Soccer | 11/17/2023 7:12:00 PM
Box Score GOLDEN, Colorado (Nov. 17, 2023) - The Texas Woman's soccer team fought hard against Colorado Mesa in the first round of the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament but came out short, and the Mavericks took the victory with a goal in the 27th minute of the game.
This marks the end of a memorable 2023 season for the Pioneers.
"Today's game was very intense," TWU Head Coach Babak Abouzar said. "We came out the first 15/20 minutes and did a really good job of possessing and making them chase. We just were not able to capitalize on it. Playing in Colorado is tough and our players felt that in the latter part of the first half. The second half, we settled back down and did a good job of creating opportunities. Our team gave it everything they had."
The Pioneers traveled to Golden, Colo. on Wednesday afternoon to take on CMU today. Even though the Mavericks were statistically superior to TWU, the Pioneers battled until the end and tested the Mavericks on several occasions.
Despite CMU's goal in the 27th minute of play, the first half of the match was mostly dominated by the Pioneers. They maintained the possession of the ball and were able to play their game and created dangerous opportunities.
The first opportunity for either team was for the Pioneers in the fifth minute from a free kick taken by Rylee Avery. Keely Wieczorek, the Mavericks' goalkeeper was able to deflect the ball and the rebound landed between Hayley Masoner and a Mavericks' defender. Masoner wasn't able to get a foot on the ball, which ended up being deflected by the Mavericks defense.
Amanda Farris was crucial in today's game as she has been the entire season. She recorded four saves in the first half and five in the second one.
Farris was tested twice before the Maverick's goal in the 22nd and 27th minute.
On the 22nd minute, a long shot from around 30 to 40 yards out forced Farris to take a few steps to the right side of the goal, but she had no trouble controlling. A few seconds after another opportunity for the Mavericks ended striking the right goal post and Erica Brelove knocked out of the rebound.
Five minutes after the 27th minute, CMU had a free kick opportunity that was headed out of the box by Rayne Islas. Bree McCullough, a Maverick's defender, took a shot from just outside the box to the right side of the goal. Farris was able to get her hands on the ball with a sliding save.
The only goal of the match was from a play between Kylie Wells and Sauvelyne Randel. Randel shot a powerful finish from the center of the box that ended on the back of the net.
In the second half of the match, the Pioneers struggled to get possession of the ball and break through the Mavericks defensive lines to get to their side of the field.
The Pioneer's defensive back line had another great performance and was able to only allow one goal to a team that had scored three goals in their last four games.
"I am proud of our team and what they have accomplished this season," Abouzar said. "From preseason picked 11th to finishing fourth in conference and making our programs second trip to the NCAA tournament is nothing short of remarkable. The environment that our team has created is special and it's great to be a part of. We will enjoy this break and get back after it this spring to get ready for Fall 2024."
The journey comes to an end for a team that was tabbed to finish 11th in the preseason poll back in August and ended completely breaking barriers, records and showing time and time again the results of their hard work. For the second time in history the Pioneers set foot on the NCAA Tournament and represented Texas Woman's proudly.
Hear from Erica https://youtu.be/cJInJxUs-YEBrelove, Amanda Farris, Alyssa Valdez and Coach Babak Abouzar after the game: https://youtu.be/cJInJxUs-YE
- PIONEERS -
