Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
8-2-3, 2-1-2
Air Force
4-6-3, 2-2-1
Lessons Linger After Senior Night Tie
10/12/2025 7:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Rams set the tone early but still chase the perfect finish
The first three minutes of the game don't always seem that important.
Everyone is finding their footing and gearing up for 90 minutes out on the pitch. But as Colorado State has proven in its past three games, it can change the tide in an instant.
In the past three matches, the Rams have scored within the first three minutes. They completed the triad Sunday afternoon when they faced the Air Force Academy in a 1-all tie with a goal from Michaela McGowan (Broomfield, Colo./Broomfield) just 2:35 in.
For them, starts haven't always been this smooth, so slamming the foot on the gas right out of the gate has been a welcome change.
“We're starting fast,” coach Keeley Hagan said. “I think what we're seeing is then we kind of settle into the game a little bit too much. Whereas we need to start with our foot on the pedal and just keep going. And I think that's going to be a big lesson we talk about on Tuesday.”
Their lead didn't last long as Air Force responded in the 18th minute with a goal of its own — a ricochet into the top right corner that caught everyone off guard.
“It was just a deflection that went in,” senior Mia Massey said. “We tried to bounce back because we knew it was just a fluke accident.”
Massey was one of five seniors recognized after the game for senior night. She was joined by Olivia Fout, Kate Dunne, Kacie Laurie and Jessica Shivers in their walk across the field.
Met with tears and cheers, the five are about as influential as they come.
“The seniors are some of the best people I have ever met,” McGowan said. “They have completely risen this culture from nothing to a lot. I'm so proud of everything they've done because not only are they good players but good people. And it's hard to find both in a person. They're such a role model for everyone.”
Despite the heartfelt celebration, the Rams still felt their business wasn't finished.
Now deep into conference play, every goal counts in the race for the best seed possible in the Mountain West Championship. They know what needs to change — now it's about execution heading into their next two road games.
“The beauty of having a younger program is there's a lot of records to be broken,” Hagan said. “We're trending upward, it's what we want to do. I think the thing is we can't just be satisfied with ties. We're looking to win championships. So in the past we've had 12-win seasons and it's like, let's get to 13 and then that becomes the norm.”
This senior class has helped set that new norm for the Rams, and it all goes back to being unfinished. There is always another milestone, another goal. After all, stagnant teams don't win championships.
That drive was tested against Air Force. Its shifting formation made it difficult for CSU to gain an upper hand.
“We went into the game pretty confident about having our outside backs push up against their wing backs,” McGowan said. “Because it's hard to play against a 3-6-1. Although I did come from a previous school that played that, so I was able to let the coaches know that the outside backs had a problem. The coaches agreed and I feel like it worked pretty well — we just didn't win.”
The tie comes before two games on the road, where CSU will look to keep that early spark alive.
The Rams know that every game, like every opening minute, is a chance to set the tone. This tie may not have been the result they wanted, but it serves as another step forward — a reminder to start strong and finish stronger. With the seniors leading by example, their legacy isn't just in the goals scored but in the standard of commitment they've left behind.
“They're invested and committed to our program,” Hagan said. “Hopefully they know how much I love and care about them. And I love how much they love each other because that's really our standard. They fight for each other, so I'm proud of them and the impact they've had on our program.”
The Rams have built their identity on moments like that — the opening surge, the quick strike, the ability to make something happen when no one expects it. Those first three minutes say more about who this team is than any final score can. They've learned how to start strong and now they're learning how to sustain it.
For the seniors, that lesson carries a deeper weight. Their time in green and gold is winding down, but what they've built will outlast them. They've turned a once-developing program into one that expects to win and has fun while doing it.
“I just mostly hope that I left an impact on the girls,” Massey said. “I just love them all so much. They're my best friends on and off the field so I just hope I've left a lasting impact on their lives so that they can always come to me with anything far down the road.”
Even a tie on senior night becomes part of that legacy. Because the next generation of Rams inherits a standard, not a script. They've seen how to lead, how to respond to setbacks and how to keep pushing forward no matter how unpredictable the game becomes.
And if the first three minutes tell us anything, it's that CSU knows how to set the tone. Now, with the seniors passing the torch, it's about learning how to finish.
Team Stats
Michaela McGowan (4)
GOAL by CSU McGowan, Michaela.
02:35
0
GOAL by AFA TEAM.
18:28
