Soccer Topples Hawai’i in Double Overtime, 2-1, to advance to Mountain West Title

LARAMIE, Wyoming (11/11/26) – The University of Wyoming soccer team has been in playoff mode for weeks now. And the Cowgirls will happily remain in that space for a few more days.

The No. 2-seeded Pokes rallied past No. 3 Hawai’i in overtime on Wednesday at GCU Stadium in the semifinals of the Mountain West Conference Tournament. Wyoming advances to the title match, which is set for Saturday at 1 p.m. against the winner between top-seeded Colorado College and Air Force.

“This game was another Air Force example, another Montana example where we needed to come back. We knew we needed those examples to play playoff soccer,” head coach Josh Purdum said. “I never questioned this group’s mentality to go and win a game like today.”

Reese Gould provided the golden goal against the Rainbow Wahine. She scored during the 109th minute off a pass from Maddie Burr.

“If we got the ball to the back post, we had a good chance of making the goalkeeper move, and that’s exactly how we were going to score,” Purdum said. “That’s exactly what was in the scout. Credit to the girls for taking on the details late and not panicking.”

As Purdum indicated, the Cowgirls needed a rally to force overtime. Addison Keen provided that goal.

She scored off a corner kick from Alyssa Glover in the 60th minute. It came in response to Hawai’i's Jas Cayetano just 10 minutes earlier.

Haley Bartel made six saves in net for the Cowgirls. Her counterpart, Kennedy Justin, collected five.

Hawai’i led in the shots department, 16-12, but logged zero of those in the 10-minute double overtime period. Nalani Damacion led the Rainbow Wahine, and all players, with five. Gould and Keen, the goal scorers, led the way for the Pokes with two shots each.  

Saturday’s title match will represent Wyoming’s fourth trip to said championship game. It last played in one in 2022, falling to San Jose State in penalty kicks in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Ensure These Stories Are Told

Despite the challenges facing independent local journalism, what sustains us — and fills us with deep gratitude — is the loyal support of readers who believe our communities deserve accurate, trusted, and locally rooted news.

It is no exaggeration to say that we are here because of you. Every story we report, every local issue we follow, every public meeting we cover, and every community voice we lift up is made possible by readers who understand the value of an independent newspaper.

Your support does more than fund articles. It helps protect the independence that allows us to report honestly, ask important questions, and keep our community informed without fear or favor.

If you are able, please consider supporting the News Letter Journal by donating to our Unabridged Fund today. Whether your gift helps cover reporting time, printing costs, video, photography, editing, or distribution, every contribution helps keep local journalism strong in Wyoming.

All gifts are deeply appreciated. Your support helps ensure that local stories continue to be told, local decisions continue to be watched, and local voices continue to be heard.

Thank you for standing with independent community journalism.