PUEBLO, Colo. – In a matchup featuring a pair of top 10 nationally ranked squads, junior Miles Seminario scored a pair of goals to lift the No. 5 University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's soccer team to a 2-1 road victory over No. 9 Colorado State University Pueblo on Sunday afternoon.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: UCCS 2, CSUP 1
Records: UCCS (7-0-1, 0-0-0 RMAC), CSUP (5-2-1, 0-0-0 RMAC)
Facility: CSUP Art & Lorraine Soccer/Lacrosse Stadium | Pueblo, Colo.
All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions improve to 36-26-6 all-time against the ThunderWolves.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Sunday's much-anticipated matchup featuring No. 5 UCCS and No. 9 CSU Pueblo got off to a quick start with the Mountain Lions finding the back of the net in the fourth minute to grab an early 1-0 lead. The scoring opportunity for UCCS began with junior Cole Venable gaining possession of the ball and streaking rapidly down the left side of the field before firing a beautiful crosser into the box, where junior Miles Seminario was waiting to head the ball into the nylon past CSU Pueblo goalkeeper Ruben Volkert.
• Following the quick goal by UCCS, the Mountain Lions and ThunderWolves traded shots and each saw a few decent scoring chances develop throughout the remainder of the half, but it was CSU Pueblo that found an equalizer just before the halftime horn as they broke through with a goal in the 44^th minute. After earning a corner kick, CSUP midfielder Caio Oliveira sent a line drive into the box that was received off the head of defender Ignatius DeMark and blocked from going into the net by the UCCS defense. Off the rebound, defender Giancarlo Pretto quickly collected the ball and fired a shot into the top part of the net to even the match at one goal apiece heading into halftime.
• The first big scoring opportunity for the Mountain Lions in the second half came in the 61^st minute when a yellow card by CSU Pueblo set them up with a free kick chance from just outside the 18-yard box. Freshman Eduardo Macias lined up for the free kick and fired a shot high and wide, keeping the score tied at one.
• In the 66^th minute, the ThunderWolves found themselves with an excellent look at the net as Jack Pascoe controlled the ball deep into the box and tapped a shot in the direction of the frame. UCCS goalkeeper Soren Russell incredibly managed to extend his arm at the last moment to deflect the ball away from the net before it was cleared away by the Mountain Lion defense.
• Just minutes later, the UCCS offense was back in business as Seminario found some open space on the right side of the pitch and made a streak towards the box with the ball. As he crossed into the penalty area, he was bodied by a CSU Pueblo defender and granted a penalty kick for the foul. The penalty kick attempt by Seminario was originally saved by Volkert, however, Seminario caught the CSU Pueblo defense sleeping as he collected his own rebound and fired it into the back of the net to give UCCS a 2-1 advantage in the 71^st minute.
• Holding a late one-goal lead, the Mountain Lions locked in on the defensive end as they held the ThunderWolves to just a pair of harmless shots across the final 20 minutes of the match to secure the 2-1 win and maintain their unbeaten record on the season.

STATS FROM THE GAME

• The Mountain Lions were outshot by the ThunderWolves 15-9 while both teams recorded five shots on goal. CSU Pueblo held the advantage in corner kicks, taking six in the match compared to just one for UCCS.
• Seminario accounted for all of the Mountain Lion scoring as he tallied his second and third goals of the season. The junior forward also paced the team with five shots and three shots on goal.
• Diego Macias was credited with his second assist of the season while Venable logged his first of the campaign.
• On the defensive end, the UCCS quartet of Adin Schwenke, Rory Scott, Soulo Letsoalo, and Luke Noameshie each played the full 90 minutes while holding the ThunderWolves to just one goal.
• Russell also notched a full 90-minute performance in frame for the Mountain Lions as he recorded four saves in the match.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• With their win over the ThunderWolves, the Mountain Lions have established a new program record with a seven-game winning streak.
• UCCS also built on their best start to a single season in program history as they completed their non-conference schedule with an unbeaten 7-0-1 record through eight games.
• The Mountain Lions' win over No. 9 CSU Pueblo is their first against a top 10 nationally ranked opponent since they defeated then-No. 7 Fort Hays State University during the 2022 season.

UP NEXT

• The Mountain Lions will open their conference slate next week as they travel to Golden, Colo., on Thursday, Oct. 3, for a 6 p.m. kickoff against Colorado School of Mines.  

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. Read Full Article