Bears Soccer Ends Season After First Round of NCAA Tournament

Friday, November 13

Tucson, Airz

6:00 pm

University of Northern Colorado

13-8-2

Arizona

13-5-2

Northern Colorado

Arizona

11/13/2015 9:49:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

The 2015 season ended for the Bears Friday with a 2-0 loss at Arizona

TUCSON, Ariz. – The Northern Colorado Bears lost in the first round of the 2015 NCAA Division I Tournament Friday, falling to the Arizona Wildcats, 2-0. This was the first time the Bears had made it to the Tournament since making the switch to Division I.

"We were really excited to be her in the NCAA Tournament and we knew what we were up against with Arizona's pressure," head coach Tim Barrera said. "I'm really proud of the way the team played and I'm really happy with their effort."

Overall, the Bears took seven shots with three on goal, but allowed 27 shots from the Wildcats, including 12 on goal.

Arizona took the first three shots of the first half, starting in the first minute. With one high and one wide, the only piece of the goal the Wildcats would get was in the seventh minute (Crouch), but goalkeeper Kaitlin Ruff managed the save.

True freshman Mariel Gutierrez was the only Bear take shots in the half, starting in the ninth minute, firing wide. Her next shot came thirty seconds later, but was blocked by UA defenders. Her last attempt came at 33:54, but it would also soar wide of the goal.

The Wildcats, on the other hand, dominated the field, taking a total of 19 shots in the half, nine of which were on goal. They also took six corner shots, compared to the UNC two.

The most exciting minute of the half came near the end of the 38^th, when UA was fouled just outside of the box. A free kick by UA's Crisler resulted in a save from Ruff, a reshot by UA's Pimienta, another save from Ruff, and then a rebound for the goal by Jessica Nelson (her second of the season).

"Katie was fantastic; she's come a long way in the last couple of years," Barerra said of the UNC goalkeeper. "She was very calm and she controlled her box very well. Even on the first goal, she made two saves. She made good decisions and threw the ball well, too. I'm really happy with her performance."

Neither team would get close to a goal for the remaining six minutes, entering the half with Arizona up 1-0.

Northern Colorado had a much stronger second half defensively, allowing only eight shots, three on goal. Offensively, they added four shots, three of which were on goal.

Adrienne Jordan got the first shot on goal of the game for the Bears, knocking the ball across the field straight to the goalie in the 56^th minute.

Seventy-three minutes into the game, Chase drew a foul on a tackle far inside the Bear box, giving Arizona a penalty-kick. Arizona's Cali Crisler would take the PK, knocking it in to go up on UNC, 2-0.

Essence Ortiz-Laneir got another close shot on goal for the Bears in the 84^th, but the goalkeeper made the save in the bottom left corner of the goal.

"It was unlucky to give up the late free-kick, but I thought overall we picked up our pressure in the second half. We moved the ball around to create some chances after going into halftime down 1-0."

The Bears season comes to an end, but they had an outstanding season, 13-8-2 (.602) which is the most wins in a season the team has had since 2002 when they went 13-5-1 in their last season as a Division II program.

"We [the seniors] are so proud of our team and we really appreciate their effort this season," Adrienne Jordan said after the game. "One of our team goals was to never get out-worked on the field and I really think we stuck to that. It's a bittersweet ending but we're really happy with our performance this season."

For more information on the Bears, check out UNCBears.com, visit the official Facebook page, or follow them on Twitter at @UNCBearsSoccer.