Cowgirls Embark on Road Trip to Boise State, Utah State
* University of Wyoming press release
LARAMIE -- The University of Wyoming soccer team hits the road for the first time in Mountain West Conference play this week. The Cowgirls travel to Boise State on Thursday for a 7 p.m. contest at Boas Soccer Complex before a Sunday game at Utah State at 1 p.m. at Chuck & Gloria Bell Soccer Field.
Wyoming owns an 0-2-0 (0 points) conference record with both losses – one to UNLV and one to Nevada – occurring in Laramie. It wasn’t the start anyone in the program envisioned for the reigning regular-season champions.
So even if a target is still present on the Cowgirls’ back, it must now mesh with a newfound approach.
“The underdog mentality has to be present now because that’s what we are,” head coach Colleen Corbin. “It doesn’t matter where people picked us. It doesn’t matter what happened last year. The reality of our position is we have to respond. We have to come out and win a dog fight.”
Each day since the 2022 conference tournament championship, there’s been pressure on Wyoming. The reality of hosting the 2023 conference tournament, the expectation after being picked first in the MW Preseason Coaches’ Poll, those things linger and provide weight with which the Cowgirls must deal.
“This is all uncharted territory for everyone,” Corbin said. “Everyone is doing the best they can to navigate that mentally and emotionally. If we are going to be a consistent championship team, there’s always going to be pressure, and we have to be able to manage that.”
Alyssa Glover leads Wyoming offensively with five goals, which ranks third in the conference. Jazi Barela and Maddi Chance have each scored three times, while Jamie Tatum rounds out the multi-goal scorers with two.
Haley Bartel has started six games in net for the Cowgirls. She owns 20 saves with 10 goals allowed and a GAA of 1.67.
Boise State is 1-0-1 (4 points) in league action, having beaten Colorado College and tied with Air Force. The Broncos have managed 14 goals and allowed 14 scores and earned draws against four PAC-12 schools during the non-conference portion of their schedule.
Carly Cross paces Boise State offensively with six goals and one assist, as only one other player, Kenzie MacMillian, has found the back of the net more than once with three goals. Genevieve Crenshaw has started all 10 games at goalie, made 42 saves while allowing 12 scores with a GAA of 1.21 with a pair of shutouts.
Boise State holds a slight 8-7-1 edge in the all-time series. The Broncos have had their way of late, winning each of the past six meetings.
Utah State is 1-1-0 (3 points) in MW play, earning a victory over Colorado College after dropping a game at Air Force. The Aggies have scored 10 goals but allowed 12 scores and made noise in the non-conference, downing No. 1 BYU, 1-0, in Logan, Utah.
Diamond Summer leads Utah State with three goals this season. Diera Walton has started all 11 games at goalkeeper, logging 33 saves with 12 goals allowed for a GAA 1.14 with two shutouts.
The Aggies own an 9-8-2 lead in the all-time series. Wyoming claimed last year’s matchup, 2-1, in Laramie.
The Cowgirls remain on the road the following week. They travel to San Jose State and Fresno State.
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