PUEBLO, Colo. – No. 25 University of Colorado Colorado Springs Women's Soccer closed out the 2022 regular season in thrilling fashion Wednesday evening as
Jael Larson nets the second-half game-winner to push the Mountain Lions ahead of the Colorado State University Pueblo ThunderWolves, 1-0, for their fifth consecutive clean sheet win.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: UCCS 1, CSUP 0
Records: UCCS (12-2-4, 9-1-2 RMAC), CSUP (5-11-2, 4-6-2 RMAC)
Location: Art & Lorraine Soccer/Lacrosse Stadium | Pueblo, Colo.
Series: The Mountain Lions extend their winning streak against the ThunderWolves to nine games as UCCS holds a winning record over CSU Pueblo, 15-6-1.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• The Mountain Lions' defense came out ready to play Wednesday night as UCCS kept CSU Pueblo at bay with no shots allowed in the match's first 30 minutes.
• While UCCS shut the lights off on the ThunderWolves' attack, the Mountain Lion offense looked for their opening with
Makayla Merlo claiming two of the team's four shots on goal, including a shot in the box during the half's final minute that CSUP keeper Breanna Encinas stopped in frame to leave the match scoreless.
• In the second half, the offensive momentum remained in favor of UCCS with the pressure finally caving in on the ThunderWolves in the 71
st minute. After the Mountain Lions dispossessed CSU Pueblo, UCCS worked their way across the pitch to the far sideline as
Makenna Fowler found
Jael Larson open atop the box where Larson showed off her strength and sent a rising shot into the top of the net for the 1-0 lead.
• The one score would be all the Mountain Lions needed as the backline continued to get the job done by not allowing a single shot or shot on goal in the half to secure the 1-0 win on the road.
STATS FROM THE DAY:
• UCCS' backline was impenetrable with the Mountain Lions holding CSU pueblo to just one shot while not allowing one shot on goal in the match. On the other side of the pitch, UCCS tallied a total of nine shots with five shots on goal.
• Both
Makenna Fowler and
Jael Larson come away with points with Fowler registering one point on the game-winning assist while Larson grabs two points on the game-winning goal.
• Six Mountain Lions notch a shot on goal in the win as
Jade Kinsey,
Makayla Merlo, and
Sydney Lasater each registered a game-high two shots and one shot on goal.
• Five Mountain Lions played the full time on Wednesday night with
Annie Louthan,
Zoe Sims, and
Makenna Fowler joining Kinsey and Merlo in registering 90 minutes.
• CSU Pueblo recorded one corner kick in the match with the Mountain Lions notching a total of seven in the contest.
BEYOND THE BOX:
• The Mountain Lions officially claim the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament, earning a home-field quarterfinal match for the sixth consecutive season.
• The Mountain Lions didn't give up a shot on goal for the first time since Nov. 1, 2019 (Black Hills State University).
• Jade Kinsey records a season-high two shots.
• Makenna Fowler claims her first assist of the 2022 season and ninth of her career. All nine of her career points as a Mountain Lion have come by way of assist.
UP NEXT
UCCS Women's Soccer closes the chapter on the regular season and now turns their sights to the RMAC Tournament as they get set to host No. 7 seed Fort Lewis College at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 30, inside Mountain Lion Stadium.
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.
