LARAMIE, Wyo. (9/15/22) – The University of Wyoming soccer team closes the book on its 2022 non-conference slate Saturday. The Cowgirls play host to St. Thomas at 1 p.m. at the Madrid Sports Complex.  

UW currently holds a 1-3-2 overall record. It's not as many wins as head coach Colleen Corbin would have liked to have during the first part of the regular season, but she believes her team has taken a good deal of positives away from the first six matches.  

"The message going into the non-conference was we needed to take something away from every single match," Corbin said. "Win, lose or draw there had to be some sort of learning and some sort of growth that was coming out of each opportunity. I think we've had a lot of hard conversations but a lot of really good conversations that have created space for growth, maturity and development." 

The non-conference featured many highlights. The Cowgirls boasted a multi-goal game from senior Faith Joiner. Junior Alyssa Bedard and senior Jamie Tatum scored two goals just 19 seconds apart from one another, which was a program record. Many players have seen the field, as Corbin has trotted out five different starting lineups. 

A lot of good has come out of the pre-Mountain West Conference slate. The aforementioned moments are proof of that, however, creating more of those moments and lengthening those types of moments over a 90-minute match is the next step.  

"The biggest takeaway was that we aren't going to put our best foot forward unless we approach the game form the standpoint of setting the tone, bringing energy, being competitive, tackling hard and playing quickly," Corbin said. "98 percent of that is a mindset, so that's our biggest focus." 

Through a half dozen contests, Wyoming is outshooting foes 91-81 but being outscored 13-8. Tatum has netted a team-high three goals, which gives her 16 for her career, pulling her to within a tie for seventh in program history.  

Joiner has two scores, Bedard has one and sophomore Maddi Chance and junior Jazi Barela have one goal apiece. Senior Miyuki Schoyen and freshman Allyson Fischer have both started at goalkeeper. Schoyen has made four starts, allowed nine goals with a GAA of 2.25, and Fischer has made the last two starts, allowing four goals and owning a GAA of 2.00.  

St. Thomas lays claim to a 3-2-1 overall record and is just one victory shy of its win total from a year ago. The Tommies were selected eighth in the 10-team Summit League Preseason Coaches Poll.  

Camryn Rintoul paces St. Thomas with a trio of goals this season, while three other Tommies have found the back of the net once. Annie Bantner has started all six matches at goalkeeper, making 15 saves and holding a GAA of 0.55.  

St. Thomas and Wyoming have only met once before, and it was last season. The Tommies downed the Cowgirls 3-0 in St. Paul, Minnesota.  

"We've had 12 days (since our last game) to reframe, refocus and we are excited to play St. Thomas," Corbin said. "We were on the road last year, and it didn't go the way we hoped it would go. We are excited to welcome them to Laramie and put our best foot forward.  

"It's a really good opportunity for us to showcase our brand of Cowgirl soccer before we head into conference play."

The match is the annual Pups on the Pitch game. Fans are encouraged to bring their dogs to the match and free dog bowls will be given away while supplies lasts.  

As mentioned, this concludes the non-conference season for Wyoming. The Cowgirls open MW play Sept. 22 against New Mexico at the Madrid Sports Complex.