Braden lifts @UNCBearsSoccer past UNH in extra time

Friday, September 1

Greeley, Colo.

7:00 pm

University of Northern Colorado

4-1-0

University of New Hampshire

3-2-0

OT 2

U.of New Hampshire

Northern Colorado

9/1/2017 10:25:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: By Zak Gilbert

GREELEY, Colo. -- Brooke Braden's sudden-death goal in the second minute of extra time propelled Northern Colorado past New Hampshire Friday night at Jackson Stadium.

A 5-foot-5 senior from Colorado Springs, Braden helped the Bears improve to 4-1-0 (0-0 Big Sky), turning away a respectable Wildcats team that entered 3-1-0. She also matched the team lead with her third goal on the season.

The Bears came out of the post-regulation break with tunnel focus, according to Braden.

"After the first 90 minutes," Braden said, "we got off the field and we said that we had high energy and we needed to keep it up. We needed to come out right away and get a goal."

Senior Jacqui Pulley concurred.

"Our goal was to go in the first minute and get it over with," she said. "Rob had a great pass and Brooke had a great finish, so we ended very well."

Rob, also known as Maddie Roberts, was key in that finish, just into the 92nd minute. Mariel Gutierrez used the outside of her right foot to poke a pass to Roberts, who turned Gutierrez's pass into a right-to-left cross, and Braden's low bullet found the net just inside the right post. Both Gutierrez and Roberts earned assists on the goal.

In a defensive struggle, Pulley and the Bears' back line held the Wildcats (3-2-0, 0-0 America East) to only two shots on goal. But on the other side, UNH keeper Mia Neas was spectacular, shutting out the Bears for 91 minutes, 12 seconds, compiling nine saves.

"I thought their keeper had a really good game," head coach Tim Barrera said. "She made some really big saves for them."

Perhaps her best save came midway through the second half, when she somehow deflected a gorgeous one-touch attempt off the foot of UNC sophomore Kenzie Engelkins.

Burdick, who now has allowed only four goals in 451 minutes, earned her second shutout of the season.

And for Braden, who's had plenty of game-winning goals, this one was special.

"Senior year," she said. "I've had them before but this one was really exciting."

UNC continues its homestand Sunday, with a 12 noon match at Jackson Stadium against New Mexico State. The Aggies (4-1-1) sustained their season's first loss Friday afternoon, at Colorado State, a team the Bears defeated last week in Greeley. Admission and parking to Sunday's match are free.