GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's soccer made their way back into the win column in a big way on Sunday after topping Colorado Mesa University at a final score of 3-1 inside Community Hospital Unity Field.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP: 

Final: UCCS 3, CMU 1

Records: UCCS (6-2-2, 3-1 RMAC), CMU (4-4-1, 2-2 RMAC)

Location: Community Hospital Unity Field | Grand Junction, Colo.

Series: Colorado Mesa leads the all-time series with a record of 9-7-2

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Sunday's match saw the Mountain Lions and Mavericks go toe-to-toe with UCCS firing off five shots to CMU's seven.

•Annie Louthan and Makayla Merlo led the attack with a shot on goal apiece later in the first half as CMU recorded five shots on frame of their own that Alexis Walker kept out of net to preserve a first half shutout.

•Both teams were on the cusp of penetrating the opposing back line with the Mountain Lions garnering the first scoring opportunity off the foot of Fie Steenberg who found the back of the net from Liza Louthan at 56:49.

•After grasping the 1-0 lead just 11 minutes in the second half, UCCS was able to find their offensive rhythm that CMU did not have an answer for as Makayla Merlo drew a foul in the box to bury a penalty kick at 68:38 for the commanding 2-0 lead.

•The Mavericks managed to flip the script under a minute later with a goal in the 69th minute to cut the deficit back to one goal, 2-1.

•With the Mountain Lions riding a one goal lead late into the second half, UCCS turned up the pressure once again in the 80th minute as Zoe Sims made a rare scoring appearance by pushing UCCS to a 3-1 advantage 

•The final 10 minutes fell in the hands of UCCS' back line who stepped up to not allow another shot and seal the 3-1 win.

STATS FROM THE DAY:

•The Mountain Lions had control on the offensive side of the ball by holding th advantage in shots, 17-12, shots on goal, 10-6, and corner kicks, 8-2.

•Sydney Lasater registered a game-high five shots and led the team with three shots in goal.

•Zoe Sims, Makayla Merlo, and Fie Steenberg each tally two points off a goal scored in the win. Liza Louthan added her name to the stat sheet with an assist along with one shot and one shot on goal.

•Alexis Walker collects five saves in the victory as she moves to 6–2-2 on the season.

• Alexis Walker makes three saves in frame and moves to 5-2-2 for the season.

• Five Mountain Lions stayed on the pitch for the entirety of the match with Merlo, Sims, Jade Kinsey, Annie Louthan, and Makenna Fowler playing the full 90 minutes.

BEYOND THE BOX:

•UCCS defeats CMU on their home turf for the first time since Sep. 29, 2019.

•Zoe Sims registers her fourth career goal and has scored a goal in all four years as a Mountain Lion.

UP NEXT

UCCS Women's Soccer will be back in the road again next week starting Thursday, Sep. 29 with a 6 p.m. match against Metropolitan State University of Denver at the Regency Athletic Complex.

SOCIAL:

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Instagram - @gomountainlions 

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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