COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – No. 10 University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's soccer claims the program's third consecutive RMAC Regular Season Championship on Wednesday night after topping Colorado State University Pueblo at a final score of 4-2.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP: 
Final: CSUP 2, #10 UCCS 4
Records: UCCS (15-3, 10-2 RMAC), CSUP (9-7-1, 8-3-1 RMAC)
Location: Mountain Lion Stadium | Colorado Springs, Colo.
Series: UCCS extends their win streak to eight games against CSU Pueblo as the Mountain Lions hold a 14-6-1 all-time record.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• The Mountain Lions once again put their offensive dominance on display by getting their night started with three scores in the first half. Midfielders Tarah Patterson and Zoe Sims got the scoring started in the 11^th minute where Patterson dished out a shallow cross for Sims to head in for the 1-0 lead.
• The next two goals would be supplied by Kaitlin Hinkle who notched her first score of the night from Patterson and Makenna Fowler who hit Hinkle in stride to bury a five-yard shot in the 14^th minute. Hinkle made her second scoring appearance at 25:19 as she gathered a deflected shot at the top of the box with her right foot to then send a left-footed strike to the top left corner of net for the 2-0 UCCS lead.
• At half, the Mountain Lions contained the ThunderWolves for a first half shutout as the defense kept CSU Pueblo at bay by allowing only four shots in the opening 45 minutes.
• Into the second half, UCCS' aggressiveness and ability to stretch the field continued to trouble the ThunderWolves as the Mountain Lions claimed a 4-0 lead in the 63^rd minute. Freshman Abby Barhydt showed off her ball handling skills by threading past a CSUP defender to deliver a perfect cross to a streaking Makayla Merlo who delivered UCCS' fourth goal.
• Down 4-0, CSU Pueblo then began to generate some offense of their own as Katie Bean sent a shot to the top corner of frame in the 72^nd minute to cut the Mountain Lion lead to three scores. Time then worked against the ThunderWolves as a late second goal came in the 89^th minute to bring the game to a final score of 4-2.

STATS FROM THE DAY:
• The Mountain Lions tripled CSU Pueblo's shots on Wednesday night by outshooting them 27-9. UCCS also more than doubled the ThunderWolves in shots on goal (12-5) and corner kicks (7-3) for the match.
• Forward Kaitlin Hinkle finishes with a game high four points after netting two goals, including the game-winning goal, for a brace off of four shots and three shots on goal.
• Midfielder Tarah Patterson notches two assists in the win and registers a game high six shots and four shots on goal.
• The UCCS defense showed off their offensive ability as defenders Makenna Fowler and Abby Barhydt tally an assist while midfielder Zoe Sims found the back of the net for two points.
• Alexis Walker records three saves in frame as she moves to 4-0 for the season.

BEYOND THE BOX:
• UCCS claims their third consecutive RMAC Regular Season Championship after Colorado Mesa University falls to Westminster College in overtime to end the season as co-champions with the Mountain Lions.
• The Mountain Lions have scored four goals in three of the last four games with three first half goals scored in the last two games.
• Makayla Merlo extends her point streak to four consecutive games after her team leading eighth goal of the year.
• Midfielder Ella Fischer has started in UCCS' last 36 games, dating back to Oct. 18 of 2019.

UP NEXT:
• UCCS Women's Soccer now heads into postseason play as the Mountain Lions earn the No. 2 seed in the RMAC Tournament and are slated to host No. 7 seed Metropolitan State University of Denver on Sunday, Nov. 7 at 2:30 p.m. for the RMAC Quarterfinals.
 
SOCIAL:
Twitter - @GoMountainLions
Instagram - @gomountainlions 
Facebook – Go Mountain Lions
 
As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs competes in 16 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.