DURANGO, Colo. (September 24, 2021) – The Colorado State University Pueblo women's soccer team opened Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play with a 2-1 overtime win Friday over Fort Lewis College behind a two-goal performance by Cara Siegel (Sr., Pueblo, Colo.) at FLC's Dirks Field in Durango.
In the match, CSU Pueblo was led by Siegel's five shots including both goals. She had three shots on goal.
The first half was a defensive battle as the teams exchanged possession several times at midfield. Midway through the half, Fort Lewis had earned possession in the attacking side and made a couple of shots that were well defended by the Pack defense.
Pack goalkeeper Nicole Genis (So., San Jose, Costa Rica) had a strong first half, making five saves against ten shots in the period by FLC.
Genis preserved the lead with a diving save in the 27th minute when the Skyhawks drew a free kick from outside the box and straight away with the net.
The ThunderWolves allowed a goal in the 38th minute off a corner kick and the FLC player leaped over the crowd and connected a header shot that hit the back of the net for the 1-0 lead.
At intermission, the Pack recorded four shots and earned corner kick late in the first half.
Katie Bean (R-Fr., Bothell, Wash.) and Siegel both recorded two shots with Bean tallying both of her shots on goal and Siegel recorded one on frame.
In the second half, CSU Pueblo started fast as they created a couple of scoring chances to go with a corner kick all in the first ten minutes of the period. The Pack was called offside one time in that span.
Fort Lewis responded with a flurry of shots on goal, all saved by Genis when the ThunderWolves found possession in FLC side of the field and Siegel booted a shot high and to the left side of the net for the equalizer.
The ThunderWolves kept up their high intensity and held possession over the next fifteen minutes of play.
With about twenty minutes left in regulation, Fort Lewis had the ThunderWolves on the defense and had one scoring chance.
For the rest of regulation was well played soccer by the ThunderWolves as they pushed ahead and kept the pressure on the Skyhawks defense.
The score went unchanged and resulted in the first overtime period of the season for the Pack.
In extra time, CSU Pueblo and Fort Lewis both recorded a shot in the opening minutes as both team's defense continued to hold strong.
With less than two minutes left in the first overtime, CSU Pueblo slowly took the ball onto the Skyhawks side of the field and from the right wing served in a pass that Siegel was able to settle and hit a shot that sealed the game winner.
At the net, Genis made ten saves against 17 total shots by Fort Lewis.
Overall, CSU Pueblo totaled ten shots and six on goal, they also recorded three corner kicks.
CSU Pueblo (2-4-0, 1-0-0 RMAC) will finish the weekend with a matinee match up at Western Colorado University. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. at WCU's Katy O. Rady Field in Gunnison.
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