Pueblo, CO – The Cougars traveled to Pueblo on Sunday morning, taking on nearby rivals CSU Pueblo. A
Jordyn Rollins goal and strong defensive second half saw the Cougars come back home with their first conference win.
Both sides traded chances early, with both the ThunderWolves and Cougars firing off several shots in the opening 15 minutes of the match. A gritty, back-and-forth battle would see both teams continue to push for the opening goal as the first half progressed. After continuing to push the pressure, the Cougars broke through in the 37th minute, finding the only goal of the game off a corner kick.
Faith Gaudy would ping a ball in from the corner, dropping it right onto the six as
Jordyn Rollins sprinted into the box, smashing it into the back of the net for her first collegiate goal and the 1-0 lead.
The second half saw both teams continue to battle for control, with the Cougars looking to extend their advantage while CSU Pueblo searched for an equalizer.
Kunitz came up with a big save in the 58th minute, denying a shot from Pueblo to preserve the Cougars' lead. CCU continued to create chances of its own, including three shots from
Alexis Byrd in the final 10 minutes.
The ThunderWolves continued to push late, but the Cougars' defense stood strong. Kunitz made another save in the 87th minute to keep CSU Pueblo off the board, helping the Cougars close out the 1-0 victory.
CCU finished the afternoon with 10 shots, including two on goal, while CSU Pueblo recorded nine shots and two on target. Kunitz finished with two saves to earn the shutout.
Head Coach
Caleb Cole commented on the gritty win, stating: "The team played a strong match, carrying the momentum from Friday's game against Colorado Mines into Sunday. Even with the heavy legs, the girls moved the ball well, creating some great chances, and converting a great set piece. Faith has been training very well, and we knew she served a great ball, and Jordyn was there to meet it. Overall a great team performance on the road against a tough Pueblo side."
A must win for the Cougars, CCU walks away with their first conference win, looking to build on momentum going into the final few weeks of the season. The Cougars look ahead to opponent Black Hills State on Friday, October 9
th, kickoff set for 11:00am MST at Trailblazer Stadium.
