Recap: Roberts’ two assists lead @UNCBearsSoccer past CC

Friday, August 18

Colorado Springs, Colo.

3:00 pm

University of Northern Colorado

1-0-0

Colorado College

0-1-0

Northern Colorado

Colorado College

Photo by: Colorado College

8/18/2017 6:12:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Zak Gilbert

Colorado Springs, Colo. – Maddie Roberts recorded two assists and UNC got three goals from three players as the Bears knocked off Colorado College, 3-1, Friday afternoon.

The Bears (1-0) recorded their first 2017 win and first-ever victory at historic Stewart Field. The win also kicked off for UNC the 2017 Colorado Cup. The seventh annual event features each team playing three games against the other in-state Division I soccer programs.

Roberts, a 5-foot-6 junior from Parker, Colo., highlighted a true team victory Friday.

"She's a relentless worker," said head coach Tim Barrera. "Just a really good effort from her to be involved in all three goals."

Roberts proved lethal from the right flank, where she posted bookend assists, one in the 10th minute and the other in Minute 77. The Bears punched in each goal in one-touch fashion.

The first put UNC on the board, a gorgeous, upper-90 goal by Mariel Gutierrez. Gutierrez, a 5-foot-4 junior from Gypsum, Colo., led the team last year with 10 goals.

The second assist, an insurance goal by forward Brooke Braden, put UNC up 3-1 toward the tail end of the match. Roberts maneuvered a pretty pass in front of a nice header by Braden, who went to high school just 11 miles away at Air Academy.

"That gave us some breathing room," said Barrera, whose team had five new starters.

Roberts also initiated the Bears' second goal-scoring sequence, in the 60th minute. Her pass to Gutierrez drew the Tigers' attention, and as CC tried to neutralize Gutierrez, senior Jacqui Pulley intercepted the clearing attempt and found twine. That tally gave UNC a 2-0 advantage.

"Going on the road and getting any win is big," Barrera said. "And to do it here, against a well-coached team, is big for our program."

After dropping their first 14 games against the Tigers, the Bears have now won three of the last four CC meetings.

Kelli Sullivan headed in the Tigers' lone goal, in the 67th minute, sneaking the ball inside the right post after a nice assist from Annesophie Lapointe.

"Overall, we're very pleased with how we played," Barrera said. "I'm happy for the players. We have a lot to work on. We have a lot of depth and it's a matter of fitting players in. We're going to have to work on integrating players more when we play a tough Air Force team."

That matchup against Air Force continues Colorado Cup action Sunday at Prentup Field in Boulder, Colo., a 1:15 p.m. contest.

UNC opens its home slate and concludes Colorado Cup play on Thursday night, with a 7 p.m. matchup at Jackson Field against Colorado State. Admission is free.