Cowgirl Soccer Snags 1-0 Victory Over Bears in Home Opener

LARAMIE -- Entering Thursday’s match, University of Wyoming’s Alyssa Glover hadn’t suited up inside the Madrid Sports Complex for nearly two years. A season-ending injury cost the Cowgirls’ then-leading point returner most of 2024, including all home matches.

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In a long-awaited return to Laramie, Glover didn’t disappoint. She netted an 82nd minute goal, which proved to be the difference in a 1-0 victory over rival Northern Colorado.

“The whole team put in a lot of work. It’s not just my goal. This goal is for everybody out here,” Glover said. “We all worked our butt off, and to be able to finish it when we did, I think will bode well for us going forward.”

The win – Wyoming’s third in a row in the Front Range Derby – improves it to 1-0-1 on the season. The loss drops the Bears to 1-1-1.

“It feels great,” Glover said. “It’s three years in a row now. The trophy gets to stay where it belongs.”

In the record book, it’s Glover’s ninth goal of her career. In Thursday’s scorebook, the score is also an assist to Jennah Wanner.

Wanner found Glover near the top of the box. Glover maneuvered around one defender, got to her right foot and finished low and left of the goalkeeper, Maddie Smith.

It may have only been a 1-0 final, but Wyoming dominated for a majority of the match. It out shot Northern Colorado, 19-6 and 8-3 in the shots on goal department.

Alisa Bunn and Jazi Barela each fired four shots to pace the Pokes. Glover had three, while Kiley Ballek and Hadley Linder recorded two shots apiece.

Haley Bartel registered three saves for the Pokes to record her first clean card of the season and 11th shutout of her career. Smith ended the contest having turned away half a dozen shots.

Wyoming is back in action Sunday. The Cowgirls host Regis at the Madrid Sports Complex at 1 p.m.

- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players