LARAMIE, Wyo. (9/21/23) – The University of Wyoming soccer coaches donned their new gold Laradise hoodies Thursday at the Madrid Sports Complex. Many fans bundled up with winter gear, as a chill breeze added to the less-than-warm temperatures. Fall had arrived in conjunction with Mountain West Conference play.

Everything starts to matter now for the Cowgirls, and unfortunately, they didn't get off to the start they desired. Wyoming fell to UNLV, 2-1, dropping it to 4-2-3 on the season and 0-1-0 in conference play, while the Rebels improve to 5-2-3 on the year and 1-0-0 in league action.

The Cowgirls held a lead for the majority of the contest Thursday. Maddi Chance netted a sixth-minute goal, her third of the season, that staked Wyoming to an advantage it held until midway through the second half.

Mallie Ramirez leveled the contest at 1-1 during the 63rd minute. She cleaned up a shot from Trinity Buchanan that went off the crossbar but remained in play inside the goalie box.

Cassie Villanueva gave the Rebels their lead in the 81st minute. She found the back of the net after a cluster situation drew Wyoming goalkeeper Haley Bartel out of net.

Bartel finished the game with four saves. UNLV utilized a pair of goalies – Hanne Bruer in the first half and Lucia Guemes in the second half – and they logged a combined two saves.

UNLV led 15-10 in the shots department, and 14 of those occurred in the final 45 minutes. Chance paced Wyoming with three shots, while Jazi Barela chipped in two.

The Cowgirls remain at home Sunday. They play host to Nevada at 1 p.m. at the Madrid Sports Complex.