Soccer overpowers Wyoming, takes Front Range Derby

Thursday, September 16

Laramie, WY

4:00 pm

University of Northern Colorado

2-5-2, 0-0-0

University of Wyoming

4-3-1, 0-0-0

Northern Colo.

Wyoming

9/16/2021 6:55:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: By Thomas Hoffman, UNCBears.com

LARAMIE, Wyo. – The Front Range Derby Cup is back in Greeley.

Northern Colorado overpowered Wyoming, 3-1, with three first-half goals to bring the Cup back to Northern Colorado for the first time since 2018.

It was all Bears in the early parts of the contest against the Cowgirls.

Melina Faris down the right and Lexi Pulley down the left found early success, causing a multitude of problems for the Wyoming defense.

In the first six minutes alone, the Bears had two corners and a free-kick and only ramped up the pressure from there.

The breakthrough came in the 11th minute. Taylor Bray brilliantly held off a pair of defenders on a ball down the left. The senior then expertly found the head of Lexi Pulley in the middle of the box, who promptly slotted home her fourth goal of the season.

While the cowgirls pressed to find the equalizer, Northern Colorado's defensive back line was more than up to the task.

Off a Wyoming free-kick, Barrera's Bears turned defense into offense in the 18th minute. On the three-on-two break, Bray delivered a second inch-perfect pass this time to Melina Faris. The sophomore zeroed in on her target and buried UNC's second goal of the game in the bottom left-hand corner.

UNC continued to find space down the channels in the first half. In the same space that Faris had so much success, Britney Donais found the same when she got into the game. Donais lifted a cross towards goal, allowing freshman Lauren Woodhull to neatly touch it over the keeper for Northern Colorado's third goal.

Northern Colorado continued its momentum into the second half.

Of the 12 shots on goal from the Bears, five of them came in the second 45.

Wyoming finally broke its drought in the 76^th minute, heading in a goal off its first corner of the contest.

UNC's defense, captained by Maddie Duren, made sure the Cowgirls would net another to secure the Bear's first win over Wyoming, 3-1, in Laramie since 2013.

What They Said
Hailey Collier, Taylor Bray and head coach Tim Barrera

Game Notes

Lexi Pulley scored her fourth goal of the season and 15^th of her career.
Taylor Bray recorded her second and third assists of the season.
Melina Faris carded her first career goal.
Lauren Woodhull tacked on her second career goal.
Britney Donais tallied her second assist of her career.
The victory is UNC's first in Wyoming since 2015 and first Laramie since 2013 as the Bears improve to 7-10-1 in the Front Range Derby.
Thirteen shots on goal was a season-high for Northern Colorado.

What's Ahead
Northern Colorado returns home to Jackson Stadium for the final non-conference game of the season when the Bears host Washington State on Sunday at 11 a.m. MT.

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