Boise State Downs Cowgirls in MW Quarterfinals, 3-0

Junior Kristin Howard led UW with three shots

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (Nov. 5, 2013) --  The University of Wyoming women’s soccer team fell to third-seeded Boise State, 3-0 on Tuesday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the Mountain West conference tournament at the UNM Soccer Complex. Two first-half goals by Boise State off corner kicks and another in the 68th minute lifted the Broncos past the Cowgirls.

The Cowgirls (7-11-4) end their season scoring the most goals in a single season with 31. Senior Liz O’Reilly ends her career as the all-time assist leader with 24 and Lucie McDowell, a first team all-conference selection recorded 10 goals on the season, the most from a single player since 2005. Junior Sara Paul led the MW in assists and was named second team all-conference.

Boise State was able to get the advantage early in the match with their first score of the game coming just before the 3-minute mark. Boise State’s Katy Oehring found herself open just in front of the goal and took her first shot in the box to sneak the ball past UW sophomore keeper Abby Lindsay to give the Broncos the early 1-0 lead. Over the next 35 minutes, UW attempted to pull the match even, but was unable to capitalize on several scoring chances.

“Today, it obviously stings a little more,” UW head coach Pete Cuadrado said. “We were attacking like we had all year. It was just tough to get anything going."

In the 42nd minute, Brooke Heidemann recorded the second score of the match to double the Bronco lead. Off of another corner kick for the Broncos, Heidemann took her shot that slipped past Lindsay. Boise State was able to control the pace of play for most of the first 45 minutes. The Broncos outshot the Cowgirls 11-3 in the first period, including a 6-0 clip in corner kicks.

At the start of the second half, UW came out energized and more urgent to put Boise State on their heels. Tightening up the offensive attack and putting forth a better presence on the defensive side of the ball, the Cowgirls were able to set up more scoring opportunities as the second period went on. Boise State was able to break through for their third score of the match off another corner kick. Katy Oehring headed in her second score of the match and third goal of the season to give the Broncos the 3-0 advantage

“I thought the second half we played really well,” Cuadrado added. “We had a couple great opportunities and it would have been nice to finish those. But the effort was there the entire game, like it has been all season.

The Cowgirls’ offensive effort helped them to nine second-half shots, while the Broncos were limited to four the last 45 minutes. Overall, Boise State totaled 15 compared the Wyoming’s 12. After six first-half corner shots from the Broncos, they were held to two during the second half. The Cowgirls equaled that number in the second period with two corner kicks as well

Boise State’s goalkeeper Maddy McDevitt recorded six saves on the evening, as Heidemann led all players with four shots. Wyoming was led by junior Kristin Howard with three shot attempts. Senior Lucie McDowell and juniors Paul and Kasey Curtis recorded two apiece

“We are all proud of the three seniors to finish their careers the way they did,” Cuadrado said. “It was great to see them mature as the season went on. I have been able to be a part of these last two years and this program wouldn’t have been able to accomplish everything we have without the three of them.”

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