Junior captain
Matt Friesen scored two goals to lead the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Mountain Lions to a 3-2 overtime victory over the Colorado College Tigers on Wednesday night at Mountain Lion Stadium. The match was the season opener for both teams.
"Matt has worked hard all his years," said UCCS coach Henry Ellis. "He's been not just my leading scorer, but my highest GPA. His desire and attitude is fantastic and with his work ethic he was voted captain this year."
The win was a true team effort by both returners and newcomers alike. Returning junior
Carlos Verdugo scored the first goal of the Mountain Lions' season, which was also his the first career goal for the defender. It was followed by Friesen's go-ahead goal in the second half and then his game-winner in overtime. The first two assists were completed by
Eric Goldberg, and
Jaron Stewart, who are also returners this season.
The returners were not the only ones to contribute as freshman goalie
Brandon Costa chalked up the win with four saves and
Austin Bell made the assist to Friesen in overtime.
In the forth minute of the match, Colorado College's Kyle Buchwalder headed the ball into the goal off of a corner kick pass from teammate Matt Fechter. UCCS quickly answered back in the fifth minute with a header into the goal by Verdugo off of a corner kick pass from Goldberg.
"No one was marking him, so I played it right to him and he hit it in," said Goldberg.
The Mountain Lion's second goal came in the 50th minute when Friesen received a pass from Stewart, chipped it over the last defender, and scored into the upper right corner. A momentum changer happened in the 66th minute when a penalty kick was capitalized on by Fechter, tying the game at two.
During the 96th minute of play Friesen received a pass from Bell who crossed it to the left side of the field and watched as Friesen put it in.
"It was honestly in slow motion," said Friesen. "I hit it on the ground, the goalie dove and it went in."
 UCCS's all time record against Colorado College now totals 9-5 in favor of the Mountain Lions, and they begin their season with a 1-0 record.
