LARAMIE — University of Wyoming goalkeeper Haley Bartel began the 2026 season by setting a program record, and on Monday she added another honor to her resume.
Bartel was named the Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Week after helping the Cowgirls open the season with back-to-back shutouts and a 2-0-0 record.
The honor comes one day after Bartel recorded her 20th career shutout in Wyoming’s 3-0 victory over Northern Colorado in the Front Range Derby at Jackson Stadium for the most all-time in program history.
Bartel made two saves against Northern Colorado after also making two saves in Thursday’s 1-0 victory over Drake. Her shutout against the Bears moved her into sole possession of the top spot in Wyoming history for career clean sheets.
“She’s a special person and a special player. She’s a captain for a reason,” Wyoming coach Josh Purdum said. “For me, it’s been a pleasure to coach her for the last 2.5 years, and I can’t wait to see what the rest of her career can produce.”
The Defensive Player of the Week award is the second of Bartel’s career. She also earned the honor as a junior last season.
While Bartel anchored Wyoming’s defense, freshman Isabel Vasco, a Green River High School graduate, played a role in the Cowgirls’ goals against Northern Colorado.
Vasco helped create Wyoming’s opening goal in the 32nd minute when she made a deep run before finding Alisa Bunn, who assisted Reese Gould on the score. It was Gould’s first career goal.
Vasco was involved again in the 63rd minute, delivering a ball to Maddie Burr, who scored to give Wyoming a 2-0 lead.
Brook Brown capped the scoring in the 80th minute after drawing a foul in the box and converting the ensuing penalty kick against Northern Colorado goalkeeper Thordis Melsted.
“We are starting to develop some depth offensively, and we are starting to develop some belief, as well,” Purdum said. “We had some great runs by both of our wing backs in Reese and Burr, and Vasco created both of them just getting around players and making something happen.
“It was a really good team performance.”
Wyoming opened the season with a 1-0 victory over Drake on Thursday before Sunday’s 3-0 win over Northern Colorado.
The Cowgirls return home Thursday to host Weber State at 4 p.m. at the Madrid Sports Complex.
