The CCU Cougars women's soccer squad made the short drive west today to play in their RMAC women's soccer tournament first round matchup against the top seeded and #5 nationally ranked Orediggers from Colorado School of Mines. The Cougars would make it a game in the first half until the Orediggers dug in their heels and took over, ultimately winning the game by a score of 4-1.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
The game started off quickly as Mines opened up scoring in the 10th minute off a perfectly placed header from a corner kick. The Cougars would not take long to respond though, netting a goal in the 12th minute when Emily Michalak tallying her first goal of the season, placing a volley into the far post netting off a Renee De La Torre corner kick. But the Orediggers would not allow the score to stay tied for long as they took the lead back a little over a minute later. The score would remain 2-1 going into halftime. Cougar goalie Ireland VanDyke had already tied a career high in saves with nine at this point with 45 minutes left to work.
 
The second half saw a determined and attacking Mines squad take the field, not allowing the Cougars any chance to begin a comeback. The Orediggers would score two more goals and their nationally ranked defense allowed no shots on goal in the final half. VanDyke would fend off six more shots on goal, finishing the game with 15.
 
GAME/MATCH/RACE LEADERS:

• Michalak's score would be CCU's lone shot on goal for the match, with four other Cougars each taking one shot.
• VanDykes 15 saves was easily a career-high, and the most in a single game by a CCU goalie since 2011 when Caitlyn Moses did it at CSU-Pueblo. It also tied for the most in an RMAC contest this season.

SEASON WRAPUP:

• Three players started all 18 games for the Cougars this season: Karli Wilson, Renee De La Torre, and Ireland VanDyke
• Amanda Lopez was the only Cougar with double-digit points in 2018 with 16 (six goals and four assists), followed by Stephanie Muchow (9) and Renee De La Torre (8).
• Ireland VanDyke finished the year with 91 total saves, to most since 2011.

When asked to reflect on the 2018 season, head coach Tammy McPherson had this to say, "When the RMAC Preseason poles came out in August, we were voted to finish 11th in the conference. At that time, I sort of smiled and said, our goal as a team will be to shock the conference with our overall team play and therefore our overall ranking. We definitely accomplished that with huge results throughout the season allowing us to finish in the top eight with an RMAC Conference Tournament appearance, along with several players receiving recognition throughout. Ireland VanDyke and Kennady McCullough both received RMAC Player of the Week and then five players were placed on the RMAC All-Conference Teams. We're a fun team to watch with the ability to upset teams, but overall, I'm really just honored to be a coach at CCU with the opportunity to coach players who respect each other and their opponents, who work hard all the time, and who play as a team to win games with courage, confidence, and tactical execution. I'll miss the seniors more than I can ever express, as their time at CCU has been crucial at helping to develop a winning culture."