Final Box
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Cowgirl soccer fell to the Kentucky
Wildcats on Sunday, 2-1, in double overtime at the Bell Soccer Complex in
Lexington, Ky. Sophomore midfielder Brooklynn Mooney scored the goal that
forced overtime but Kentucky found the game-winner in the 102nd minute.
Wyoming (1-2-0) trailed
for much of the game after Kentucky capitalized on a penalty kick in the 27th
minute. Freshman midfielder Yuuka Kurosaki netted the goal after Wyoming was
called for a foul inside the 18-yard box.
Kentucky (2-2-0)
maintained its lead through halftime and most of the second half. In the 78th
minute, Mooney intercepted an attempted clear, turned her defender and fired an
arcing shot with her left foot. The ball floated over the arms of sophomore
goalkeeper Evangeline Soucie to draw the game level. After 90 minutes, the game
remained tied at 1-1.
Both teams saw
chances to close the game out in the first overtime period, but neither could
connect forcing a second extra frame. Just over a minute in, senior forward
Tanya Samarzich settled a pass at the top of the box, took a touch and poked it
past senior goalkeeper Georgia Rowntree with the outside of her right foot. The
ball rolled across the goal line for the game-winner in the 102nd minute.
"It's frustrating being
right there competing with tough teams, but not getting the results we want,"
head coach Pete Cuadrado said. "Obviously we're pleased that we played close
games against teams like Kentucky and Baylor, but at the end of the day a loss
is a loss. Games like this are still good preparation for conference play and
help us toward our goal which is still a Mountain West Championship."
Both of Wyoming's losses
this season have come in overtime games, but Sunday's was the first
double-overtime game for the Cowgirls since tying with San Diego State on Oct.
23 of last season.
The Cowgirls recorded
11 shots, the most this season, putting five on frame. Mooney and senior
midfielder Summer Halle accounted for four of those shots on goal. Rowntree,
along with senior defender Claire Parker and junior defender Taylor Burton,
played all 102 minutes of the contest. Burton and Rowntree have played every
minute thus far this season. Rowntree recorded four saves on six shots on goal
faced.
The Cowgirls return
home for a weekend of action at the Louis S. Madrid Sports Complex beginning
next Friday against UTEP. Kick-off for that game is slated for 4:30 p.m. MT,
followed by McNeese State on Sunday set to start at 1 p.m.
