LARAMIE, Wyo. (Oct. 11, 2013) -- The University of Wyoming women’s soccer team got off to a bit of a slow start on Friday afternoon at the Louis S. Madrid Sports Complex against New Mexico. But when things mattered most the Cowgirls (5-8-1, 2-2 MW) were able to find the back of the net to send the game into overtime and ultimately score the game winner in the closing seconds of the second overtime period. It was the Wyoming’s first home victory of the season, as UW took the match 3-2 over New Mexico.

“I just saw fight in them the entire game,” UW head coach Pete Cuadrado said. “We have to trust what we have been working on and keep getting those chances.”

Senior forward Lucie McDowell dribbled the ball down the right side with less than a minute remaining in the second overtime period and took a shot towards the upper left corner of the net to score the game winner for UW. It was her team leading seventh goal of the season. Junior midfielder Sheree Small sent the game into overtime, as she was able to head the ball into the back of the net with less the ten seconds remaining. McDowell, standing on the far right side of the field, kicked the ball towards Small, who then was able to push the ball past New Mexico’s sophomore goal keeper Cassie Ulrich. McDowell was credited with the assist on Small’s first goal of the season.

“We have to give credit to Lucie,” UW head coach Pete Cuadrado said. “She plays with so much passion, sometimes you have to calm her down. She has been playing great and doing that kind of stuff all year for us.”

Junior defender Kasey Curtis got the Cowgirls on the board first in the 50th minute. Paul was credited with the assist as Curtis headed the ball into the net off a corner kick.  Wyoming’s junior goalkeeper Alex Boehm tied her career-high with seven saves during the match. Boehm had seven saves against Weber State on Sept. 14. Ulrich was credited with three saves for the Lobos.

New Mexico (5-8-1, 3-1 MW) got the better of Wyoming in the first period. In the fifth minute, New Mexico’s Dylann O’Connor sent a pass into the box from the right side, a Cowgirl defender attempting to clear it kicked it into the net for an own goal to give the Lobos a 1-0 lead. New Mexico took the advantage in shots during the first 45 minutes, 5-0, as well as corner kicks, 4-1. New Mexico’s sophomore defender Annie Wheeler scored the Lobos second goal, the assist was given to senior midfielder Elba Holguin.

Wyoming came out with much more energy in the second period taking eight shots compared to the Lobos five. In the overtime periods, the Cowgirls were able to record three shots to UNM’s two. Junior Sara Paul and McDowell led the charge for the Cowgirls with three shots. Paul recorded two assists on the day and McDowell had one.  Junior defender Kristin Howard played the entire game and recorded two shots, while junior midfielder Alison Clarke contributed one shot during the match.

Wyoming returns to the pitch Sunday against San Diego State. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Louis S. Madrid Sports Complex.

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