The NMHU Soccer team remains unbeaten in eight games after fighting to a 1-1 draw on the road against the Mavericks of Colorado Mesa University, on 10/21, in Grand Junction, Colo. Both teams were evenly matched for the first period and they entered half time in a scoreless tie. It was the Mavericks who would strike first in the 76th minute of the game to take the 1-0 lead. The Cowgirls fought back and found the equalizer in the 89th minute when a shot from Cowgirls' midfielder
Autumn Woods went off a Maverick defender for the own goal, tying the game at one apiece. The first overtime period was tightly contested with only two shots taken. The Cowgirls fought hard in the second overtime, taking three shots, but when the final whistle blew there was nothing to separate the teams and the game ended in a 1-1 tie. With the draw, the Cowgirls maintain their fifth place ranking in the RMAC with a 7-4-1 conference record and 9-6-1 in overall play.
The Mavericks began the game on the attack and looked close to scoring when striker Veronica Rodriguez struck the crossbar in the 4th minute. The Mavericks kept up the pressure for the first 20 minutes of the game, but the Cowgirls regained their composure and surged into the counter attack, piling the pressure on in the second half of the first period of play. The Cowgirls outshot the Mavericks 7-6 in the first half, but when the whistle blew to end the half the teams were tied 0-0.
The Mavericks were the first to attack in the second period, but the Cowgirls countered play right away. The Cowgirls were beginning to take the momentum in the game when the Mavericks scored the first goal of the game in the 76th minute. Mavericks' striker Darion Wiegert crossed the ball to striker Taylor Franklin who put the shot over the Cowgirls' keeper into the back of the net. Franklin's third goal of the season gave the Mavericks the 1-0 lead. The Cowgirls immediately began the attack looking for the equalizer. The Mavericks defense tried to hold out but with time running out, in the 89th minute, a Colorado Mesa own goal tied the game up at one apiece. Cowgirls' striker
Julissa Rodriguez began the attack and found midfielder
Autumn Woods with a pass. Woods blasted a shot and the ball deflected off a Maverick's defender and into the back of the net. The goal came just in time for the Cowgirls and the game was sent into overtime.
In the first overtime period there was not much between the teams, with only two shots taken. The first ten minute overtime ended with the score still tied 1-1. In the second overtime it was the Cowgirls who attacked first when striker
Julissa Rodriguez placed a shot on goal that was saved by the Maverick's keeper in the 103rd minute. The teams traded shots for the remainder of the second overtime but there was nothing to separate the teams when the final whistle blew and the score remained tied at one apiece.
The Cowgirls were led by RMAC Pre-season Player of the Year
Julissa Rodriguez who took 14 of the Cowgirls 20 shots in the game, placing five shots on target. The Cowgirls defense played well on the road, only allowing the one goal to the Mavericks in the 76th minute. Cowgirl goal keeper
Scottie Prince (5-0-1) was credited with the draw.
With the draw, the Cowgirls gained a crucial point in the hunt for the RMAC playoffs. The Cowgirls maintain their fifth place conference standing, with a four point lead on the sixth place Mavericks. The Cowgirls remain unbeaten in eight games and look to be in good shape to make the RMAC playoffs with only two games left to play in the regular season.
The Cowgirls will continue their push for the RMAC tournament on Sunday, 10/23, as they travel to Durango, Colo. to face the NCAA DII 14th ranked Skyhawks of Fort Lewis College. The Skyhawks are in first place in the RMAC with 9-1-2 conference record and 12-1-3 in overall play. The game is scheduled to begin at 1 pm. If you can't make the trip to Durango to watch the game in person, you can click
HERE to watch the game live on the America One Network.
GO COWGIRLS!!!
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