LAS VEGAS, N.M. – UCCS Women's Soccer bumped their unbeaten streak up to five straight matches on Thursday after marching into Las Vegas, N.M. and posting a 4-0 clean sheet victory over New Mexico Highlands University after four different Mountain Lions found the back of the net.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: UCCS 4, NMHU 0
Records: UCCS (8-2-4, 5-1-2 RMAC), NMHU (1-11-0, 1-7-0 RMAC)
Location: NMHU Soccer Complex | Las Vegas, N.M.
Series: UCCS garners their eight straight victory against NMHU and moves to a 13-6 all-time record over the Cowgirls.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• The Mountain Lions controlled possession in the first half and went on the attack early and often as six UCCS shots wore down the Cowgirls through the first 29 minutes of action.
• Then in the 30
th minute, the Mountain Lions found their opportunity and opened up the scoring by way of
Annie Louthan who possessed a through ball off the feed of Kaitlin Hinkel from atop the box and finished it off for the 1-0 lead.
• Louthan's goal sparked a scoring frenzy for the Mountain Lions as they got on the board again just two minutes later with
Kelsey Takahashi regaining control of a contested ball in the box and placing it in the top left corner of net for a 2-0 lead at 31:23.
• In the 36
th minute,
Anna Vince pushed UCCS ahead in fashion after the true freshman fired an impressive 23-yard shot off her right foot and buried it in the top of the frame for the 3-0 Mountain Lion advantage heading into halftime.
• In the second half, UCCS continued to dominate possession and pinned the Cowgirls back right out of halftime by forcing a corner kick in the 51
st minute.
Gabriella Lancaster supplied a bending cross from the far corner that
Makayla Merlo met for the set-piece after heading it in to extend the Mountain Lions to a commanding 4-0 lead.
• From that point on, the Mountain Lion defense took care of business by shutting NMHU down with two shots and two shots on goal allowed in the match to preserve the 4-0 shutout victory.
STATS FROM THE DAY:
• The Mountain Lions come away with the clean sheet after holding the Cowgirls to no shots in the first half.
• Four different Mountain Lions found the back of the net on Thursday as
Annie Louthan,
Kelsey Takahashi,
Anna Vince, and
Makayla Merlo each notch two points.
Kaitlin Hinkle and
Gabriella Lancaster each add a point of their own off assists.
• UCCS held the advantage across the board in shots (13-2), shots on goal (11-2), and corner kicks (7-1).
• Louthan adds a game high three shots and three shots on goal to her stat line.
• Alexis Walker grabs two saves in the shutout as she improves to an 8-2-4 record for the year
.
BEYOND THE BOX:
• Alexis Walker collects her RMAC-leading seventh shutout of the season. Walker also moves to sixth all-time in the program record book for saves with 84 career saves.
• With 11 of UCCS' 13 shots landing on frame, the Mountain Lions post their highest SOG% of the season at .846.
• The Mountain Lions have scored four or more goals three different times this season, with each match coming by way of shutout.
• UCCS allowed their lowest shot total for the season (two).
• Annie Louthan set a new season-high in both shots and shots on goal (three).
• Kelsey Takahashi and
Anna Vince each net their first goal of the season.
UP NEXT
UCCS Women's Soccer will be back at home Sunday afternoon as they get set to take on Adams State University at 1 p.m. for Breast Cancer Awareness day.
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.
