of the game for the majority of Friday’s match.
Wyoming took the lead early, which they maintained and built throughout the game. Colorado State (4-15-0, 2-9-0 MW) had one goal late in the second half, far past any hope of matching the Cowgirls four point lead.
“We were ready, as a coach you are concerned that we may overlook a team knowing we were in the conference tourney. But to go out and really put the game away shows how focused this team is.”
The Cowgirls ended the first half with a three-point lead, having so far shutout the Rams.
Freshman forward Kaitlyn Lomsnes made the first Wyoming goal in the eighth minute. Both sophomore forward Laurel Ramer and freshman forward Candace Sciberras were credited with the assist. A rebounded ball by Wyoming was converted for a goal when Ramer found Sciberras in the box, who sent to Lomsnes. Lomsnes shot on goal, the Ram’s keeper was able to get a touch on it, but was unable to keep it from reaching the net.
In the 11th and 23rd minute the Rams saw chances to even the score, but their attempts fell short with two saves from Cowgirls senior goalkeeper Alex Bohem.
The Cowgirls answered the Ram’s unsuccessful takes with two more goals before the half.
Freshman forward Alisha Bass landed her fifth goal of the season off a putback in the 37th minute unassisted. Sophomore midfielder Mandy Meyers quickly followed up Bass’ goal with a shot from 20-yards out only minutes later. Sophomore forward Anne Hinman had the assist, her first of the season.
This week the Cowgirls travel to San Diego, Calif. where they will take part in the Mountain West Tournament, their first game will be Thursday at 5 p.m. MT in the semifinals.
The Cowgirls ended the first half with a three-point lead, having so far shutout the Rams. Wyoming’s stats showed their upper hand in the first 45 minutes of regulation, outshooting CSU 10-3.
In the second half Sciberras made her third career goal only minutes after returning to play. Bass picked up her first assist of the game and Ramer with her second, as Sciberras took a shot right down the center of the goalie box for the final Wyoming goal of the game.
The Ram’s answered the Cowgirls’ four-point lead with a lone goal in the 78th minute.
“The biggest factor [of clinching the second seed] is the bye into the semifinals,” said Coach Cuadrado. “But once we get to Thursday records don’t matter it is almost a new season.”
Wyoming locked in the second seed outplaying CSU, shooting twice as often as the Rams, yielding the better outcome. The Cowgirls closed the match with 16 shots, 10 on goal and five assist. The Rams took the loss with eight shots, seven on goal and one assist.
The Cowgirls’ second half goalkeeper, freshman Georgia Rowntree, had four saves for Wyoming in the last 45 minutes of regulation.
“[We will be] continuing to clean up some of our details,” said Coach Cuadrado. “Soccer is never a perfect game and there are always things you can get better at so we will continue to hit details.”
