DALLAS, Texas – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's soccer team upsets number one seed Dallas Baptist, outlasting the Patriots 4-2.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: UCCS 4, DBU 2
Records: UCCS 14-4-3 (10-1-1 RMAC), DBU 14-1-4 (9-0-3 LSC)
Location: DBU Patriot Soccer Field | Dallas, Texas
Series: DBU leads the Mountain Lions 2-3-1 in the all-time series between the two programs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- UCCS got the scoring started just 17:11 into the game when Kaitlin Hinkle, who has missed most of the year due to injury, welcomed herself back to the lineup. UCCS earned a corner kick after a promising buildup ended with Taylynn Levi's centering pass deflecting out of play on the end line, and Hazel Wright made her way to the far side to take the corner. Wright served a ball straight to the goal mouth where DBU goalkeeper Carmen Lopez couldn't corral the service. The ball would deflect off a DBU defender and roll to Hinkle who finished beautifully under the crossbar for the 1-0 lead.
- UCCS and DBU would trade chances the rest of the first half and Dallas Baptist would earn several corner kicks before the half, including one as time expired for the break, but UCCS' defense would hold as the Mountain Lions entered the second half with the one-nil lead.
- DBU made effective adjustments during the halftime intermission, and it showed as the Patriots found the net just 2:42 after play resumed. McKenna Vela made an impressive run down the left wing all the way to the Mountain Lion net where she unleashed a shot which was blocked by UCCS defender Jade Kinsey. The rebound would return to the feet of Vela, the freshman from Weatherford, Texas adjusted and fired it again, this time to the far side of the frame where it rang off the post. To the Mountain Lions' chagrin, the ricochet of the post landed in front of Kaleigh Naizer who dotted her shot in the top right corner to even the score at one.
- The Mountain Lions would respond just under six minutes later at the 53:24 mark. The chance began as Taylynn Levi sent a beautiful pass through the Patriots back three to a cutting Emily Aguilar who put two shots on Lopez, who made the double save. The second rebound skipped to the left side where Jessica Rockwell was stationed, and Rockwell made no mistake with it, firing it into the Patriots net to recapture the Lead for UCCS.
- Just four minutes later, UCCS was on the attack again. Fie Steenberg, who has facilitated the offense all year for the Mountain Lions, made her way into the attacking third down the left wing. With about ten yards between her and the end line, the Danish midfielder found a hole which she sent a pass on the ground to Kaitlin Hinkle who planted herself six yards in front of the net and, again, finished off the bottom of the crossbar and in to push the lead to 3-1 in favor of UCCS.
- The offensive pressure would cool for both teams until the final six minutes of the match, when DBU showed they weren't going to go down quietly. DBU's Parker Coe headed a ball forward for Sophia Schrock, who tapped a shot toward the right post of UCCS but couldn't get much behind it. As the ball inched for the net, Jade Kinsey attempted to clear, but her clearance was too late and sent it into the top of the net behind the crossbar. With 5:46 to play, the Patriots had life.
- UCCS, content to hold the one goal lead, dropped two midfielders back to defense, and hunkered down with five back for the final minutes. Because of the change in structure, DBU would have upwards of five chances in the final minutes, resulting in three UCCS goal kicks and two DBU corners, both of which lead to Patriot shots. Off the final corner set piece from DBU, it was again Sophia Schrock who fired in net, but Whitmore was there for the save, the grad transfer then ran to the top of the box and punted it to a streaking Kaitlin Hinkle, who was left alone at midfield. Patriot goalkeeper Carmen Lopez, who had made her way to the Mountain Lions net front to sell out for the corner kick, was still out of the play, leaving Hinkle with an open net. Hinkle deposited the hat trick, pushing UCCS to a 4-2 lead and sent UCCS through to the South-Central Region Final.
STATS FROM THE DAY
- The Mountain Lions defense held strong, keeping the advantage on the score sheet despite Dallas Baptist out shooting UCCS 20-12. Though, UCCS' attack was more accurate landing 8 shots on frame, edging the Patriots who put 7 shots on target.
- Hazel Wright claims her second assist in as many games, both helpers coming from corner kick services.
- Kaitlin Hinkle, who has only played in 12 games this season for UCCS, nets a hat trick.
BEYOND THE BOX
- Kaitlin Hinkle earns her first career hat trick, and passes Michaela Mansfield (active 2013-2016) on the all-time goals list as she now sits second with 30 career strikes.
- The Mountain Lions have advanced to the South-Central Final in two of the last three seasons.
- The Mountain Lions are the first team to defeat Dallas Baptist this season, who entered the night with a 14-0-4 record this fall.
- Head Coach J. B. Belzer improves to 10-10-2 in his NCAA Playoff career, with 2023 being his 13th appearance in the national tournament.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions will await the winner of (3) Colorado Meas vs (2) Colorado School of Mines in the South-Central Region Final. The location, date and time of that match is still to be determined. For the latest information on the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championships, stay tuned to gomountianlions.com and ncaa.com.
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 14 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
