COLORADO SPRINGS, CO- Colorado Christian headed an hour South down I-25 as they took on UCCS in the RMAC Quarterfinals on Sunday. It was an eventful first half as the hosts struck first, CCU equalized and the Mountain Lions struck again for the 2-1 lead. Unfortunately, Colorado Christian could not find a second equalizer in the second half as their tremendous season closed with a 2-1 defeat. 

CCU put quick pressure on goal as they earned a corner kick two minutes in and Hannah Mares missed a shot just high. Ava Dinverno took a look but could not find the goal. Then the Mountain Lions turned the tables and forced a pair of saves from Alana Lopp to keep things level at 0-0. In the 23rd, UCCS broke through to claim a 1-0 lead, and they forced three more saves from Lopp to keep her team within striking distance. In the 38th, they found the equalizer after Ava Dinverno ripped a shot off the left post only for Jessie Sims to pounce and slot the ball into the back of the net. With the game now tied at 1-1, UCCS worked quickly to take back the lead as they went up 2-1 less than a minute after the equalizer. Sims had another shot late in the half, but it would miss wide right to send the teams to the break with the hosts on top 2-1.

The Mountain Lions started the second half with a look on goal that was saved by Lopp, and Justine Moreau forced a save later in the half. The pressure intensified as Capri Dewing had a near look, and Mares and Sims just missed shots to equalize. The last real chance for the Cougars came in the 82nd off of a corner kick, but the shot from Allie Hotz did not find the netting as UCCS closed out the victory by a final score of 2-1. 

CCU finished with 13 shots overall with three of them being on goal. Lopp made seven saves to keep her team in the game, while the Cougars had three corner kicks. 

Colorado Christian closed the 2024 season with an overall record of 6-8-4 and a mark of 5-4-3 in conference play. With their first trip to the RMAC postseason since 2018, year one with Head Coach Caleb Cole was a big success, and they will look to continue their winning ways next season with a talented roster.