LARAMIE, Wyo. – The last two times that New Mexico and Wyoming went to double overtime, the game ended in heartbreak twice for New Mexico. Not this time. Cassie Ulrich was superb in net for New Mexico with a season-high eight saves including a game-saving diving stop on a penalty kick in the 88th minute as UNM and Wyoming battled to a 0-0 draw in Laramie.
New Mexico (5-6-1, 3-1-1 MW) picked up a point on first place Colorado College, which suffered its first defeat of conference play, losing 1-0 to Fresno State. Wyoming (6-3-4, 2-2-1 MW) was trying to move into a tie with New Mexico in the standings.
Ulrich’s eight saves were the most this season and her most since recording 11 against Boise State on October 27, 2013. She had three saves in each half and then two more in the second overtime. The final save came on a screamer off the foot of Alyssa Murray, but Ulrich went right and was able to corral it to keep the game scoreless.
However, none was better than her diving stop of a penalty that would have assuredly giving the Cowgirls three points. Emily Chavez and a Cowgirl forward got tangled up in the box, giving the Cowgirls a spot kick. Shaina Ashouri stepped up and hit a shot tabbed for the lower right corner, but Ulrich faked one way, and then dove the other, just getting her outstretched glove on the ball and parrying it wide. Wyoming could do nothing on the ensuing corner kick and the game went to overtime.
Back in 2013, Ulrich saved a PK against Fresno State, UNM’s first penalty kick stop in 11 years. With her stop against Wyoming, Ulrich is now a perfect 3-for-3 on penalty kicks.
The scoreless draw was UNM’s first since the final game of the 2013 season when UNM and Utah State played their second scoreless draw in a week. Utah State eventually advanced 4-2 in penalty kicks in the quarterfinals.
STARTERS
New Mexico: Ulrich (GK), O’Connor, Guice, Blanksma, Chavez, Slora, Irwin, Lynch, Coonrod, Olguin, Munoz.
Wyoming: Rowntree (GK), Burton, Bass, Lomsnes, Meyer, Ashouri, Marcheso, Clayton, Dunda, Gentle, Burbank.
QUOTES
“Any time you can get a point at Wyoming it’s a great thing. The game was very back and forth and Cassie kept us in it with a huge save.”
-Head Coach Heather Dyche
SCORING SUMMARY
None
NOTES
*New Mexico now leads the series with Wyoming 14-6-6.
*It was the first 0-0 tie with Wyoming since 2001.
*It’s the eighth time since 2001 that UNM and Wyoming went to overtime (Wyoming leads in those eight 3-0-5)
NEXT UP
New Mexico heads to Colorado State and Ft. Collins to play the Rams on Sunday at 1 p.m.