Rams fall to Wyoming in 2017 season finale, 3-2

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FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Sophomore defender Halley Havlicek scored twice for the Colorado State women's soccer team, but the Rams fell to the Wyoming Cowgirls, 3-2, in a Border War and Senior Day matchup on Friday from the new CSU Soccer Field.

The Rams honored their seniors before the final contest of the 2017 campaign, and started all four possible seniors, Paige Brandt, Taylor Hodgson, Gianna Marconi and Janelle Stone. Maddi Rodriguez, who missed the majority of the season with an injury, was named an honorary starter for the contest.

Action between CSU and Wyoming was back-and-forth, but the Rams were edged by the Cowgirls' deciding goal in the 64th minute of action. Havlicek scored her goals for the Rams in the 26th and 63rd minutes.

The pace was fast to start the match, and Wyoming was awarded a penalty-kick on a handball inside the 18-yard box in the 18th minute. Brandt guessed right on the attempt, but the Cowgirls' Alisha Bass fired right down the middle for the score and an early 1-0 lead.

Less than 10 minutes after the first goal, Havlicek knotted the score even at 1-1. The sophomore dribbled the ball from midfield right, advancing past two Cowgirl defenders to the left side of the 18-yard box. One-on-one with Wyoming keeper Georgia Rowntree, Havlicek calmly fired a left-to-right shot across the face of the goal to tie the match at one goal apiece.

A corner kick opportunity would allow Wyoming to take the lead before halftime. On the volley into the box, a deflected ball bounced to Wyoming's Morgan McDougal, who pushed the ball into the right half of the net. CSU tied the match up for the second time less than 20 minutes into the second half, as Havlicek headed the ball to the upper-right corner of the net on a cross from Makenzi Taylor.

However, Wyoming responded with another goal just one minute later and held on for the win. Bass accounted for the tally, her second of the match, on a feed from Alyssa Murray.

Six Rams played the full 90 minutes during Friday night's contest, including seniors Brandt, Havlicek, Hodgson, Caeley Lordemann, Beth Plentl and Stone. Each of Havlicek and Taylor Steinke had two shots on goal, while Brandt finished with five saves.

IN THEIR WORDS
Colorado State head coach Bill Hempen
On his feelings after the match:
"I thought we played soccer really well today. We just couldn't find our way through it. We know we played well and we played hard but we still lost. From my point of view, I am very disappointed for them (to have to lose). They played the way I want them to play and the way I expect them to play. On a PK…she never hits that shot again. It just seems they all go against us. This is tough because I could not ask more from the team."

On the group of seniors and what they did for the program:
"They took a risk, and Janelle (Stone) told the group that she was proud to be a part of it. I think she will be a prideful Ram forever…I think all of them are. There's a little bit more (to playing soccer), there's some grass stains to go with their degrees. They leave here with a stronger feeling for the program and for their team and their school. That's what you want."

NOTES
- The Rams' senior class of Paige Brandt, Halley Havlicek, Gianna Marconi, Maddi Rodriguez and Janelle Stone made up the first recruiting class for Bill Hempen following the program's inaugural year in 2013.
- Halley Havlicek's two goals marked her second and third goals of the year. She finished with a team-high five points during Mountain West play.
- Makenzi Taylor's assist on Havlicek's second goal marked her eighth point of the year. With that point, Taylor finished the season with the team points lead (eight).

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