LARAMIE, Wyo. (9/19/23) – The University of Wyoming soccer team begins Mountain West Conference play this week at the Madrid Sports Complex. The Cowgirls host UNLV on Thursday at 4 p.m. before battling Nevada on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Wyoming has opened league play in very different ways during head coach
Colleen Corbin's first two years. In her inaugural season, the Cowgirls were humbled in a 4-1 loss at New Mexico. Conversely, they were encouraged after drawing with the preseason-favorite Lobos, 1-1, a season ago.
Having gone through those results, Wyoming understands the impact that a strong opening to league play can have on the trajectory of a season.
"Nobody knows better than us that any program has the ability to change the trajectory of their season starting this week," Corbin said. "I think for us, it's about being intentional both mentally and emotionally in our approach to the game.
"It's going to like a brand-new season starts Thursday."
The Cowgirls earned four points in their road trip to the Silver State in 2022, beating Nevada, 3-1, and tying UNLV, 1-1. Both the Rebels and Wolf Pack were picked in the bottom-third of the MW Preseason Coaches' Poll after they each failed to advance to the conference tournament. UNLV was selected ninth while Nevada was projected 12th.
But that was then, and this is now. And Corbin is making her club aware that last year and preseason projections don't account for anything on the scoreboard.
"Based on how things have gone in the past – whether it's with UNLV or Nevada or any other program in the conference – I think it's easy to walk into a weekend like this with a preconceived notion about how it may or may not go," Corbin said. "I think it's important that we don't allow ourselves to get in that headspace."
Wyoming owns a 4-1-3 overall mark, having outscored their non-conference foes, 13-11.
Alyssa Glover – who was this week's MW Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season – paces the Cowgirls with five goals.
Jazi Barela adds three scores, while
Maddi Chance and
Jamie Tatum round out the multi-goal scorers with two apiece.
Haley Bartel and
Miyuki Schoyen have each received four starts at goalkeeper. Bartel has 15 saves and a GAA of 1.74, while Schoyen has registered 16 saves and a GAA of 1.00.
UNLV holds a 4-2-3 overall record, which is just one win shy of their entire total from last year. The Rebels have netted 13 goals versus just nine for their foes.
Trinity Buchanan and Mallie Ramirez lead the offensive charge for UNLV with four goals each. Hanne Breur has played in net all nine games with six starts, having made 23 saves for a GAA of 0.83.
UNLV leads the all-time series with Wyoming, 15-7-4. That being said, the Cowgirls have claimed four wins and one tie in the last eight matchups.
Nevada is 2-3-4 overall, and that's also just one victory shy of their output from a season ago. The Wolf Pack are being outscored, 17-12.
Luz Arreaga leads Nevada with five goals to her name. Ally Larkin has logged six games at goalie with four starts, laying claim to 19 saves and a GAA of 1.74.
Wyoming leads the all-time series with Nevada, 7-3-1. The Cowgirls have won five of the last six meetings, all by at least two scores.
Following the homestand, Wyoming embarks on its longest road trip of the season. The first stretch of that pits the Cowgirls against Boise State and Utah State.
