The NMHU Soccer team finished the regular season on a winning note as they defeated the Thunderwolves of CSU-Pueblo, on 10/28, on the road in Pueblo, Colo., by the final score of 3-0. The Cowgirls took control of the game early on, scoring two goals in the first half of play and taking the 2-0 lead into halftime. The Cowgirls scored their third goal in the 67th minute and the defense closed out the rest of the game to secure the 3-0 win in the final game of the regular season. With the victory, the Cowgirls, led by Head Coach
Justin Wagar, improve to an 8-5-1 record in the RMAC and 10-7-1 in overall play.
The Cowgirls began the game on the attack and had CSU-Pueblo on their back foot early and often. The Thunderwolves rallied on the attack for three minutes before the Cowgirls' counterattack struck the first goal of the game. In the 18th minute midfielder
Autumn Woods got the ball and passed to striker
Janelle McGee. McGee turned around a defender and took a long run down the pitch before beating the keeper with her shot. The goal was McGee's 13th of the season and gave the Cowgirls the early 1-0 lead. The Thunderwolves committed a foul in the penalty box in the 28th minute that set up the Cowgirls second goal. Midfielder
Britny Cottrell confidently stepped up to take the penalty shot and beat the keeper, burying the ball into the back of the net. The goal was Cottrell's first of the season and gave the Cowgirls the 2-0 lead. The Cowgirls' defense prevented the Thunderwolves from taking any meaningful shots in the remainder of the first half and the Cowgirls went into the half leading 2-0.
The Cowgirls began their customary quick attack in the second half and put pressure on the Thunderwolves goal. The Cowgirls' persistence paid off in the 67th minute when striker
Julissa Rodriguez's shot hit the crossbar. The rebound fell to midfielder
Autumn Woods outside the 18 yard box. Woods set herself and blasted the ball past the keeper into the top right corner of the net. The goal was Woods' sixth of the season and gave the Cowgirls a comfortable 3-0 lead. That third goal was too much for the Thunderwolves to overcome and the Cowgirls' defense shutdown the remainder of the game. When the final whistle blew, the Cowgirls had won their final game of the regular season by the final score of 3-0.
The Cowgirls' attack was led by midfielder
Autumn Woods who had a goal and an assist in the game. Striker
Janelle McGee and midfielder
Britny Cottrell both scored a goal in the game. The Cowgirls' defense, led by defender
Taylor Gonzales, played another solid game, earning their seventh shut-out of the season. Goal keeper
Scottie Prince (6-1-1) was credited with the win for the Cowgirls.
The Cowgirls 3-0 victory over the Thunderwolves completes an impressive ten game run at the end of the season which saw the Cowgirls win eight games, with one tie and only one loss. Their strong finish to the season put the Cowgirls in fifth place in the RMAC and cemented their place in the RMAC post-season tournament. Led by Head Coach
Justin Wagar, the Cowgirls will be looking forward to their second consecutive conference tournament appearance.
Goal keeper
Scottie Prince's leadership has played an integral part in the Cowgirls turning around their season. Prince's nine starts saw her rack up six wins, with one draw, and only one loss.
Cowgirl striker
Julissa Rodriguez has earned her selection as the RMAC Pre-season Player of the Year by leading the RMAC with 15 goals in the regular season. Rodriguez's eight assist have her tied for third in the RMAC, and give her the most points scored in the conference with 38.
The Cowgirls also benefited from some outstanding performances by freshman this season, most notably striker
Janelle McGee and midfielder
Autumn Woods. McGee's 13 goals in the regular season are second best in the RMAC, and her four assists give her 30 points on the season good enough for second place in the conference. Woods was an important part of the Cowgirls' performance, starting in all 18 games, and leading the Cowgirls' midfield with six goals and five assists.
The Cowgirls' defense has been superb this season, only allowing 17 goals in their 18 games, with seven shut-outs. Defenders
Taylor Gonzales,
Jensen Keith, and
Bianca Brambila helped the Cowgirls to the second best goals against average in the RMAC at 0.92 goals per game.
The Cowgirls' attack has also been in great form this season. They lead the RMAC in both goals with 43, and assists with 39, scoring a conference best 125 points during the regular season.
The Cowgirls remain in fifth place in the conference with a three point lead over the Mavericks of Colorado Mesa University. The Cowgirls await the results of the final RMAC regular season games on Sunday, 10/30, to determine their opponent for the first round of the RMAC playoffs. The RMAC post-season tournament is set for 11/2-6. Stay tuned to the
NMHU Athletics' website for information on date and location for the Cowgirls' RMAC playoff appearance.
GO COWGIRLS!!!
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