ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (Sept. 23, 2018) – A goal in the 84^th minute by junior Summer Taube helped the Wyoming soccer team (6-2-2 overall, 1-1-0 MW) earn its first conference win of the season with a 3-2 victory over the New Mexico Lobos (5-3-0, 1-0-0 MW) on Sunday afternoon.  

Both teams came out fast in the first minutes of the game. The Cowgirls got two early looks from freshman Caitlin Pickett which was saved by goalie Emily Johnson and senior Jessie Gentle that was blocked. New Mexico converted on its first shot of the game as Gwen Maly punched a long shot past Cristina Salazar after a throw in to make it a 1-0 contest. Wyoming scored the equalizer in the 14^th minute. After a Lobo foul in the box a penalty shot was award to the Wyoming. Taube buried it for her first goal of the season to make it 1-1. With 35:01 on the clock, the Cowgirls were given another scoring opportunity on a penalty kick. Senior Taylor Burton’s shot to the left was stopped by Johnson to keep it 1-1 headed in to the halftime break.

New Mexico came out strong to being the second half. Madi Hirshman fired a shot off a rebound from the left side of the net past goalie Hannah Lee just three minutes out of the break. The Lobos had a couple of others opportunities but couldn’t convert. Senior Brittney Stark would respond and even things up with her second goal of the season. The Lobo goalie came out of the box and Stark would work it past her to make it 2-2 with 56:02 on the clock. Both teams each had a couple of opportunities over the next 15 minutes but couldn’t convert. Off a corner kick by Gentle, a shot headed in by senior Alyssa Murray was initially saved by the goalie. It would rebound out and Taube got it passed Johnson, for her second goal of the game, to give the Cowgirls a 3-2 lead in the 84^th minute. Wyoming clamped down defensively and would hold on for its first conference win.

“I thought it was a good result for us today and how we rebounded from Friday’s loss. We created the chances just couldn’t get the results,” head coach Pete Cuadrado said. “These are the types of finishes we need going forward if we are want to compete for a conference championship, which is our ultimate goal. I was proud of the effort that we put out there. We will enjoy it, get back to work on Tuesday and start preparing for Utah State and Boise State.”

Brittney Stark had a game-high five shots with two of them on goal, while Taube converted two goals on both of her shots. It’s the second time this season a Cowgirl has recorded two goals in a game. Senior Annika Clayton finished with two against South Dakota. Burton, Murray and freshman Savannah Warner each logged 90 minutes. Maly and Hirschman each finished with two shots for the Lobos. Wyoming outshot its opponent for the sixth time this season, 16-10, and had eight shots on goal compared to six by UNM.

The Cowgirls will continue Mountain West action on Friday against the Utah State Aggies. The game is scheduled for 4 p.m. MT in Logan. That will be followed by a match-up against the Boise State Broncos on Sunday beginning at 1 p.m. in Boise.

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