Wilson Scores Late, Bears Unable to Push Past Griz

Sunday, October 9

Missoula, Mont.

1 pm

University of Northern Colorado

4-8-3, 0-4-1

Montana

5-4-6, 2-2-1

Northern Colorado

Montana

Photo by: Derek Johnson

10/9/2022 4:26:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: By Brynn Abernathy, UNCBears.com

MISSOULA, Mont.- Northern Colorado Soccer put up a strong performance on Sunday afternoon in Missoula, more than doubling the shots of Montana, but were unable to stage a comeback after back-to-back goals from the Griz.

The majority of the first half of the match between the Bears and the Grizzlies was largely in favor of UNC. The team was able to put consistent pressure on Montana, controlled movement on the pitch, and forced two saves.

In the first 45 minutes, the Bears outshot their opponents, 8-1, and did a commendable job of relieving pressure on their goalkeeper, while also creating scoring chances. The best of these chances came on a shot from Kalen Niedling that went just wide of the goal.

Despite the shot discrepancy between the teams, the Griz made their only shot of the half count late in the first, getting past goalie Kaya Lindberg to claim the lead, 1-0, going into half time.

The Bears set out to reclaim their dominance in the second half, however, right out the gate, Montana scored their second goal on just their second shot of the match to put UNC at a 2-0 deficit.

However, the rapid scoring from their opponents did not deter Northern Colorado, who pushed full steam ahead into the remainder of the match. Multiple Bears combined for a total of seven shots in the second half.

But it was Makenna Wilson who was able to break through for her team and score on a corner kick from Morgan King at the 75-minute mark of the match. The score marks Wilson's first goal and King's first assist of the season.

In a full team effort, the Bears showcased their resilience as they forced three additional saves from the Griz goalkeeper, most notably on a great shot from Melina Faris. Lindberg also recorded three saves of her own as the team fought for the game equalizer. However, UNC was ultimately unable to come away with the equalizer, falling 2-1.

What They Said
"Unfortunately, we didn't play well for just a handful of minutes before the end of the half and then right off the kickoff just got caught. Overall, I thought we played really well and had good performances," said Head Coach Tim Barrera. "But it was those critical moments that failed us today. Overall, we played well, but it doesn't matter if you don't get results. A tough day for the Bears."

Game Notes

UNC outshot Montana at a margin of 15-6.
Britney Donais, Makenna Wilson, Lucy Hart, Hailey Collier, Haley O'Nan, Melina Faris, and Kalen Niedling all recorded shots in the match.
Faris led the team with five shots, two of which were on goal.
Three players tied for game leading minutes, playing the entirety of regulation, in Kaya Lindberg, Samantha Blanchard, and Haley O'Nan.

What's Ahead
The Bears will now make their way back to Greeley as they host Northern Arizona for their final regular season home game on October 13. The game is set to kick off at 7 p.m. MT and will also be Pink Night in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

To stay up to date on all things UNC Soccer, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.