Box Score Denver, Colo. – The NMHU Women's Soccer team rode an impressive three-goal performance by freshman
Anyssa Dagnino to upset #10 Metropolitan State University Roadrunners, on Oct. 27, by the final score of 3-2. Dagnino's hat trick began with a header in the 18th minute. She followed up with breakaway goals in the 22nd and 46th minutes. The victory places the Cowgirls in a tie for fourth place in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference with the University of Colorado – Colorado Springs. The Cowgirls, led by Head Coach
Justin Wagar, improve to 6-5-1 in the RMAC and 8-5-3 in overall play.
NMHU 3 – MSU 2
The Roadrunners came into the match ranked 10th in the NCAA DII standings and had proven their ability against the Cowgirls previously (Sept. 29) with a 4-1 win at Perkins Stadium, in Las Vegas, N.M.
Metro State looked to be in good shape on Sunday when they opened up the scoring in the 9th minute. New Mexico native Marie Ipock gave the Roadrunners a 1-0 lead with her slick finish of a cross from Nicole Pollack.
But Cowgirl
Anyssa Dagnino, fresh off a two-goal performance on Friday night (Oct. 25), had other plans in mind. She began her scoring frenzy in the 18th minute of the game with her first ever collegiate header.
Kari Kastelic lifted a corner kick into the box and Dagnino fired the ball into the net with her head, evening the score at 1-1.
Dagnino gave the Cowgirls the 2-1 lead in the 22nd minute when she took a pass from
Andrea Duke and dribbled down the field. The freshman's speed has been evident all season long and she has come into her own this weekend. She left the Roadrunner defense in her wake and beat the keeper to give NMHU the lead.
The Roadrunners tied the game up again (2-2) when Ipock finished off another cross just minutes before the end of the first half.
Anyssa Dagnino earned her hat trick just 33 seconds into the second half, when she demonstrated her blazing speed for the Denver fans once again. Dagnino took a pass from
Crystal Schuder and blew past the Roadrunners' defense once again before finding the game winning goal in the 46th minute.
With her three goals against the Roadrunners,
Anyssa Dagnino increased her goal total to five goals in one weekend. Prior to the Cowgirls' two contests this weekend, she had yet to find the net and in 136 minutes of action she had helped the Cowgirls to guarantee their chances at making the conference tournament with five goals in the span of two days.
The Cowgirls will continue conference action next weekend, Nov. 1, when the travel to Colorado Springs, Colo. to face the University of Colorado – Colorado Springs Mountain Lions. The Cowgirls (6-5-1 RMAC) and Mountain Lions (6-5-1 RMAC) are currently tied for fourth place in the RMAC and the game will decide which team will have the privilege of hosting a first round conference tournament game. If you can't make the trip up to Colorado Springs to catch your Cowgirls in action, you can click
HERE to watch the game live on the America One Network.
GO COWGIRLS!!!
