The Mountain Lions secured a 2-0 victory over Colorado Christian University on Oct. 10, extending their unbeaten streak to 11 games and solidifying their number five national ranking.
A combination of strong defense, well-executed penalty kicks and gritty determination helped the Mountain Lions claim their first win over CCU since Sept. 18, 2022.
The match started slowly for UCCS, as offensive opportunities were scarce in the first 30 minutes. However, the breakthrough came when senior midfielder Lars Walczyk was fouled in the penalty area, setting up senior midfielder Dani Barajas for a penalty kick.
Barajas missed his initial shot but capitalized on the rebound, slotting the ball into the back of the net to give UCCS the one-goal lead.
Despite creating 15 additional scoring chances in the first half, the Mountain Lions couldn’t find another goal. On the defensive side, they limited CCU to just two shots, none of which were on goal.
The second half saw both teams struggle to convert their chances. UCCS defender Adin Schwenke came close to scoring in the 54th minute with a long-range strike that forced a diving save from CCU’s goalkeeper Jailon Gillespie. UCCS’ defensive intensity continued to shine, keeping CCU off the scoresheet throughout the match.
In the 82nd minute, Walczyk was fouled again, leading to another penalty kick, this time taken by junior forward Miles Seminario. Seminario confidently found the right side of the net, securing UCCS’s second goal and the eventual win, 2-0.
Tensions rose in the final 20 minutes, with both teams drawing multiple yellow cards, three of which came in the last 10 minutes. Nevertheless, the Mountain Lions maintained their focus and held on for the shutout, giving sophomore goalkeeper Danny Fischer his first clean sheet of the season.
With the victory, UCCS has now recorded three consecutive clean sheets, a feat they last achieved in the 2022 season. The Mountain Lions lowered their team goals against average in the RMAC to 0.64, the best in the conference, allowing just seven goals in 11 games. They also have the top overall winning percentage in the conference at 0.909, according to UCCS Athletics.
Offensively, Barajas moved into a tie for the RMAC lead in goals with six, while Seminario’s fourth goal of the season places him fifth in the standings. UCCS also leads all of the NCAA Division II in penalty kick attempts, adding two more tonight to bring their season total of nine.
The Mountain Lions will look to continue their winning streak and maintain their defensive prowess as they head into the final stretch of the regular season. UCCS will take a week off before returning to the pitch on Thursday, Oct. 17 to take on 14th ranked Fort Lewis College at Mountain Lion Stadium at 7 p.m.