Soccer Breaks Out Offensively, Draws with Montana, 3-3

LARAMIE, Wyoming (9/8/24) – The University of Wyoming soccer team broke out offensively Sunday at the Madrid Sports Complex. Three days after scoring a pair of goals, the Cowgirls tacked on three more against Montana.  

That helped Wyoming earn a 3-3 draw. The result pushes the Cowgirls to 1-2-2 on the season, while the Lady Griz move to 4-2-2.

“Whenever you can score in the run of play and be dangerous on set pieces, that’s the goal, so we were really encouraged by the efficiency with which we tested the goalkeeper,” head coach Josh Purdum said. “Hopefully we can continue to build on that.”

Maddi Chance accounted for two-thirds of the scores Sunday. She leveled the game at 1-1 with an unassisted 16th-minute goal that answered Jen Estes’ sixth-minute score for Montana.

Chance scored the Cowgirls’ third and final goal of the day during the 24th minute, which made it a 3-1 game in favor of Wyoming. She tallied her 14th career goal off a pass from Raegan Richardson.

Bedard also has 14 career goals after her brace Thursday night at Northern Colorado. Both of those Wyomingites – Bedard from Rock Springs and Chance from Lander – are tied for 11th all-time for goals in program history.

“They have to continue to work together on how they’re creating goals for each other,” Purdum said.
“We want it to be a two-headed monster, and it’s slowly becoming that. With each day, they’re going to get better in training, working off each other. You want them to create as much attention as possible, so you get the third and fourth goal scorers. They’re setting the tone in front of goal, which is what you want.”

Hadley Linder accounted for Wyoming’s other goal. She gave the Cowgirls a 2-1 advantage in the 20th minute off a pass from Bedard. It marked Linder’s first-career goal.

“I’m really pleased for her and happy for her,” Purdum said. “The team is excited for her, as well. She deserves it. She makes so many good runs and creates the tempo and sets the tempo in the midfield. She certainly had it coming.”

Estes tallied Montana’s second goal in the 24th minute, as well, which made it 3-2. Ava Samuelson gave the contest its final score with a 64th-minute goal.

Both goalkeepers had a busy day. Wyoming goalie, Haley Bartel, made seven saves, while her counterpart, Bayliss Flynn, turned away 11 shots.

Wyoming remains at home next weekend. The Cowgirls host South Dakota in what will be their Alumni Day and Senior Day.

-WYO-

Bud Denega 

Assistant Director, Media Relations (Men's Golf, Soccer, Wrestling)

University of Wyoming