DALLAS, Texas – The Mountain Lions' NCAA Tournament run ends in the Sweet 16 as UCCS Women's Soccer falls to No. 5 Dallas Baptist University at a final score of 1-0.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: #9 UCCS 0, #5 DBU 1
Records: UCCS (19-4, 10-2 RMAC), DBU (19-3, 12-1 LSC)
Location: Sedwick Soccer Field House | Dallas, Texas
Series: UCCS trails the all-time series with DBU, 1-2-1.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• Thursday's tightly contested match was as even as it could get in the first half with the Mountain Lions and Patriots trading shots but not able to find the game's first goal in what turned out to be a scoreless 45 minutes.
• The Mountain Lions tested freshman goalkeeper Breanna Bowlen early on with two shots including one shot on frame from
Kaitlin Hinkle in the opening minutes. From there, DBU went on the attack and took control for a 10-minute span that was made up of six consecutive Patriot shots, but UCCS dug in to hold DBU out of goal with
Alexis Walker making one save to keep the game scoreless.
• DBU would not record another shot until the final seconds of the half as UCCS turned on the pressure to register the game's next five shots as
Makayla Merlo fired a strike on goal at the 42:47 mark where Bowlen notched her second save.
• In the second half, the Mountain Lions continued to force scoring opportunities by tripling the Patriots' second half shots, 12-4. Midfielder
Tarah Patterson gave herself a great look from a free kick on the 35-yard line in the 58
th minute as the ball short-hopped the far post where Bowlen gathered it in to make another DBU save. Later in the 68
th minute, UCCS created yet another opportunity with
Gabriella Lancaster rifling a shot off the top woodwork that was just off-target enough to leave the game at a scoreless tie.
• At 81:56, the game quickly flipped in favor of DBU as Delaney Schmidt sent a cross in the box that was tipped by a diving
Alexis Walker and gathered by Ashley Merill who finished it for the final 1-0 score.
STATS FROM THE DAY:
• UCCS outshot DBU 19-11 with the Mountain Lions also holding the advantage in shots on goal, 5-2.
• Four different Mountain Lions recorded a shot on goal in the match with
Kaitlin Hinkle registering a game high two shots on goal. Both Hinkle and
Bri Johnson notched a team high three shots.
• Jade Kinsey,
Makenna Fowler,
Katie Puchino, and
Ella Fischer all played the full 90 minutes.
• UCCS and DBU matched each other in corner kicks with both teams recording five in the first half and one each in the second half.
BEYOND THE BOX:
• The Mountain Lions received their first shutout loss in over two years (Nov. 16, 2019).
• UCCS caps off a stellar 2021 season with the program's second ever NCAA Sweet 16 appearance. The Mountain Lions also posted the program's first ever season with both an RMAC Regular Season and RMAC Tournament Championship.
• The Mountain Lions' 19-win season ties the program's most wins in a single season.
• After recording 60 goals, 51 assists, and 171 points, the Mountain Lions register the second most goals, assists, and points in a single season.
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.
