Wyoming Soccer Advances to MWC Final After 2-1 Overtime Win

PHOENIX, Ariz., The University of Wyoming women’s soccer team defeated the University of Hawai’i, 2-1, in overtime on Wednesday to secure a spot in the Mountain West Conference Tournament final.

The match took place at Grand Canyon University Stadium. Wyoming entered the game as the No. 2 seed, while Hawai’i held the No. 3 seed position.

Hawai’i took an early lead in the 50th minute on a goal by Jas Cayetano. Wyoming responded in the 60th minute when Addison Keen scored off a corner kick delivered by Alyssa Glover. The teams headed to overtime tied, 1-1.

Reese Gould scored the decisive goal in the 109th minute. She finished the play off a pass from Maddie Burr to win the match for the Cowgirls.

Head coach Josh Purdum said the team’s ability to come back from deficits prepared them for playoff competition. "I never questioned this group’s mentality to go and win a game like today," Purdum said. He noted that the tactical plan to move the ball to the back post worked as intended, allowing the goalkeeper to be forced into a decision.

Goalkeeper Haley Bartel recorded six saves for Wyoming, while Hawai’i’s Kennedy Justin made five saves. Hawai’i outshot Wyoming, 16-12, but failed to register a shot in the ten-minute double overtime period. Nalani Damacion led all players with five shots on goal. Gould and Keen each recorded two shots for the Pokes.

Wyoming will play in the title match at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The opponent will be the winner of a match between top-seeded Colorado College and Air Force. This marks Wyoming’s fourth appearance in the conference tournament final. The team last reached this stage in 2022, when it lost to San Jose State on penalty kicks in Albuquerque, N.M.