Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
10-4-3, 5-2-2
New Mexico
5-5-5, 2-4-3
Rams Clinch Mountain West Berth in Thriller
10/19/2023 10:29:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Sofia Coulombe’s five-point night helps Rams in win
ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Karma is a goal to clinch a conference tournament berth.
Four times over the past two seasons Colorado State has given up a game-tying or winning goal in the final minute of play. Karma came around just at the right moment for the Rams on Thursday night.
With the final seconds ticking off the clock, CSU lined up for one final corner kick and a chance to steal three points and clinch a birth to the Mountain West Tournament. Freshman Sofia Coulombe, who scored the Rams' first two goals, sent a great volley into the box, found the head of Avery Vander Ven who netted it just past the New Mexico keeper and into the left corner with 89:56 reading on the clock.
The goal sealed an unlikely 3-2 win and clinched the program's third berth to the Mountain West Tournament October 29 – November 4 in Laramie, Wyoming.
Colorado State saw its 2-0 lead disappear in the second half and all momentum was in the Lobos favor before the hail mary-esc-like goal.
Coulombe put the Rams up 1-0 with her goal in the 21st minute when she stole a clear attempt from UNM, split a pair of defenders and sent the ball past the keeper for her second goal of the season.
Up 1-0 at the half, CSU came out firing to start the second half. Following a foul just outside the box, Coulombe lined up the free-kick and sent it over the wall and on a tight-rope right past the UNM keeper to put Colorado State up 2-0 in the 57th minute.
New Mexico battled back, cutting the lead in half a mere 50 seconds after the Rams went up by two. UNM's equalizer came in the 87th minute and looked to earn an all-important point in the standings for the Lobos.
But as Karma has it, she showed up at just the right time.
Team Stats
Sofia Coulombe (3)
GOAL by CSU Coulombe, Sofia.
20:23
Sofia Coulombe (3)
GOAL by CSU Coulombe, Sofia.
56:18
Paris Dalton (3)
Assisted By: Natalie DeGagne
GOAL by UNM Dalton, Paris Assist by DeGagne, Natalie.
57:08
Natalie DeGagne (2)
GOAL by UNM DeGagne, Natalie.
86:58
Avery Vander Ven (2)
Assisted By: Sofia Coulombe
GOAL by CSU Vander Ven, Avery Assist by Coulombe, Sofia.
89:54
