@UNCBearsSoccer outlasts Wildcats in conference opener

Friday, September 23

Ogden, UT

3:30 p.m.

University of Northern Colorado

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Weber State University

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Northern Colorado

Weber State

9/23/2016 7:56:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Thomas Hoffman, uncbears.com

Ogden, Utah – The Bears kicked off Big Sky play Friday in Utah, taking on the Weber State Wildcats. Amidst colder than normal temperatures and an onslaught of heavy rainfall, UNC came away victorious 2-1.

HOW IT HAPPENED
After trading corner kicks and a few early shots, Northern Colorado started to put the pressure on the Weber State defense. The Bears earned two consecutive corner kicks in the 20^th and 22^nd minutes.

The Bears would not be denied on their third scoring opportunity in as many minutes when sophomore midfielder Mariel Gutierrez launched a shot from 35 yards out, curled it inside the near post and gave the Bears the 1-0 early advantage.

UNC's offense kept the pressure on after the Gutierrez goal, garnering another corner kick and a good look from junior forward Brooke Braden.

The final ten minute of the first half, however, belonged to the Wildcats.

The offensive catalyst for Weber State was Morgan Quarnberg who broke away for three shots, two of them on goal. If not for the reigning Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week, Madeline Burdick (4 saves in the first 45 minutes), Weber State might've tied the game at one.

Picking up where they left off in the first half, the Northern Colorado offense made a swift effort to get to the end line.

Off the fifth corner kick of the afternoon, UNC knocked in another goal, this one off a Weber State deflection. Sydney Schroeder was the recipient of the Bears' good fortune, picking up her second goal of the season.

With the lead in hand, the Bear defense did all they could to thwart a Wildcat offensive attack. By the end of regulation, Weber State finished with 20 shots, nine of them on goal. Burdick stood strong in between the pipes saving eight shots on the afternoon.

It wasn't until the 88^th minute that Wildcats earned a penalty kick. Morgan Quarnberg, the Wildcats leading goal scorer, left no doubt about Weber State's first goal.

However, it was too little, too late for the Wildcats as time expired.

For UNC, it's the third win in a row and they started Big Sky Conference play undefeated.

KEY STAT
Shots on Goal percentage - UNC finished with 87.5% in the category compared to Weber State's 45%.

MOST VALUABLE BEAR
Mariel Gutierrez – Played all 90 minutes and scored her fifth goal of the season.

IN THEIR WORDS

Tim Barrera, Head Coach
"It was really tough conditions for everyone out there today. Weber State did a great job in doing their best to make the field playable for us. With those type of conditions, the game could have gone either way."

"Madeline Burdick made some great saves, especially late in the game, so too did Maddie Chase. She had an excellent game, keeping dangerous scenarios away from goal."

"We're certainly happy to get the win and start Big Sky Conference play off right."

NOTABLES
-Mariel Gutierrez scored her fifth goal of the season.
-Sydney Schroeder was credited for her second goal of the year.
-Madeline Burdick picked up eight more saves in her 2016 campaign.
-The reigning Big Sky Conference Tournament Champions continue their success in conference play. They've now won seven in a row versus the Big Sky dating back to last season.

UP NEXT
The Bears will continue their road trip to kick of conference play when they travel to the University of Idaho next Friday, September 30. UNC will return home for the first of four consecutive home games when they take on Southern Utah on October 7.