COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Redshirt junior
Kaitlin Hinkle sends the Mountain Lions to the RMAC Semifinals after netting the game-winner with four second lefts on Sunday as No. 25 University of Colorado Colorado Springs Women's Soccer defeats Fort Lewis College in the first round of the RMAC Tournament, 2-1.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: FLC 1, #25 UCCS 2
Records: UCCS (13-2-4, 9-1-2 RMAC), FLC (6-11-2, 5-6-1 RMAC)
Location: Mountain Lion Stadium | Colorado Springs, Colo.
Series: The Mountain Lions extend their winning streak against the Skyhawks to six games and improves their record in the all-time series with FLC, 8-15.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• The UCCS offense went on the attack right out of the gate on Sunday as the first 18 minutes of the quarterfinal match saw four corner kicks, four shots, and a shot on goal from both
Jade Kinsey and
Makayla Merlo that were kept out by the Skyhawks to keep it 0-0.
• For FLC, the Skyhawks had issues breaking through in the first half as three-time RMAC Goalkeeper of the Week
Alexis Walker and the rest of the Mountain Lions gave up just two shots with one landing on frame that Walker claimed for the save, maintaining a 0-0 scoreless tie after 45 minutes of play.
• After the Skyhawks notched the first two shots of the second half, the Mountain Lions quickly took back control of the offensive reigns by netting the go-ahead goal at the 51
st minute with
Fie Steenberg breaking the tie. The sophomore worked a
Kaitlin Hinkle pass in the top left corner of the box that Steenberg then worked to her right and fired with her left foot to the far corner of net for the 1-0 lead.
• With time winding down, the Mountain Lions' defense continued to silent the Skyhawks before Fort Lewis came back in the 85
th minute to work a corner kick as an 86
th minute header resulted in an FLC equalizer with just over four minutes to play.
• But UCCS didn't blink an eye as a composed Hinkle received a pass from the far sideline and faked a left-footed shot to get just enough separation from her defender to step up and launch the game-winner into the back corner of net with four second left to send the Mountain Lion bench into a frenzy in the 2-1 win.
STATS FROM THE DAY:
• The Mountain Lions nearly doubles FLC's shots, 21-12, as UCCS also held the advantage in shots on goal, 8-5, and corner kicks, 13-1.
• Kaitlin Hinkle posts three points to help the Mountain Lions advance in the RMAC Tournament after assisting on
Fie Steenberg's score and netting the game-winner.
• Jadyn LeDoux came off the bench to tie for a game-high four shots and two shots on goal as Steenberg registered a perfect one shot on goal on one shot.
Gabriella Lancaster and
Makayla Merlo also joined in on the action by recording three shots and one shot on goal each.
• RMAC Defensive Player of the Week
Zoe Sims along with four additional Mountain Lions played the full 90 minutes on Sunday.
BEYOND THE BOX:
• The Mountain Lions advance to the RMAC Semifinal match for the sixth consecutive season and have now hosted a semifinal match for the fourth straight year.
• Kaitlin Hinkle nets her sixth goal of the season to tie for the team lead as Hinkle has now registered 26 career goals and 61 career points to rank third all-time in program history for career goals and points. Hinkle also moves into a tie for the second most game-winning goals in program history with Hannah Levett after recording her ninth career game-winning goal on Sunday.
• Fie Steenberg matches her freshman year goal count after scoring her third goal of the season.
UP NEXT
No. 25 UCCS Women's Soccer survives and advances to the RMAC Semifinal match on Wednesday, Nov. 2 where the Mountain Lions will host No. 3 seed Regis University. Kick-off is set for 6 p.m. inside Mountain Lion Stadium.
Fans can purchase tickets for Wednesday night's match by clicking
HERE.
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.
