ThunderWolves sacrifice 'Steel and Silver' points, regional standing with tough-luck loss.

By CSU-Pueblo Athletics Media Relations

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (GoThunderWolves.com - Sept. 22, 2010) - The hot streak of the CSU-Pueblo women's soccer team came to a stunning end Wednesday, as a back-and-forth game with rival UC-Colorado Springs broke for the homestanding Mountain Lions in overtime, resulting in a 2-1 Pack loss.

The game ended five minutes into the first overtime period as UCCS' Jessica Escobedo turned a cross in front of the net into the game-winner. 

Even though it's early in the season, the game may be a tough one to shake - the game had implications in the "Steel and Silver Series," an all-sports competition between CSU-Pueblo and UCCS, and will likely sink the Pack in the NCAA Division II Regional Rankings, as they were poised to enter the region's top six if they could turn in a successful week this week.  The region's top six teams qualify for the NCAA Division II National Tournament.

The night started great for the Pack, as goal-scoring whiz Katie Thiebaut (Sr., Pueblo, Colo.) scored unassisted on a breakaway in the 38th minute, putting CSU-Pueblo up 1-0.

But UCCS added a tying goal just two minutes later, knotting the game at 1-1 going into halftime.

The Mountain Lions rode the momentum, outshooting CSU-Pueblo 10-4 in the second half and wearing out keeper Savannah Thompson (Fr., Upland, Calif.), who ended up suffering her first collegiate loss Wednesday.  Thompson made seven second half saves and faced four more shots in the overtime period before finally letting the game-winner through.

The loss halts the Pack's three-game win streak, and undoes the momentum it gained in defeating 10th-ranked Fort Lewis last Friday night.  The Pack will continue on a frenetic schedule, returning home for a Friday night showdown with Regis before hosting Nebraska-Kearney Sunday afternoon.