Lauren Mascardo
Michaela McGowan (7) takes the ball around two players during Colorado State University's home matchup against UC San Diego Sept. 7. CSU won, 2-1.
Colorado State soccer extended their undefeated season in a second-half triumph against UC San Diego, winning 2-1 Sunday.
Now standing at 6-0, the Rams have everything to lose and everything to gain. But for the women of CSU soccer, numbers don’t tell the whole story.
“6-0 is a great feeling,” senior forward Olivia Fout said. “But everyday, we come out here, and we have to learn from every game. Like, you know we still have teaching moments from this game and we just have to learn off that, and just build every day.”
Sunday’s game displayed the solid offense that keeps CSU with a perfect record, as it started strong with a goal by Colorado native Michaela McGowan after a powerful rush down the field.
“Honestly, (head coach Keely Hagen’s) really big about taking half chances,” McGowan said. “And so, I feel like if we’re in front of the goal and we have one or two steps in front of the defender, we were always told to take it, take it. You never know what could happen.”
Shortly after, UCSD’s Natalie Abel tied the game, bringing the struggle for dominance to a stalemate for the rest of the first half.
UCSD, at 2-2-3, showcased their eagerness to pick up some more wins, but the Rams had just as much to prove.
As they charged through their opponents, there still remained things to learn from each game and how to work towards bettering the team.
“I think our group has belief, you know,” Hagen said. “We’re getting more disciplined on the defensive side, and when we get the chances, we’re executing.”
The team’s motto for this season is “unfinished”, which they embodied entering the second half.
Against UCSD’s tactical goalkeeper, Charlotte Wilfert, Fout snuck in a goal with an assist from McGowan to seize the lead.
Halftime presented the opportunity for the Rams to reset and map their way through UCSD’s persistent defense.
“The coaching staff made a really tactical adjustment, coming into the second half, and we really just threw the kitchen sink at them, and we were just pressing and that’s how we honestly scored,” Fout said. “It’s just a great feeling flipping that switch from the first half to the second half.”
While the team focuses on taking it game-by-game, their perfect season casts a shadow over Denver, who the Rams will play at 12 p.m. Sept. 14th.
Reach Sophia Schaller at sports@collegian.com or on Twitter/X @sophschaller.