Box Score Las Vegas, N.M. - The NMHU Cowgirl Soccer team fell short at home against the Orediggers of the Colorado School of Mines, on 10/19, by the final score of 3-2. The Orediggers opened the scoring midway through the first half and took that 1-0 lead into halftime. They increased doubled their lead just 42 seconds into the second half and then looked in full control with their third goal of the match just two minutes later. The Cowgirls' offense came alive soon after and managed to score two goals within minutes of each other, closing the Orediggers' lead to 3-2. However, Mines was able to buckle down on defense and prevent and further Cowgirls goals. When the buzzer sounded to end the match, it was the Orediggers who took the one goal victory. With their loss to the Orediggers, the Cowgirls, led by Head Coach
Justin Wagar, fall to 3-6-2 in the RMAC and 5-8-2 in overall play.
Both teams started the game well, but the Orediggers quickly took control in the first half. They found the first goal of the match in the 23rd minute. Mines took a corner kick and played a good ball into the penalty box and found midfielder Dani Hering. Hering out jumped the Cowgirls defense and buried the header into the back of the net to give the Orediggers the 1-0 lead. Mines would take the one goal lead into the halftime break.
The Orediggers got out to a quick start at the beginning of the second half. They scored their second goal of the match in the 46th minute when Mines' leading scorer Anna Evans found the net with her 11th goal of the season.
The Orediggers extended their lead to 3-0 less than two minutes later. They took advantage of a two-person breakaway and made the most of their opportunity in the 48th minute. Evans was again posing a threat to the Cowgirls goal but instead of taking the shot she played a perfect through ball across the six yard box. Her pass found midfielder Becca Morales, who showed an outstanding first touch with her right foot, tapping the ball into the back of the net from three yards out.
Just as the game looked out of reach, the Cowgirls reached down and started to fight back. They finally got on the scoreboard in the 54th minute. Striker
Marci Johnson intercepted the ball and drove into the attacking third of the pitch. She played a nifty through ball into the feet of striker
Kelsie Roberts who immediately attacked the Orediggers' net. Roberts dribbled the ball past a defender into the penalty box, took a step to her right and launched the ball into the right side of the goal. Roberts' team leading sixth goal of the season made the score 3-1.
It was
Kelsie Roberts who initiated the Cowgirls second goal just minutes later. In the 57th minute, Roberts intercepted an Orediggers' pass and began a counter attack. She dribbled the ball down the pitch and led a perfect through ball into the feet of striker
Crystal Schuder at the top of the penalty box. Schuder plowed her way through the Mines' defense and absolutely crushed the ball, putting it just under the middle of the cross bar for her fifth goal of the season. The home crowd erupted with the two quick goals that the Cowgirls had just scored. The goal cut the Orediggers' lead down to one, 3-2.
The Orediggers regained their composure and took back the momentum. They buckled down and played a smothering defense, not letting the Cowgirls' see too much of the ball late in the game. When the final buzzer sounded Mines was victorious by the final score of 3-2.
The Cowgirls were led on offense by striker
Kelsie Roberts. She scored the Cowgirls' first goal of the game and followed that up with an assist on their second goal. Striker
Crystal Schuder played well on offense as well. Her physical play on the attack cause the Orediggers' problems and she was able to convert her fifth goal of the season.
The Cowgirls will continue conference play on Sunday, 10/21, as they host the Mountain Lions of the University of Colorado – Colorado Springs in Las Vegas, N.M. The Mountain Lions are currently leading the RMAC with an 8-2-1 conference record and 12-2-1 in overall play. The match on is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. Sunday's match is the final home match of the season for the Cowgirls so come on out and show your support. If you can't make it out to Perkins Stadium to watch the Cowgirls in action, you can click
HERE to follow the game live on the America One Network.
GO COWGIRLS!!!
