Women see off CCU challenge

Despite facing a physical opponent and 40 foul calls, the Colorado State University-Pueblo women’s soccer team had enough in the tank to see off the Colorado Christian University Cougars on Friday.  The Pack’s 1-0 win improved its season record to 5-3-1, and was the team’s fourth win in a row.

After repelling one or two CCU attacks in the early going, thanks in no small part to a nice save by Chrissy Mandarich (Sr., Pueblo, Colo.), the ThunderWolves managed to settle in and create several goal scoring chances over the course of the game.   Mandarich extended her scoreless streak to 248:57 with her second straight shutout, and is coming close to equalling her career high 282:50, set during a four-game stretch last season.

In the opening minutes of the second half, Sarah Deffit (So., Bremerton, Wash.) put a shot over the bar from six yards out.  In the 60th minute, Candice Duffy (Jr., Idaho Falls, Idaho) squirted a shot wide, and soon after that, a Pack corner kick led to a Marli Martin (Sr., West Jordan, Utah) header over the bar.

After some steady build up, the women finally broke through in the 86th minute.  Martin played the ball up the field to Sydney Hase (Fr., Woodbury, Minn.) who in turn headed the ball towards Duffy.  The junior striker from Idaho took care of the rest by bundling home the winning goal.

Coach Dave Morris felt that the team was destined to score, and that it was more a matter of when, not if, one of his players would find the back of the net.  He intimated that a goal was in the works thanks to all of the scoring chances his players had created over the game.

The coach stated that he felt like his team played well, and he credited the CCU squad for keeping such a close contest.  “They’re tight defensively.  They compete and get numbers behind the ball well,” Morris said of the Cougars.

He mentioned that there were a couple of nervous moments resulting from a pair of CCU free kicks in the second half, but seemed altogether satisfied with the win, saying that his team’s 10-3 second half advantage in shots really spoke to how many chances the team had on goal.

The ThunderWolves will look for their fifth straight win when they play at the Colorado School of Mines on Sunday.  The game is set for a noon kickoff.

The women return home to the Rawlings Complex on Oct. 10 when they will play Metro State.