PUEBLO, Colo. (GoThunderWolves.com – October 18, 2013) – After a bitter fight till the end, the CSU-Pueblo women's soccer team lost 2-1 to New Mexico Highlands University Friday evening at Rawlings Soccer Complex.

The ThunderWolves took the field with fierce determination and got on the board early with an unassisted goal by Amanda Garcia (Jr., Pueblo, Colo.) at the 11^th minute. 

Depsite playing tough defense, the ball remained in Cowgirl possession for a majority of the first half.  Highlands took shot after shot but couldn't find the net until the 28^th minute, when Andrea Duke scored the Cowgirl's first goal of the night off a Crystal Schuder assist. 

Though the Pack was outshot 12-2, the score remained tied 1-1 at halftime.  And that's when it started. 

The air got a little bit cooler, the crowd got a little bit louder, and the calls on the field became a little more serious.

After nearly an entire game of questionable foul calls, or lack thereof and physical playing on both sides of the ball, a red card was issued to Pack starter Alicia Irwin (Sr., North Richland Hills, Texas) at the 71^st minute.

With the Pack down a player, the women stepped up their defense, but the shots kept coming and coming, 23 total from the Cowgirls on the night. 

At the 86^th minute, a second red card was called against the Pack, this time on senior forward Amanda Garcia.  This handicapped the already short-handed squad and gave the Cowgirls a two player advantage.  Even with the ejections, the Pack maintained control of the ball and it seemed that overtime was inevitable.  But it was not to be.

At the 88^th minute, Andrea Duke scored her second goal of the night giving the Cowgirls the go-ahead goal and the win.

It was a hard-fought battle with some highly contested calls, but in the end the Cowgirls walked away with the 2-1 victory. 

The loss puts the ThunderWolves at 5-7 on the season. They will travel to Durango on Saturday to take on Fort Lewis, kickoff is at 1p.m.