The NMHU Soccer team recorded their first loss in nine games as they stumbled on the road to the NCAA DII 14th ranked Skyhawks of Fort Lewis College, on 10/23, in Durango, Colo, with a final score of 2-1. The Skyhawks' defense was in form on the day as they held the Cowgirls to five shots in the game. The Cowgirls' defense played a respectable game, as they only allowed two goals to a Skyhawks' attack that placed nine of 25 shots on target. The Skyhawks scored first in 34th minute to take the 1-0 lead into halftime. The Skyhawks extended their lead to 2-0 when they scored again in the 70th minute. The Cowgirls were able to close the gap in the 76th minute when striker
Marci Johnson found the lone goal for the team. When the game was over the Skyhawks had managed to hold off the Cowgirls to take the 2-1 victory. With the loss, the Cowgirls drop to a 7-5-1 record in the RMAC and 9-7-1 in overall play, but hold on to their fifth place ranking in the conference by a three point margin.
The Skyhawks showed why they deserved their 14th place ranking in NCAA DII as they came out attacking early and often. Fort Lewis had outshot the Cowgirls 6-1 when they found the net first in the 34th minute. Skyhawk defender Nicole Schumacher found striker Hayley Hollenga with a pass and Hollenga blasted a shot across goal and tucked it inside the far post. The goal was Hollenga's eighth of the season and gave the Skyhawks the 1-0 lead going into halftime.
The Skyhawks quickly took control of the second half and began threatening the Cowgirls' goal. In the 70th minute their pressure paid off as striker Hayley Hollenga scored again. Skyhawks' striker Emma Cannis had the ball in the attacking third and drove a low cross in front of the goal. Hollenga dove feet first at the ball and connected, driving the one timer into the back of the net. The goal was Hollenga's second of the game, ninth of the season, and gave the Skyhawks the 2-0 lead. In the 76th minute the Cowgirls were able to get on the score sheet to close the gap to one point. Cowgirls' striker Nancy Nuñez laid off a pass to
Marci Johnson on the right side of the pitch. Johnson dribbled the ball and blasted a shot across goal into the left side of the net. The goal was Johnson's fifth of the season and put the Cowgirls on the board, but the Skyhawks still had the 2-1 lead. The Skyhawks regained control of the match, and despite two more scoring attempts from the Cowgirls, when the final whistle blew Fort Lewis had won the game 2-1.
Striker
Marci Johnson led the Cowgirls in scoring with her fifth goal of the season. Striker Nancy Nuñez had the lone assist for the Cowgirls in the game. The Cowgirls did well as a team defensively to hold a Skyhawks team to only two goals, as the Skyhawks had scored five goals in their previous shutout victory. Cowgirls' goal keeper
Scottie Prince played an important role in that effort with her seven saves in the game.
Despite their first loss in the last nine games, the Cowgirls remain in fifth place in the RMAC with only one game left in the regular season. The Cowgirls hold a three point lead on the sixth place Mavericks of Colorado Mesa University and look in good shape to make the conference post-season.
The Cowgirls will continue their push for the RMAC tournament on Friday, 10/28, as they travel to Pueblo, Colo. to face the Thunderwolves of Colorado State University-Pueblo. The Thunderwolves are in ninth place in the RMAC with a 2-7-3 conference record and 2-5-3 in overall play. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 pm. If you can't make the trip to Pueblo 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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