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Soccer Travels to Montana for Friday Evening Tilt

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By
Bud Denega , Assistant Director, Media Relations (Men's Golf, Soccer, Wrestling), University of Wyoming

LARAMIE, Wyoming (9/9/26) – The University of Wyoming soccer team remains on the road this week. The Cowgirls travel to Montana on Friday for a 5 p.m. contest at South Campus Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ESPN-Plus.

The Pokes are fresh off a perfect road trip to the state of Washington. They defeated Gonzaga, 1-0, and Eastern Washington, 2-0.

It was Wyoming’s first significant road trip of 2026. So, taking that into account coupled with the fact that the next roadie is just one match, and head coach Josh Purdum wants to focus on recovery with the game in Missoula representing the penultimate non-conference tilt. 

“(Gonzaga and Eastern Washington) was our first road trip, and we are going to feel it a bit,” Purdum said. “So, we’ll have two lighter days rather than just working ourselves back into simulating a game. It will be a good time to recover, especially as we get closer to conference. We need to make sure we are getting to the next couple of weeks as healthy as possible and taking advantage of the fitness we’ve gained.”

Wyoming is 5-2-0 on the season and was ranked No. 10 in the most recent Pacific Region Coaches’ Poll. It has outscored its opponents by a combined tally of, 14-6. Montana is 2-4-0 and has yet to beat a Division I foe, as they’re in Year 1 of a new head coach.

The Cowgirls continue to add to their scoring depth. Erin Dahl’s goal against the Eagles this past weekend gave the squad seven different goal scorers, matching last year’s total. Alisa Bunn’s score later that match gave Wyoming four multi-goal scorers in 2026, a number it did not reach in 2025.

Alyssa Glover still leads the way with four goals to go alongside two assists for 10 points. Both totals rank second in the Mountain West Conference.

Bunn, Maddie Burr and Isabel Vasco each have two goals to their name. Vasco adds three assists for seven points, while Burr owns two assists for six points. Both of those Cowgirls are also in the top 10 in the league in points.

Wyoming keeper, Haley Bartel, lays claim to 19 saves with five goals allowed for a GAA of 0.74, which ranks third in the conference. She also has four clean sheets, and that’s tops in the league.

The Grizzlies have been outscored 12-4 this season and are coming off a 2-0 loss at Denver this past weekend. Elli Lewis is the lone player with multiple scores with two goals. Avery Heeb has started five of the six matches in net and has recorded 14 saves with eight goals allowed for a GAA of 1.68.

The Grizzles hold a 5-3-7 edge in the all-time series. Six of the draws have occurred in each of the last six meetings, which includes a 3-3 outcome in Laramie in 2024.

Following the match at Montana, the Pokes conclude non-conference play in Fort Collins. They travel to Colorado State on Sept. 17 for a 7 p.m. match at CSU Soccer Field.   

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