DURANGO, Colo. – For the second-straight game against the Skyhawks, the Cowgirls surrendered the first goal of the game. Unlike in Las Vegas last month, the Cowgirls were able to get the equalizer.
Both teams scored in the first half and then played a scoreless second half and two overtime periods as New Mexico Highlands (6-3-3, 3-2-3, Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) and Fort Lewis (4-3-5, 3-1-4 RMAC) tied 1-1 in swirling winds Sunday afternoon (Oct. 12) in Durango, Colorado.
With Highlands down 1-0 in the 31st minute, junior
Nicole Millar placed a through ball to freshman
Mallory Bostic. Bostic dribbled down the center of the field and took the goalie one-on-one for the equalizer and her first collegiate goal.
The two teams only combined for three shots on goal in the first half, two of which found the back of the net. Alicia Sanchez – who led the game with six shots, three of which on target – took a cross from Brooke Milliet to open the scoring in the 20th minute.
Junior
Crystal Schuder, who led the team with three shots on goal, managed the only shot on target not score in the first half for either team, but Fort Lewis goalie Caitlyn Espinosa (4-3-4) grabbed the ball for the lone first half save. She finished the game with four saves, one in the first half and three in the second half with none in overtime.
Bostic finished with a pair of shots on goal as every shot on target came from Highlands' bench players.
Freshman goalie
Sarah Beecher grabbed five saves in the win, four in the second half and one in overtime. She improves to 6-3-3 on the year in goal.
Fort Lewis outshot Highlands 17-15, including 6-5 in shots on goal.
Schuder had a golden opportunity for the game-winner with less than six minutes left in regulation, but Espinosa made a diving stab to prevent the ball from going in the goal left post.
Both teams managed four shots in overtime, but only one Skyhawk shot was on target in the first overtime as neither team really threatened in the extra sessions.
The Cowgirls play 5-of-6 at Perkins Stadium to close out the regular season as they make a push for the RMAC Tournament. Highlands hosts CSU-Pueblo Friday (Oct. 17) at 4 p.m., before concluding the weekend Sunday (Oct. 19) against Adams State at 1 p.m.
