LAKEWOOD, CO- The 2025 season got underway on Thursday morning at Lakewood Memorial Field as the Cougars took on Oklahoma Christian. After taking a 1-0 lead to halftime, CCU slotted home two more in the second half as they took down the Eagles 3-2 to start the season 1-0. 

Brooke Dunham scored the first goal of the season as she finished off a shot from Sophia Tagge and tapped it home for a 1-0 advantage in the 24th minute. Strong defense and consistent pressure took the sides to the break with the cougars ahead by a goal. 

Newcomer Mia Mares was steady in goal, collecting a pair of saves to start the half. Grace Sams then made OCU pay with a chip over the defense that found a streaking Alexis Byrd as she slotted it home past the keeper for a 2-0 lead. 

Oklahoma Christian brought the deficit to one with a goal in the 74th, but Tagge sealed the victory with her teams' third goal of the day in the 87th as a late Eagles goal was not enough as CCU opened with a 3-2 victory. 

The newcomers for CCU played a key role in the victory as Tagge recorded an assist and a goal while Dunham opened her scoring for the Cougars season and Sams notched an assist as well. 

The Cougars will look to start the year 2-0 as they take on Southwestern Oklahoma State on September 6 at 10 a.m. MST at Lakewood Memorial Field.