LAKEWOOD, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's soccer team grinds out a 1-0 victory in Lakewood to grab their first road victory of the conference schedule.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: UCCS 1, CCU 0
Records: UCCS (5-2-2, 3-0-0 RMAC), CCU (2-5-1, 0-3-0 RMAC)
Location: Trailblazer Stadium | Lakewood, Colorado
Series: UCCS improve to 18-2-1 against CCU all-time.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- CCU didn't waste any time as the match got underway, directing the ball deep into the Mountain Lions end, just moments after the opening kickoff. Catching the Mountain Lions sleeping momentarily, it was former Mountain Lion, and current Cougar midfielder, Zoe Sims who fired the first shot of the game. Sims couldn't get much behind the shot, allowing an easy save for Isabella Whitmore.
- The Cougars would continue to press the Mountain Lions early, but could never get any truly dangerous chances towards goal, with the UCCS defenders always dropping back just in time to keep the ball to the edges of the pitch.
- UCCS' first quality attempts wouldn't come until the waning minutes of the opening half, as redshirt-freshman Nanea Wong Yuen trotted to the far side for a corner kick in the 40th minute. Her service would first find Kelsey Takahashi who fired a shot off a CCU defender, but the rebound found Ciara Garcia who directed the free ball toward the bottom left of the frame. Cougars' keeper Alana Lopp read the shot well, and was there to make the stop, as both teams entered the locker room scoreless after 45 minutes.
- The second half got off to a slow start for both teams with CCU earning a foul just outside the penalty area in the 60th minute, as freshman defender Sela Freeman was whistled for the foul. The centering volley was lost in the feet of CCU's Kiley Connery, and UCCS survived the situation as they were able to clear back to midfield.
- The Mountain Lions began to find some traction as they were able to hold possession in the attacking end right around the 75th minute mark, with a promising build up rolling out for a corner kick at 77:27 of the second half. The corner led to a Ashleigh Willette foul on CCU's half of the field, with just over ten minutes to play. Wong Yuen restarted play with a cross to the back post and a fight for possession ensued. Emily Aguilar was able to prevail with the ball, sending it out front to a wide-open Kelsey Takahashi, who buried it nearside and gave the Mountain Lions the one goal advantage.
- UCCS was content to hold possession for the remaining ten minutes, playing an effective game of keep-away down the stretch, as they remain undefeated in conference play, downing the Cougars 1-0.
STATS FROM THE DAY
- The Mountain Lions earned a whopping six corner kicks in the first half of the match, while only allowing one for CCU before the break.
- UCCS also held the upper hand in first half shots, as they fired five attempts with three being on goal, CCU attempted just two shots with one landing on net.
- The Mountain Lions outshot the Cougars 10-3. This marks the second straight game the Mountain Lions held their opponent to five shots or less, and third match this season they have done so.
- Kelsey Takahashi scores her first goal of 2023 and becomes the tenth Mountain Lion to find the net.
BEYOND THE BOX
- The Mountain Lions win their sixth straight match against CCU. Four matches shy of their best mark of ten straight wins over the Cougars.
- The last time UCCS failed to defeat CCU was a 3-3 tie on October 16th, 2016. CCU hasn't won a match against the Mountain Lions in 14 seasons, with their most recent victory being on September 23rd, 2009.
- First time in two seasons the Mountain Lions have begun the RMAC season 3-0-0.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions finish the road trip on Sunday afternoon, with a showdown against MSU Denver at 1 p.m.
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.
