UCCS Athletics

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's soccer team opened the season with an impressive 6-2 win over Point Loma Nazarene University.
 
INSIDE THE MATCH-UP
Final: UCCS 6, PLNU 2
Records: UCCS (1-0-0, 0-0-0 RMAC), PLNU (0-1-0, 0-0-0 PWC)
Facility: Mountain Lion Stadium | Colorado Springs, Colo.
All-Time Series: With tonight's victory over the Sea Lions the Mountain Lions have evened the all-time series at 2-2-0.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Mountain Lions started the season hot as Brooke Pavlich intercepted a Sea Lion pass and pushed the ball up field to generate a UCCS scoring opportunity in the first minute. UCCS capitalized as Pavlich snuck a pass by the charging Point Loma goalie to Abby Stassi who redirected the ball into the net for the first goal of the season, just 50 seconds in.
• Point Loma evened the game in the 14^th minute after a UCCS midfield turnover gave Emma Naftzger an open shot from the penalty mark which she buried into the left side of the goal.
• Point Loma threatened again in the 28^th minute as a counterattack pulled freshman goalie Lucy Kapranos away from the net, paving the way from Mattea Morris to make a spectacular clearance and kill the chance.
• The Mountain Lions took the lead back after Stassi drew a penalty in the penalty box, resulting in Taylynn Levi sending the penalty shot into the right side of the net for a 38^th minute goal.
• UCCS opened the second half scoring in the 62^nd minute after Luka Johnson dribbled past the Point Loma defense and sent the ball into the box giving Abby Stassi an open net for her second goal of the game.
• 37 seconds later, in the 63^rd minute Taylynn Levi won a contested pass and found an open shooting lane with one touch, which she sent past the Point Loma goalkeeper to extend the UCCS lead to 4-1.
• The Mountain Lions scored again in the 65^th minute as Brooke Pavlich found herself in the right spot at the right time following a Point Loma team save to head the ball in and extend the lead to four.
• The scoring barrage continued in the 68^th minute, this time to the disadvantage of UCCS as Laftzger sent the ball across the box setting up Sea Lion forward Abby Wright with a tap in goal to cut the Mountain Lion lead to 5-2.
• In the 73^rd minute Brooke Pavlich beat her defender and sent the ball past the Point Loma goalkeeper and into the net for her second goal of the game and gave the Mountain Lions their sixth goal of the game.
• The Mountain Lions played the possession game for the last 15 minutes of the match as they ran out the clock to secure their 6-2 victory.

 
STATS FROM THE GAME

• The Mountain Lions put 12 shots on net en route to their six goals, compared to the three shots on target by Point Loma.
• Abby Stassi netted her first two goals of the season after scoring 17 times, including three multi-goal games, during her All-American season last year.
• Taylynn Levi also netted two goals and secured her first career multi-goal game. Levi also tallied an assist to start her season off with five points.
• Brooke Pavlich joined Levi with a five-point game with her two goals and an additional assist. This marks Pavlich's second career multi-goal game and first career five-point game.
• Lucy Kapranos notched her first career save in the second half of her collegiate debut.
• Emma Naftzger notched her first goal and assist of the season as she was involved in both goals for the Sea Lions.

 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• With their six goals tonight the Mountain Lions had their first six goal game since October 31, 2024, against New Mexico Highlands. This was also the first time in program history that three separate Mountain Lions recorded multiple goals in a game.
• Abby Stassi's goal 50 seconds into the game was the second fastest goal scored in program history.
• After losing the previous meeting with Point Loma on September 21, 2024, 5-2, the Mountain Lions one upped the Sea Lions 6-2 to even the all-time series at two wins apiece.

 
UP NEXT

• UCCS travels to Bellingham, Wash. to face off against #18 Western Washington. The match is scheduled to kick off at Harrington Field at 12 p.m. (MT) on Sunday, Aug. 30.

 
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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.
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