DES MOINES, IOWA (Sept. 6, 2013) – The University of Wyoming soccer team scored a season-high five goals en route to a dominant 5-2 victory over Drake on Friday night at the Cownie Soccer Complex in Des Moines, Iowa. The Cowgirls had scored five goals through the first three games of the season, but found the back of the net five times in the first half against the Bulldogs.                                                                             

Wyoming’s scoring barrage included three goals in the first twelve minutes of the game. Four different Cowgirls were able to find the back of the net as senior forward Lucie McDowell led Wyoming with two goals, both of which came in the first period. Senior Liz O’Reilly, junior Kasey Curtis and freshmen Laurel Ramer also scored for the Cowgirls as UW moved to 2-1-1 on the season. The Bulldogs slippped to 0-4-1 on the year with today’s setback.

“Tonight was a great response to the last time we were on the field,” head coach Pete Cuadrado said. “It was a team effort from the beginning. We had some girls go down early but it was awesome to see others be able to step right in and hold their own.”

UW was in clear control in the first half by outshooting Drake by a count of 10-4 through the first 45 minutes but Drake’s 14 second half shots helped the Bulldogs to the 18-14 advantage. The Cowgirls led in corner kicks, with five compared to the Bulldogs two in the first period and eight to six overall.

McDowell led all Cowgirls with six shot attempts, two of which were on goal. Curtis finished with two shots as O’Reilly, Olivia Mohtadi, Paul, Loren Mahoney, Kristin Howard, and Ramer each recorded one shot apiece. Paul was the assist leader for UW with two for the night.

Junior goalkeeper Alex Boehm didn’t allow the Bulldogs first goal until the 51^st minute when Drake’s Rebecca Rodgers headed the ball into the net. Boehm recorded five saves on the night for the Cowgirls.

The Cowgirls got on the board just eight minutes into the game as Kasey Curtis delivered the ball to senior forward Liz O’Reilly, who then pushed it past the keeper in the lower corner. Senior forward Lucie McDowell scored her third and fourth goals of the season in the 11^th and 28^th minutes of the first period. Curtis was assisted by junior Sara Paul for her first score of the year at the 12 minute mark as freshmen Laurel Ramer became the first freshmen for the Cowgirls to record a goal just before the first period ended.

Drake took the advantage in shots during the second period. The Bulldogs took 14 compared to Wyoming’s four. To go along with Rodger’s goal in the 51^st minute, Paige Dusek also scored for Drake off a penalty kick in the 63^rd minute.

“A key thing for us was to win the physical battle,” Cuadrado added. “And I thought we did. We came out ready to play. They are a top team in the Missouri Valley and it takes all of us to compete the way we did. We have another tough one on Sunday so I hope we can continue that type on play then.”

The Cowgirls are next in action on Sunday, staying on the road and heading to Omaha, Neb. for a 1 p.m. matchup with Nebraska-Omaha.