LAS VEGAS, N.M. – Coming in to the game, the Cowgirls soccer team had not lost in the month of October. They tempted fate on Halloween night and stared down the ghouls.
The New Mexico Highlands soccer team (10-3-4, 7-2-4 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) extended its school record for shutouts in a season and unbeaten streak to nine games as it defeated UC Colorado Springs (6-10, 5-8 RMAC) 1-0 Friday night (Oct. 31) on senior night at Perkins Stadium.
After a golden opportunity to put the Mountain Lions on their heels in each half, the Cowgirls made sure they were going to wrap up a home game in the RMAC Tournament Wednesday (Nov. 5). In the 67th minute, freshman
Mallory Bostic took a pass from midfield and drove to about 25 yards out. From there, she passed left to sophomore
Anyssa Dagnino, who put the ball in the back of the net from the top of the box for her fifth game-winning goal on the season.
Dagnino led the Cowgirls with three shots on goal while she and Bostic struck five shots each.
Senior goalie
Nadia Ruiz and sophomore
Sarah Beecher combined for the shutout as Beecher faced only one shot all game. Playing the final 80 minutes of the game, Beecher picked up the win to improve to 10-3-4 on the season. Grace Ramsden took the loss for the visitors, grabbing five saves in six shots faced and falling to 6-10 for the year.
Highlands looked as if it would take the lead in the 23rd minute. Dagnino ripped a shot that was saved, but Bostic was right in front of the goal with the rebound. However, her shot sailed high.
In the 33rd minute, the Mountain Lions' Miranda Brown placed their only shot on target but it was quickly gobbled up by Beecher as the game went into halftime scoreless.
In the 60th minute, Dagnino had a 1v1 with the goalie left post. However, Dagnino shot near post and Ramsden pushed the ball away for a Highlands corner kick.
UC Colorado Springs threw everything at Highlands in the final minute but came up empty. After a corner kick, the Mountain Lions were whistled for a foul. Jess Freeze – who led the team with two shots – had a shot in the final seconds, but Beecher grabbed the attempt going wide left to preserve the shutout.
Thanks to Regis' 2-1 win against CSU – Pueblo, Colorado Mesa's 1-0 win against Fort Lewis and the Cowgirls win Friday night, Highlands will be the fourth seed while Fort Lewis is the fifth seed in the RMAC Tournament. The Cowgirls will play the Skyhawks Wednesday in Las Vegas at 5 p.m.
New Mexico Highlands can play spoiler to Regis' aspirations to earn a top-two seed and a bye Friday when it hosts the Rangers Sunday (Nov. 2) at 1 p.m. Fans are reminded daylight savings time ends Sunday morning and the clocks will be pushed back an hour.
