Early goal lifts Rams to 1-0 victory at Nevada

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12:00 p.m.

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6:00 p.m.

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7:00 p.m.

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at Utah State

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Oct 5

12:00 p.m.

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vs UNLV

RENO, Nev. – A goal by Colorado State's Makenzi Taylor in the second minute of a Sunday afternoon match at Nevada held up as the eventual game-winner, as the Rams shut out the Wolf Pack the rest of the way for a 1-0 victory at Mackay Stadium.

Taylor's second goal of the season came off a free kick opportunity, as she fired the ball into Nevada's net with exactly 1:56 on the clock to give the Rams (3-7-4, 1-3-2 MW) a one-goal advantage. Taylor's goal is the earliest goal scored in any match to this point in Colorado State's now-five-season history. Although both teams had a few chances in the contest, the Rams' defense held Nevada (1-13-0, 0-6-0 MW) scoreless for the remainder of the full 90 minutes to clinch the win.

Of the chances the Wolf Pack had, their top opportunity was fended off by CSU goalkeeper Hunter Peifer in the 56th minute. On a counter attack, Nevada dribbled down the CSU side of the field and played a through ball in between the Rams back line to generate the opportunity. Peifer stepped out of the net and made a leaping save to her right to Angel Meriwether's shot from within the penalty area. The redshirt sophomore goalkeeper finished the shutout with three saves.

Nevada's remaining top chances came over the final three minutes, when the Wolf Pack were awarded a free kick just outside the Rams' 18-yard box on the wing. The cross was played just outside the goal area, but the Rams blocked the first Wolf Pack shot and forced the next one wide to keep the opposition off of the scoreboard.

Taylor finished the afternoon with a team-high three shots, while Alyssa Yoshida and Emma Shinsky added two of their own. Five Rams played the full 90 minutes, including Peifer, Taylor, Halley Havlicek, Beth Plentl and Janelle Stone.

IN THEIR WORDS
Colorado State head coach Bill Hempen
On winning on the road against Nevada:
"We had this discussion with the team - and who knows what happens next game - but we knew we had to grind out a 1-0 game against somebody. We did that today. They rose to the occasion, and it was not easy by any stretch of the imagination, but we won. At the end, that's what matters and we will take it."

On getting the early goal on Sunday:
"We got the early goal and we were feeling pretty good about ourselves. We were fine and then we started to slow down and make silly passes. We did a good job of keeping them in the game for stretches, but getting that first goal is as good as gold. This was a great lesson for us on how to win this kind of game. That's how every game in this conference is; just like this, if we can get out front and then grind it out, we will take it."

On Hunter Peifer's key save in the 56th minute:
"That's been the thing. Hunter has done this a couple of times this year, making that save when there has been a bit of a breakdown. We're still playing right now (into extra time) if she does not make that save. That was huge. A huge save for our team to keep the lead and gather ourselves at that moment."

NOTES
- Prior to Makenzi Taylor's goal on Sunday, the earliest a goal had been scored by Colorado State in a match was against Lubbock Christian on Aug. 23, 2013. The Rams scored in that match, the first in CSU's now-five-season history, on a goal by Carly Seib at 5:07.
- Colorado State is now 4-1-0 all-time when facing Nevada.
- Hunter Peifer's shutout was her third solo shutout of the season.

UP NEXT
The Colorado State women's soccer team returns to the new CSU Soccer Field to host a pair of Mountain West foes next weekend. The Rams host Boise State in a 4 p.m. MT match on Friday before playing Utah State in their penultimate home match of 2017 on Sunday at 1 p.m. MT.

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