Soccer Defeats Grizzlies in Conference Opener

Sunday, September 27

Greeley, Colo.

1:00 pm

University of Northern Colorado

6-5-0

Montana

3-6-1

Montana

Northern Colorado

Photo by: Dean Popejoy

9/27/2015 5:44:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

The Bears move to 6-5-0 after winning their first Big Sky game of the season

GREELEY - The Northern Colorado women's soccer team defeated the Montana Grizzlies at home on Sunday, 3-2, in their 2015 Big Sky Conference opener. The Bears outshot Montana 14-6, with nine shots on goal compared to UM's three.

In their first conference opener at home since 2012, the Bears managed to push past the Grizzlies, who are defending regular season champions, in a back and forth battle that came down to a second period goal by UNC sophomore, Brooke Braden.

"The first game of the conference season is always very important, but it's especially important to get those points while you're at home," Head Coach Tim Barrera explained. "Today was really about our team playing withinthemselvesand working hard to createopportunitiesfor goals. Every Big Sky game is tough and a lot of them will come right down to the wire, so overall I thought today was a very good win."

The first half got off to an incredibly quick start after a Montana goal in only the second minute of play. The only other shot by the Grizzlies in the half also resulted in a goal in the 37th minute after the Bear defense prevented UM from any other shots for over 35 minutes of play.

Despite no shots of their own until the 7th minute, Northern Colorado would manage to tie up the game in the 12th, with a goal by junior Kassy Castillo - her third of the season.

The Bears took the lead in the 34th minute when sophomore Loren Landrus would make a pass to Sydney Schroeder that would make it's way to Brooke Braden for her second goal of the season.

After Montana responded three minutes later with a goal off of a corner-kick, scoring in the half would cease, tied at 2-2, neither team managing even a shot in the final eight minutes of the period.

Both teams took bigger chances in the second half, with Montana adding six shots to their game total, including one on goal. The Bears added a whopping ten shots on top of their first half-four shots, with an addition six coming on goal.

UNC freshman Mariel Gutierrez added significantly to the strength of the offense, taking two of the Bears' shots on goal in the second half, both just narrowly saved by the UM goalkeeper.

"It's been great being able to go out and play with such an amazing team as a freshman," Gutierrez said. "I've been working hard alongside the other three freshmen and I'm obviously glad that I've been doing well so far, but I hope to only continue to get better going forward."

Sophomore Brooke Braden also proved to have a stand-out game, taking two shots on goal in the second period of the game. Braden, who had already scored in the first half, added a game-winning goal to her career total in the 73rd minute.

"We knew it was going to be a hard game because they are the defending regular season champs," Braden noted. "We also knew that if we went out with high energy and high intensity, we'd have a better chance to finish our opportunities and put goals away," Gutierrez added.

After a failed penalty kick for the Bears in the 88th minute in the final scoring attempt of the game, time would expire, leaving the Northern Colorado squad on top for the fifth time since beginning their series with Montana in 2006 after joining the Big Sky Conference in 2006.

Overall, not only did UNC out-shoot the Grizzlieshandily, they also took five corner kicks to UM's three. This is also the second time this season the Bears have scored three goals in one game, the first coming against Wyoming not even a week ago.

Next, the Bears prepare for a double Big Sky Conference game-weekend, staying home for Friday night game against Idaho State [Oct. 2, 7PM MT] and Sunday afternoon game against Weber State [Oct. 4, 1PM MT].

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