COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's soccer team begins the season with a 3-2 victory on Thursday evening against California State University East Bay on their home turf inside Mountain Lion Stadium.
INSIDE THE MATCH-UP
- Final: UCCS 3, CSEB 2
- Records: UCCS (1-0-0, 0-0-0 RMAC), CSUEB (0-1-0, 0-0-0 CCAA)
- Facility: Mountain Lion Stadium | Colorado Springs, Colo.
- All-Time Series: Thursday evening's matchup against the Pioneers was the first in UCCS program history. UCCS is now (1-0-0) in the series.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Mountain Lions started off aggressively on the attack in the first half with a quick goal scored in the sixth minute of the match. After Taylynn Levi was able to cross the ball towards CSEB's penalty kick area, Brooke Pavlich connected on the backside and successfully put the Mountain Lions one goal ahead of the Pioneers.
- CSEB's first opportunity to score came in the 22nd minute as the ball is volleyed into UCCS defensive territory, but the Pioneers came up short when UCCS goalkeeper Nylah Mirshafiei makes a clean catch.
- Immediately following a CSEB free kick, the Pioneers are able to draw a corner kick. Choosing to play the ball short, CSEB slips a through-ball behind UCCS's defensive line and Jaeden Nelson is able to smash a shot into the backside, tying the game one to one.
- As the Pioneers barrelled down the center of the field, Mika Sayfurahman ripped a shot near midfield and floated the ball above UCCS goalkeeper Mirshafiei's head, securing another goal in the 42nd minute and putting CSEB ahead two to one.
- Just 10 minutes later, Levi slots a through-ball to Pavlich, breaking the Pioneer's defensive line and putting them in danger of giving up another goal. Pavlich is able to record an assist by putting the ball just yards off of the goal-line, where Abby Stassi was able to rip a shot in the center of the net, just past CSEB goalkeeper Ashley Levi. The match is now tied up again, two to two.
- After a 20-minute scoring drought, UCCS is able to gain a single-goal advantage after Levi transitioned the ball through the midfield area and connects with Emily Aguilar, who then gives Stassi an opportunity to place the ball in the lower left corner of the goal and secure her second goal of the match.
- With a free kick in the 89th minute, Pioneer defender Nelson floated the ball into UCCS defensive territory in a final attempt to score, but came up short. As the Mountain Lions dropped deep and protected their net for the last minute of the match, UCCS's crowd cheered with excitement when the final whistle was blown.
- The Mountain Lion defense kept the Pioneers at bay by allowing just nine shots, with only two landing on goal.
STATS FROM THE GAME
- The Mountain Lions outshot the Pioneers 11 to nine with seven shots on goal to CSEB's two. UCCS also led the game in corner kicks five to one.
- Stassi led the Mountain Lions in scoring by putting two goals in the net against CSEB.
- Levi recorded three assists while Stassi and Pavlich each assisted once.
- Goalkeeper Nylah Mirshafiei logged the entire 90 minutes and faced nine shots, but recorded zero saves during the match.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- UCCS moves to 1-0-0 all-time against the Pioneers after their Thursday evening victory.
- The Mountain Lions start their path to be undefeated this season with an overall record of 1-0-0.
- After defeating CSEB, the Mountain Lions record their third straight undefeated season-opening match.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions will battle against Western Washington University on Sunday, Sept. 7 with a kickoff of 2 p.m at Mountain Lion Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo.
SOCIAL
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For everything UCCS Athletics, follow the Mountain Lions on social media and stay tuned to gomountainlions.com.
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.
