Recap: @UNCBearsSoccer Unable to Rally Against Rams

Thursday, August 23

Fort Collins, CO

4 pm

University of Northern Colorado

1-2-0

Colorado State

1-0-2

Northern Colorado

Colorado State

Photo by: Dean Popejoy

8/23/2018 8:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Northern Colorado fell 3-1 to CSU in final Colorado Cup game of the season

By: Matthew Kushar, UNCBears.com

GREELEY, Colo.- It was a frustrating Thursday for Northern Colorado soccer in Fort Collins, as Colorado State defeated the Bears 2-1. UNC (1-2, 0-0) gave up a pair of goals on set pieces and could not complete the comeback from a 2-0 deficit.

The Bears started Taylor Washington in net and Hannah Pefier was the starting goalie for the Rams. UNC had an early opportunity with a shot on goal from Taylor Bray that was set up by good passing from Courtney Elterman and Maddie Roberts. The Bears had another opportunity to score on a Maddie Barkow header that was also saved by Pefier. Possession in the first 20 minutes of the game was controlled by UNC.

Lexi Pulley would narrowly score on a shot that hit the left post and Bray would get a second chance at the net, but sent her shot high.

CSU began to move the ball and keep the game in the Bears end of the field midway through the first half. Washington made a pair of saves on consecutive shots to keep the game scoreless.

The Rams took the lead in the 44^th minute on a free kick goal from Caeley Lordemann. CSU held the advantage at halftime with a 1-0 lead over UNC.
In the second half, CSU extended its lead in the 51^st minute with a goal from Allie Murphy-Pauletto off a corner kick.

The Bears would get back into the game in the 57^th minute, when the Rams were called for a hand ball inside the box. Roberts converted the penalty kick for her second goal of the season to pull within one of CSU.

The Bears turned on the pressure, keeping CSU in their side of the field. Mariel Gutierrez nearly had the equalizer with a shot that barely hit the cross bar in the 70^th minute. Bray had another opportunity with a shot on goal in the 76^th minute, but was saved again by Peifer.

CSU held on to its lead and won the game 2-1. Washington took the loss and has a 1-1 record on the season. The Bears could not manufacture enough offense when they fell behind 2-0.

In their words

Tim Barrera, Head Coach
On the game
"It was a warm day and windy so the conditions weren't the best. We made a couple of mistakes that were game changers. The foul on the free kick and we have to do better with that. They scored both of their goals off of set pieces, but so did we so its part of the game. We have to be smarter and better in those situations. The effort was there; we just have to bounce back and play a little bit better."

On staying aggressive in the second half
"The team was fighting to the end. We tried different combinations and some worked, while others didn't. Sometimes the mistakes are tough to overcome."

On what to improve
"It was little things that we need to clean up and be better prepared. Its making poor decisions at times that might result in mistakes, which create opportunities. We'll be better as we train and get prepared for next week."

Next Up
Northern Colorado will be on the road next weekend with a trip to the Dakotas' for two matches. UNC plays North Dakota State on Friday, August 31^st at 6 P.M.(MT) and South Dakota on Sunday, September 2^nd at 11 A.M.