LARAMIE, Wyo. (Aug. 28, 2019) – With a goal in the 104
th minute of play by redshirt freshman
Jamie Tatum, the Wyoming women's soccer team (1-0-2 overall) earned its first win of the season with a 3-2 double-overtime victory over the Northern Colorado Bears (0-1-1 overall) on Wednesday morning in Laramie.
The Bears had several scoring opportunities early in the first half. They had two looks in the third minute and one in the fourth but each came up empty. Senior
Summer Taube had a look at the 7:01 mark which was saved by goalie Taylor Washington. Wyoming did get on the board first with a line shot by freshman
Keelie Wortmann on a free kick that make it 1-0 in the 16
th minute. Northern Colorado responded with a goal by Maddie Duren that snuck in around the wall and past sophomore goalkeeper
Hannah Lee. Less than a minute later, UNC went up 2-1 off a cross from Kaitlyn Meeder to Haley O'Nan who stuck it in from the top of the box. Wortmann would strike with 28:29 on the clock. Off a corner kick from fellow freshman
Faith Joiner, she would push it past Washington to even it all up at 2-2. With only one shot by each team the remainder of the way, the teams headed in to the lockerroom all even. UNC led the way in shots 7-5 and the Cowgirls had six corner kicks.
Out of the break, Wyoming had an early chance with a shot by sophomore
Amber Vokoun. Unfortunately, it would be the only shot for the Cowgirls in the second 45 minutes compared to six by the Bears. Northern Colorado's real chance came at the 85:16 mark with a shot by Taylor Bray that bounced off the post. Despite being outshot in the period, UW would force extra time. There was no real offensive threat in the first ten minutes of overtime. Each team wouldn't have a chance to get a shot off and they would move on to the second overtime. Tatum had a look in the 103rd minute which was saved by Ashley Franza. With 103:08 on the clock, she intercepted a clearance shot and buried it from the right side of the box to give the Cowgirls the 3-2 double overtime win.
"Obviously, I felt we each had opportunities in the beginning of the game. Both teams seemed to tighten up in the second half, players tired with it being still early in the season," head coach
Pete Cuadrado said. "With being a young team, I was happy with the way we were able to grind it out. We gave up a goal and being able to respond shows some grit. In overtime that was gut check time and I was really proud of the effort to get on the end of one then finish the shot off. It was nice that we didn't run out of gas towards the end. This is a great learning opportunity for us and getting our first win. Also, it was nice in front of the great crowd with the elementary schools coming out and we are so appreciative for them being here. They got to see five goals and the home team wins."
Wortmann finished the match with a team-high two goals the first of her career, while Joiner recorded her first career assist. Lee,
Savannah Warner and Wortmann each logged 103 minutes a piece. Northern Colorado had 13 shots compared to eight by the Cowgirls.
Wyoming will return to action on Friday, Sept. 6 against the Baylor Bears. The game is scheduled for 4 p.m. MT at the Louis S. Madrid Sports Complex.